6 Ways to Reduce Dust

Wonder how to keep those dust bunnies from multiplying?  There are steps you can take to keep the dust at a minimum.  If you hate to dust like I do it might be worth your while to do a little prevention!

• Keep the knick-knacks to a minimum, especially in areas you spend a lot of time
• If you tend to get a stuffy nose while sleeping or are allergic to dust mites it might be a good idea to encase your pillows and mattress in allergen-free covers.  You should wash them in hot water twice a year.
• Put an air purifier in the rooms you use the most in your house.  That way the dust will get sucked up before it settles.  Fan powered cleaners are best because the ionic ones release ozone.  Cadr.org has a list of reviews of units based on Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers standards.
• Get furnace/air conditioning filters that are pleated with a higher MERV rating.  The cheaper brands don’t do much in the way of preventing extra dust from entering the house, says, Aileen Gagney, and American Lung Association asthma and environmental health program specialist.
• Plastic, wood and metal blinds are easier to clean than curtains.  Microfiber cloths work great for this or an electrostatic duster that has lots of “fingers”.
• Don’t use fabric softener sheets on your dusting rags or microfiber cloths because it reduces their ability to absorb liquids and pick up and hold dust.

Places to remember to clean:

We usually clean that which we can see and when you’re 5′4″ you tend to not clean as much as you should!  Here are a few places to make note to clean next time around.

• door jambs and hinges
• crown moldings
• light bulbs
• tops of kitchen cabinets, bookcases, and amoires
• top of the fridge
• picture frames on the wall
• closet rods
• headboards and footboards
• inside lampshades
• staircase balusters
• tops of books
• ceiling fan blades
• hanging light fixtures

This information came from an article I read in the April 14, 2009 issue of Woman’s Day magazine. (p. 90).

Tagged as: cleaning dust, dust, dusting tips, preventing dust, removing dust