7 reasons why your house is so dusty—and how to fix
Ways of beating down the ubiquitous dust monsters
Credit:
Reviewed / iRobot / Mr. Siga / Filtrete / Whoosh
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Ah….dust and its evil twin, dust mite. When they join forces and infiltrate, they can make your cleaning efforts feel like you are living the myth of Sisyphus, asking yourself over and over, “Why is my house so dusty?”
Inside, it comes from things such as dead skin cells, pets, dirt, clothing, food debris, and air vents. Outside, the air is a continual swirl of dirt, pollen, car exhaust, mold, and bacteria. So the bottom line: dust is, well, everywhere. Here’s how to tackle these ubiquitious little monsters.
1. Your pets, including your “non-shedding” goldendoodle are leaving hair everywhere
Use a powerful vacuum that actually works, because nothing is more frustrating than pet hair plastering your furniture.
We know: you purposely adopted a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog just so you wouldn’t have to worry about that daily annoying pet hair and dander. The truth is, any good allergist will tell you there is really no such thing as a true hypoallergenic dog or cat.
Your little ball of sunshine may not fully shed its coat on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean they are permanently exempt from dander and those little golden “poof balls” you spot underneath your coffee table, or in the corners of your hallway.
Fix: If you have a furry pet, they are likely contributing to your dust problem. Our favorite pet hair vacuum, the Shark NV752 Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet, which has a HEPA filter, does a solid job of sucking up pet dander, hair balls, and small crumbs on hardwood and laminate floors, as well as carpets.
Or try our favorite robot vacuum for pet hair, the self-emptying iRobot Roomba j7+.
2. The great outdoors comes back with you indoors
Instead of being wasteful with paper towels, try reusing microfiber cloths to wipe everything, from wood to glass.
Come in from anywhere, no matter what the season, chore or event, and you are bringing the dust of the world with you: on the bottoms of your shoes, your coat, your reusable shopping bags. Carrying mail, packages, boxes, your reusable grocery bags? Dust hangouts. Your dry cleaning, with those clingy plastic wraps and paper hangers?
Fix: A quick swipe of all your boxes, bags, and what-nots with Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths should do the trick. The microfiber rags are reusable, washable, and not abrasive.
3. You leave your windows wide open often
The Swiffer 2-in-1 can conquer multiple dust-covered surfaces, with combined wet and dry cleaning power.
If it’s one of those gloriously sunny days, of course you will want to throw those windows wide open—and why not? You have screens to keep the dust out, yes? Ha, chortles the evil twins.
They simply go undercover, sneaking in between the mesh, landing on your window sills and screens and eventually, to the floor below.
Fix: For those dusty floors, use the Swiffer Sweeper Mop Kit The dry pads are great for a quick dust-up, the wet pads for more serious dust and dirt removal.
4. Your window coverings haven’t been cleaned in a while
Streaks and glass don't mix—get to those hard-to-reach spots on windows and blinds back to new.
Your window treatments, like drapes and blinds, are prime landing strips for dust from outside, especially when the sun is out.
Fix: For both drapes and blinds, the OXO Good Grips Long Reach Dusting System, with a long (up to 8 feet) handle and interchangeable pivoting heads, can navigate short and long curtains and drapes, even the ceiling.
For blinds, try a microfiber cloth that quickly picks up dust and debris, wiping those shades clean with no residual odor.
5. Your electronics in your home office attract dust and debris
Remove unsightly dust from glass surfaces with a spray cleaner.
Items such as laptops, computer mats, mouses, as well as other equipment like scotch tape dispensers and white boards are magnets for dust particles.
Fix: For your computer, grab those microfiber cloths and Whoosh! Screen Shine, and your desktop or laptop looks new again in moments.
For all the dust laying around those ancillary items, like your computer mouse and stapler, spray a microfiber rag with Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, which is non-toxic and biodegradable.
6. Your HVAC system filter needs to be changed
Yes, an effective air filter can help you moderate the air quality around your home.
If you don’t have the right filter in your HVAC system, don’t change it regularly, or even have leaks in the ductwork, they can all contribute to bringing swirls of dust along with your heat or air conditioning.
Fix: High quality air filters include the Filtrete MPR 1900 System, which has a MERV rating of 13, is designed to capture small dust particles from inside of your home.
7. You have been scratching and itching
The Blueair DustMagnet traps more than just dust. This quiet air purifier can remove pet dander, smoke, mold and odors from the air.
We all shed dead skin cells on a daily basis. Over time, those dead skin cells can turn into dust and contribute to the amount piling up inside of your home.
Fix: An air purifier can help remove tiny dust particles, smoke of all kinds (cigarettes, kitchen smoke) pollen, even viral particles. While costly they will also do an all-in-one bang-up job in cutting through your dirty air, rendering it cleaner and fresher.
We’ve tested the best air purifiersand the Blueair Dustmagnet, which covers 356 square feet and has excellent particle removal capabilities, is our favorite. It automatically adjusts when it detects dirty indoor air and has a companion app, so you can see when it’s time to change the filter, as well as the quality of your indoor air.
Surrender to the idea that dust will be with us until the end of time, but now, at least, you’ve got your arsenal in place to show it the door.
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