Dealing with a dusty home can be a huge pain! Dust is everywhere, from your floors to your ceiling, and if you don’t clean it right away, the problem only worsens! So what can you do if you’re fighting a losing battle with the dust in your house?
Where Does Dust Come From?
Mary Anne Ryan, the Associate Marketing Director for Febreze Air Purifiers, states that the amount of dust that accumulates in a home “can be up to 40 pounds.” 40 Pounds! So where does all that dust come from?
Well, common house dust comes from a variety of places. About two-thirds of what makes up dust is dirt and plant matter from outside the home. However, the rest of the particles in house dust are a mixture of dead skin cells, pet dander, carpet fibers, food debris, and even insects!
In homes that lack proper ventilation, all of these particles quickly accumulate, leaving a nasty film on your surfaces and clouds of allergy-causing dust in your air.
Five Easy Ways to Reduce Dust
While there might not be a way to completely stop dust from building up in your home, you can take many easy and practical steps to significantly reduce the amount of dust in your home.
1-Keep your doors and windows closed
Most dust particles come from outside, so your best defense against dust accumulation is to keep windows and doors closed when not in use.
2-Implement a "no-shoes policy"
If your family tends to keep their shoes on when they enter the house, they probably play a huge part in your dust accumulation problem. Leaving shoes at the door helps keep outside dirt in one spot rather than spreading it throughout your home.
3-Install HEPA filters in your HVAC system
High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are engineered to catch microscopic particles that would typically slip through a standard cotton or polyester air filter. These “super filters” can tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns. According to the EPA, HEPA filters can “theoretically remove at least 99.97%” of all airborne particles.
4-Buy an air purifier
Air purifiers do a great job at catching the leftover airborne dust that slips through the filters of your HVAC system. Placing one of these affordable devices in a bedroom can effectively reduce indoor allergy symptoms.
5- Turn up the humidity in your home
When your home is dry, static electricity builds up, attracting dust and making it hard to clean surfaces. If your home is equipped with a humidification system, consider setting it to between 40 and 50 percent to keep dust accumulation to a minimum.
Still Struggling to Reduce Dust?
If you’ve tried everything on this list and you’re still struggling with dust accumulation, it’s time to call a professional. The certified air quality technicians at AQC can help you identify where the majority of your dust is coming from and help you create a plan to minimize dust and any other airborne pollutants in your home’s air. Request a quote today!
