8 ways to keep your house dust free

Dust in the home should be declared a national epidemic. What with the number of bypasses and road expansions going on everywhere in the country? If it’s not a road construction close by, it is an apartment building.

Dust in the home is composed of sloughed-off skin cells, animal dander, hair, dust mites and their faeces, fabric fibres, tiny particles of soil, plaster and paint. Many people are allergic to dust and dust mites.

The fight against dust is not one you can win but you can reduce the severity of dust in your house.

Microfibre dusters

Instead of using T-shirts or feathers, use a microfiber cloth to capture dust. It attracts dust like a magnate. If you are not using a microfibre cloth, dampen your cloth. Your surfaces will be spick and span without any cleaning solution.

Vacuum

You should vacuum before you dust because vacuums can blow around small dust particles, which you get rid of by dusting post-vacuuming. Use a vacuum with a filter that traps more of the tiny stuff, once a week. Empty the canister and change bags when needed. Keep the vacuum’s brush wheel free of hair and other material.

Door mat

This acts as a trap on the outside. Doormats will act as a catchment area for dust that comes in from the outside through shoes. Doormats will also block the gap between your door and the floor.

Dust your furniture

Furniture traps all manner of dust particles and should therefore be dusted quite often. Turn over your pillows and cushions and give them a beating that will release accumulated dust. You can also use a vacuum while having installed an upholstery brush in the appropriate part of your vacuum. Once in a while when your furniture is dirty, get professional cleaners to shampoo the seat. This will leave it as good as new.

Clean your bedding

Your bed is a hotbed of dust, fibre from clothing, bedding and skin that you shed on a daily basis. Clean your bed sheets and pillowcases weekly. Heavier items like blankets and duvets don’t need a weekly clean but you should take them outside for shaking.

Beat up your rugs

In addition to vacuuming your rugs, take them outside, beat them and shake them thoroughly. If your house is prone to a lot of dust, opt for rugs that have a shorter pile. This means that you go for a woven rug instead of a shaggy rug. For kids rooms and playrooms, interlocking rubber mats that are easy to wipe and clean with water are the best.

Declutter

Books, artwork and knick-knacks provide nooks and crannies for dust to settle. Kids’ stuffed animals are also a breeding ground for dust. Wash them every once in a while and store them in plastic bins.

Windows

To keep dust coming in through the windows, use a window screen. If your windows remain shut, put masking tape over the space between the window and the wall. Remove the tape when you want to open the windows. Wipe window sills regularly with a damp cloth and clean your window sheers and curtains regularly.