Q&A for How to Reduce Dust in Your House

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  • Question
    How can I reduce the amount of dust in my home?
    James Sears
    House Cleaning Professional
    James Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer
    If you have a central air system, make sure you change the filters since they can get clogged up with dust. You can also try running an air purifier.
  • Question
    Can opening the windows help reduce dust?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Unfortunately, no. While opening the windows is a great way to get fresh air circulating through your home, it can also bring in outside sources of dust, such as dirt and pollen. If dust and other particles in the air are a problem for you, look into installing anti-dust screens, which can allow fresh air in while keeping many small particles out.
  • Question
    What causes a lot of dust in your home?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Dust can come off of anything that sheds a lot of fine particles, including fabrics, building materials, plants, pets with dander or fine hair, and—gross as it sounds—your own body. Having some dust in your home is unavoidable, but you can keep it to a minimum by using air filters and cleaning regularly.
  • Question
    Does smoking in a home cause more dust?
    Community Answer
    The smoke itself leaves behind a residue, not to mention all the ash that ends up flying around, even if you're careful. Your house will be cleaner if you smoke outside.
  • Question
    Why does my bedroom have more dust than the rest of the house?
    Community Answer
    You spend more time in your bedroom, even though you are asleep. Bedding, curtains, carpet, and clothes closets make and attract the most dust, as there tends to be carpet or rugs and many fabrics in bedrooms. Your dead skin flakes build up during sleep too, rubbed off on sheets and pillowcases.
  • Question
    Does type of paint finish in a room affect the amount of dust in the room?
    Community Answer
    Yes. If the paintwork is rough, then dust will stick to it easily. If it is glossy, then the dust will be a lot less likely to stay.
  • Question
    Is it more important to vacuum first or dust first?
    Community Answer
    Dust and then vacuum. That way you are not getting all that dust you just vacuumed up all over the floor again.
  • Question
    Why is dust landing on me and not bothering anyone else? It's in my pores and hair, and when I shower it takes forever to get it off of me.
    Community Answer
    Maybe you're just more sensitive to the dust compared to other people. Some people tend to be more aware of the dirt and debris floating around and their own cleanliness. If it really bothers you, it wouldn't hurt to talk to your doctor about this problem.
  • Question
    How do I maintain a dust free cupboard?
    Community Answer
    Dust once a month, this will prevent accumulation. Also, remove any unused tins/items to stop clutter.
  • Question
    I have a desk in the basement and I wipe it down and within hours it becomes dusty again. Why is my basement so dusty and what are some simple things I can do to reduce the amount of dust?
    Community Answer
    Dust and dirt is probably falling from between the floorboards above you, this happens when people walk around upstairs. The only thing you can to reduce the dust is seal the ceiling.
  • Question
    How can I keep a room free from dust with little to no cleaning?
    Community Answer
    Caulk your baseboards and window panes to eliminate gaps. Look for any gaps outside your home and caulk them as well. A lot of dust is pulled in from outside, but a lot originates inside the home as well. Close and seal any air vents in the room, and change your air conditioner's filter every other month. You can't make the room completely dust free, but this will reduce the amount of dust that makes it into the room.
  • Question
    I want to reduce the dust that gets on the clothes in my closet. Should I install closet doors, or a curtain?
    Community Answer
    Closet doors, as collected dust will be a lot easier to clean off of it (just wipe the dust off) and it will securely keep any dust out.
  • Question
    Does humidity affect dust?
    Community Answer
    It can. Humidity over time will cause dust to more securely attach itself to surfaces.
  • Question
    My apartment has a water heating system. When it is on in the winter, I get a very fine dust everywhere -- inside my oven, on kitchen cabinets, on my DVD player, in closets. It's horrible. What's causing this?
    Community Answer
    It's probably from the minerals in the water. It needs to be distilled water in order to prevent the white dust.
  • Question
    I changed residence with wall-to-wall carpets. I washed all carpets and I Hoover every day, yet my dust allergy has gone haywire! The Hoover filter is full every time when I finish. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    It is possible the previous resident was not as conscientious as you are and allowed dirt to filter through the carpet to the pad underneath. One way to check this is to vacuum a room, empty the vacuum and re-vacuum. If similar amount of dirt is recovered this may be the reason. Also, your Hoover filter may not be catching ultra-fine particles which are then exhausted into the air.
  • Question
    How can I decrease the dust created by my cats' litter box?
    Community Answer
    Use sawdust or wood shaving based litter. It will be slightly harder to clean, but there is much less dust and it usually smells better as well.
  • Question
    Why do I see little dust/white particles in rays of sunlight in my house if there's no dust on any surfaces? Are these particles dangerous?
    Community Answer
    No, No they are not. They are specks of dust. You may not see them individually but together they can make the dust you see in your room. No matter how much you clean, they are always present and they are harmless unless you have a highly sensitive dust allergy.
  • Question
    Is there any way to make the furniture dust proof so the dust won't settle down on the furniture at all?
    Community Answer
    Dust is inevitable. Cloth will trap the most dust, while leather and wood will be easier to clean. Replace cloth furniture with leather or wood. You may be able to line cloth furniture with leather or plastic to make dusting easier.
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