How To Keep Dust Out Of Your House – Easy Tips & Solutions

By Usha Balasubramanyan- May 17, 2024

As every homeowner knows, your battle with household dust is a never-ending one. Unless you have an air-conditioned home, where you don’t open the windows at all, these fine particles are bound to enter your home and collect on furniture and floors.

Not only does dust make your home look unclean, but it’s also bad for your health. Dust mites are allergens that can cause respiratory infections like asthma. If neglected, these particles clump up into dust bunnies that lurk in forgotten corners; below the bed, behind the computer and under the sofa.

So how to keep dust out of your house and prevent it from taking over your space? Here are some tips to help you breathe easy.

9 Best Ways to Keep Dust Out of Your House

1. Get a Coarse Fibre Doormat

Here’s a new rule: anyone entering your house must wipe their feet on the doormat and take off their footwear before coming in.

Shoes bring all kinds of dirt, germs and dust into the home. A closed shoe cabinet in the foyer will keep dust out and prevent this dirt from being tracked into the house.

If you do not like to walk barefoot, keep a separate pair of rubber slippers for use only inside the house.

get a coarse fibre doormat

2. Declutter Your Home

It stands to reason that the more cluttered your home is, the more surfaces there will be for the dust to collect. Besides this, the more furniture you have, the harder it will be for you to keep vacuuming around and under each piece, making your task of how to keep dust out even harder.

Pare down your belongings regularly and ensure that clutter does not accumulate anywhere. Rather than keeping things out in the open, put them away inside cabinets or wardrobes. Adding glass shutters to open shelves will significantly reduce the amount of dust that accumulates on the surface.

3. Stop Dry Dusting

If you’re using a dry cloth or a feather duster to clean surfaces in your home, you should realise that this only spreads the dust around. No wonder you’re frustrated about how to reduce dust in your room!

By patting down upholstery or cushions, all you’re doing is removing the dust temporarily; it goes up in a cloud and settles down once again. Try vacuuming instead.

Regular vacuuming will prevent the dust from settling down and suck it up once and for all. If you are using a dusting cloth, use a slightly damp one.

Otherwise, all you’re doing is pushing the dust around and scratching the surface. Take care when you’re dusting electronics like the TV or your computers, as moisture will ruin them.

4. Keep Windows Closed to Keep Dust Out

keep windows closed to keep dust out

Do you live on the lower floors of an apartment building or in an area with heavy traffic outdoors?

When you’re contemplating how to keep dust out, keep in mind that most dust enters through the windows. Keep your windows closed as much as possible during peak traffic hours.

Dust does not come in much during the early morning hours when there is still dew and morning mist outside, so make sure you use this time to open your windows for fresh air.

Using a mesh screen on your windows will help in trapping some of the dust. Just make sure you wash it often to remove the accumulated dust.

5. Keep Plants on Your Windows

Plants on the windowsill or balcony will filter the dust and prevent it from entering your home. Opt for climbers like money plant or ivy, which will grow on the window grills and make a pretty green curtain that traps the dust.

If you have a garden outside your home, you won’t have to wonder how to keep dust out as often – there’s a lot less of it than if you were staying in a dry apartment complex without any greenery around. keep plants on your windows

6. Water Bodies

Indoor water bodies trap dust and increase the humidity of the air, so dust particles do not fly around as much.

If space permits, you can have a small indoor garden with pebbles, plants and a water body. A stagnant water body may encourage the breeding of mosquitoes, so make sure that you change the water regularly or have small fish which will eat the larvae. indoor water bodies

7. Avoid Carpets and Rugs

Do you keep fretting over how to keep dust out of a room whenever someone walks over a carpet or rug? Avoid carpets, or if you must have them, make sure that you vacuum them regularly.

8. Use Blinds Instead of Drapes

Curtains also gather dust in copious amounts, and if you use two layers of day and night curtains, the problem is compounded. A better alternative for your windows is metal or wooden blinds, which can be wiped clean or vacuumed regularly.

9. Install an Air Purifier

If all these measures fail, and you’re still frazzled about how to keep dust out of the house, you could consider installing an air purifier.

However, a word of warning: this should only be used as a last resort, as air conditioners are known to funnel heat to the outdoors, contributing in a significant way to global warming.

If you really must, opt for units that use less energy and have the least carbon footprint, and keep their usage to a minimum.

Some Bonus Tips on How to Keep Dust Out

While all these measures can help reduce the incidence of dust, you really cannot do much to prevent it altogether. Here’s what you can do to keep the dust out and under control:

Set aside time to vacuum once a week. Make sure you attend to all surfaces, including upholstery, window drapes, carpets, open shelves, the doormat and below furniture.
Change your bed linen and pillowcases every week. You may not know it, but you shed skin when you sleep, and this contributes to a considerable amount of dust.
Wipe fans and light fittings with a damp cloth.
Mop your floors twice a day with water and a microfiber cloth. Use an antibacterial lotion to remove germs.
Groom your pets regularly, and do not allow them to climb on your sofas or bed.
Remove cobwebs from the ceiling with a long-handled brush.
Paint the walls at least once a year to keep surface dust at bay. Use non-toxic paint.
Sunlight is a natural disinfectant. After vacuuming, keep your mattresses in the sun, and flip them every once in a while.
Wash curtains and rugs every few months or get them dry-cleaned.

Most of us don’t have the luxury of the time needed to wage war with dust bunnies daily. However, if you’re regular and use these tips during your cleaning spree, it will help you minimise the dust in your home and stay healthy.

For more advice on how to keep dust out and spruce up your home interiors, get in touch with our HomeLane experts.

FAQs

What Causes a Lot of Dust in Your House?

Dust can build up in your house due to various reasons:

Unsealed windows or open doors
Cluttered spaces
Dusty carpets and rugs
Inadequate/improper cleaning

How Do I Get Rid of Dust in My House Naturally?

Looking for easy natural ways to keep dust out of your home? Some great options you can explore include placing plants on windowsills, using doormats, keeping windows/doors closed, and setting up a small indoor garden with a water body.

How Can I Reduce Dust in My Bedroom?

Wondering how to reduce dust in your room? Start with these tips to keep dust out:

Keep your bedroom windows shut during high-traffic hours
Reduce the clutter/furniture in your room and store your belongings inside cabinets/shelves
Rather than dry dusting, use a vacuum cleaner.

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