6 Simple Ways To Get Rid Of And Prevent Dust In Your Home

Dust is a part of homeownership, no matter how much you like to clean. It builds up in the corners and surfaces of your home.

If you have pets that shed or spend a lot of time outdoors, or if you have young children, you'll do battle with those dust bunnies. Even though it's a part of life, can you get rid of it temporarily?

Yes, you can. This guide will show you how to get rid of dust or at least minimize the grimy buildup in your home.

Understanding What Household Dust Is

You've seen the gray layer of grime sitting on your ceiling fan blades and dressers, but what exactly is household dust, and how does it accumulate in a house?

You may have heard that it mainly consists of human skin, but that's a small part of its makeup – it also consists of fibers, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, sand, mold, hair, building materials, insect body parts, ash and bits of soil.

Dust comes from a variety of sources – unsealed doors, windows, shoes, pet paws and even high humidity. High humidity allows mold and dust mites (small insects that feed on dead human skin cells) to thrive.

Household dust may contain harmful substances, like metals, germs, chemicals and microplastics.

How Often Should You Dust?

You already know you should dust and clean your home to keep the air quality in great condition – but how often?

Try to dust at least every other week, if not once per week.

Consider choosing a day of the week to dust your home or even a specific time so you remember to do it, such as while dinner's cooking on Thursdays or after you walk the dog on Wednesdays.

How To Get Rid Of Dust In Your Home

There are many approaches to getting rid of dust in your home, but one of the most important things you can do is know where it tends to collect. Some areas of your home will have more dust than others, particularly areas with less traffic. However, spread your efforts throughout your home for the best results. We'll list our tips for how to reduce dust in house areas below.

1. Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming regularly is an effective step to remove allergens from your home. Run a vacuum cleaner over the carpets and rugs and mop hard-surface floors with a gentle cleaner like soap and water.

2. Clear Clutter

Clearing clutter can eliminate dust from unneeded surfaces. Learn the KonMari Method of decluttering to rid your home of unnecessary items and dust particles. The KonMari Method can help you tidy your space by helping you eliminate items that don't spark joy. The folding method also allows you to organize your items so they take up less space in your drawers.

3. Change Bedding Weekly

You sleep on your sheets every night, which causes dust mites to collect in your bedding. Therefore, changing bedding helps get rid of dust in your home. Aim to wash your bedding at least once a week. Remove all pillowcases, mattress pads and comforters and wash them with a mild detergent.

Wash your pillows periodically, too – you can do this in the washing machine or by hand.

4. Mop Hard Floors Often

Mopping hard floors often is an effective way to get rid of dust in your home. Choose the right type of cleaner for the types of flooring in your home.

If you have mostly hardwood, tile or linoleum flooring, start by sweeping the entire area to eliminate as much dirt and debris as possible. If you don't do that, you may just push the dirt around with your mop.

Mop the floor regularly with a clean microfiber towel and cleaning solution to remove pet dander, fur, dirt and other particles.

5. Purify The Air

Do air purifiers keep dust down?

Air purifiers help remove impurities in the air, including dust, odors and other air pollutants indoors that often cause allergy or asthma symptoms. The filter inside traps airborne particles before releasing clean air back into the room, improving the air quality.

An air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can remove over 99% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other particles. Keep small harmful particles out of the air with a replaceable or washable HEPA filter.

6. Wipe Down Key Areas

Dusting has come a long way since the invention of old-fashioned feather dusters. Wipe down dust-prone surfaces once a week with a microfiber cloth or damp cloth to help you collect and capture dust particles. Don't forget the baseboards, upholstery, walls, ceilings, furniture, blinds and curtains.

Microfibers are positively charged, so they attract negatively charged dust particles. They are more effective than using a regular cloth and safer than using chemical spray to capture dust.

Tips For Alleviating Dust In Your Home

Let's look at a few more tips for effectively eliminating dust from your home:

• Remember to change air filters. Regularly change air filters to prevent dust accumulation and to help eliminate dust from your home. Consider cleaning your house’s air ducts once a year.
• Know what attracts dust most. Have you noticed certain areas of your home that collect dust more quickly? For example, you may have noticed that computers, speakers, printers, TVs, ceiling fans and other appliances collect more dust than anything else. Consider cleaning high-up areas first because dust will float down to the floor when you clean dirty items high up.
• Get the right dusting tools. Using the right dusting tools can effectively eliminate dust from your home. Stick to microfiber options, such as cleaning cloths, microfiber extendable hand dusters, Swiffer electrostatic kits and dry sweeping cloths.
• Groom pets. If you have pets, keep them groomed. Regular grooming can reduce the amount of pet hair in your home. If you don't want to pay for professional grooming, bathe and brush your pets regularly. Also, cover your cats' litter boxes to reduce the dust in your home.

The Bottom Line: Eliminating Dust From Your Home Can Improve Air Quality And Health

Now that you know how to eliminate dust, note that you'll never completely get rid of the dust in your home, but our tips will help you reduce it. It'll offer major benefits, such as improving the air quality and your family's quality of life. It'll also offer fringe benefits like making your house look nicer. Keeping dust at bay may even encourage you to tackle other home improvement projects!

Check out more inspiration and advice for keeping your home shipshape in our homeowner’s guide.