What helps keep down the dust in a home? We keep the windows shut, dust once a week, but have excessive dust!?

Question

Any ideas or tips? Any machines we can buy to help reduce the amount of dust?

Answer 1

Nearly all of the above are outstanding answers! Definitely get a HEPA for your furnace and AC, if you have one, all washable, and wash the filters as often as you can manage it. Take them outside and hose them down with a pressure sprayer, as per manufacturer's instructions. And spend the money to get a really good quality vacuum with a washable millipore HEPA filter. Wash the filter and empty the cup every time you vacuum. Although humans do cause some 'dust' with shed skin cells, evern more comes from your house itself! Do you have a popcorn ceiling? It will rain tiny plaster flakes for years. Sand it down and paint over it with a matte latex. Other tips:

1) Sorry, but say bye to house pets!

2) Get rid of the carpets and rugs. Besides shedding zillions of tiny fibers every day, they are posh digs for dust mites. It's the dust mites that eat human skin cells and the mite poop is one of the strongest triggers of all for people with allergies. Vacuum the floors, then damp mop everything once a week.

3) For the same reason as the one above, also get rid of dust ruffles on the bed, mini-blinds, fluffy sofa pillows, and anything but the most simple curtains. Roller shades are easily cleaned and great for privacy. Any kind of blinds are horrible dust catchers and hard to clean.

4) Check the filter on your dryer. Replace the exhaust hose at least once a year. Little tears can send lint and crud back into your house.

5) Don't wear shoes in the house! Wear socks and house slippers instead. You might be shocked at how much easier it will be to keep your floors clean.

6) There are whole house filters you can have installed to your ductwork, but man, are they ever expensive!

7) Once you take the dust ruffles off of your beds, it will be easier to clean under them. Ditto for funiture with skirts and ruffly stuff.

8) Running the fan on your heater/AC sucks outside air into your house. Personally, I can't bear to be in a house that doesn't get fresh air, but if you live in a dusty area, this could be the culprit. And poorly sealed ductwork from the attic can suck debris from the attic right into your house. Get the ducts cleaned every season and check every duct for tears and holes. This will also save you money.

9) Get good quality mattress covers that are washable and zip shut. Get them for every mattress and box spring in the house. Get them for the bed pilliows, too. Starve the dust mistes!

10) Wash all sheets and towels weekly. You probably do this already.

11) Limit the bric-a-brac in your house. Figurines, silk floral arrangements, book collections, etc, will all hide dust this week that will end up back on your floors and furniture next week. Be spartan!

12) Clean from high to low. Remember to clean the top side of the blades on the ceiling fan. Don't forget the tops of the door frames, etc.

So, good luck! Hope this helps!

Answer 2

There are some good ideas here, some of which I would recommend as well, such as having your duct work cleaned, using a good vacuum with a Hepa filter. Also use a vacuum that has a dusting attachment and use that to dust before you use the swiffer cloths or other dusting product. Also replace your filter in your heating system with a Hepa filter that is washable rather than replaced every month. They cost around $60 depending on the size you need, but they make all the difference in the world. Also use a filter in your return air duct. Use the washable filters that look like a Brillo pad and are cut to size. Wash them once a week, you will be astonished at the amount of dust and hair it will pull out of the air!

Answer 3

If you have a furnace vent... put in a high grade filter. You can also put filters in the heat vents. I use air cleaners. You also need a vacuum cleaner that takes the dust out, not just moves it around, and you have to vacuum dust everything, and because there is so much dust it is kind of a constant battle. Run the air cleaners full blast when you are vacuuming or dusting, and use an ostrich feather duster - not the cheap plastic feather kind.

Answer 4

An air purifier works well. I catch a lot of dust in mine. Get a high quality one w/ a HEPA filter. Also you need to put filters over your air vents, you get them from amazon.com or allergy control stores on the net.
There are some things which make a lot of dust. There are animals, carpeting, draperies, tissues, blankets, mostly things that are fibrous. But I also heard that most of dust is made of dead stuff, skin flaking off, dandruff. etc. gross i know. Try vacuuming a lot and get rid of your carpeting and clutter. I hate dust.

Answer 5

Having your air ducts professionally cleaned can help cut down on dust in your home.

Answer 6

The best vacum I've found is the Hoover with the Hepa Filter.
Exfoliate well when showering and brush your pets daily to cut down on dander.

Answer 7

change you air filters once a month. there really know way around it . just take the time to clean well dust mop, then change that filter you will be able to tell the differences.

Answer 8

quite a change from your pron questions. Try one of those air cleaners. The ones that suck the dirt into it and push clean air out. They are supposed to help with the dust and pet dander and all of that. Ion breeze? or something like that.

Answer 9

Heres a few ideas for you. Perhaps a better furnace filter might help.and a cloth vacume bag. Maybe you need your ducts cleaned,or maybe you have the same problem as my home.It seems to be due to my pets and old house carpet, that needs to be removed.
Hope this helps.

Answer 10

75% of dust is actually human particles (such as dead skin cells) so if you wanna kind of help on the dust factor I suggest you exfoliate hard and long each day and that will help minimize it a bit.