You might notice dust throughout your house and wonder how all of that dust got there. You may see dust on the shelves, on top of books, under the furniture, and on the floor. What makes a house extra dusty? We are going to discuss some of the issues that cause this problem and give you advice on what you can do about it.
The Airflow Problem
The biggest issue causing dust buildup, and the most common reason, is a lack of proper airflow in the home. If your home is poorly ventilated, then there won’t be anywhere for dust to go.
Dust is a natural byproduct of people living in a home, and it is created by dead skin cells, dirt, and other debris that floats through the air and finds someplace to land undisturbed. If there is decent airflow in a home, then much of the dust will dissipate outdoors, escaping the house rather than collecting inside of it.
Poor airflow can be caused by not using your ventilation system or not cleaning that system. If your HVAC system or ventilation system are dirty or old, they may not be able to do their job properly. During the wintertime, the problem tends to become worse, as doors and windows are left closed more often due to cold weather, so dust builds up to more noticeable levels.
What to Do about It
The first step is to check your ventilation system and see if it is in need of repair or cleaning. HVAC specialists can tidy up the system and service it so that it works more efficiently.
You should also try to open the doors and windows more often to allow for better airflow. Ensure that stale air is venting outside, and if that is not happening, then your ventilation system may need to be upgraded or fixed.
You should also run your ventilation system more frequently so that air and dust can be pushed outside instead of staying inside. This will help your house to not smell musty and will ensure fresh air is flowing regularly through the house. That’s important during winter months when air flow tends to be stifled by closed doors and windows.
The Cleaning Problem
Another reason why your home may look dusty is because the house is not being cleaned like it should. If you or someone else does the cleaning, but you don’t do a thorough job of it, then dust will collect easily. If you sweep the floors but miss the corners, there will be dust there. If you don’t bother to dust shelves or clean under furniture, then you will have a dust problem after a while.
This will be evident when your air quality is poor and you constantly feel dust in your lungs and sinuses. That may prompt some people to do a better job of tidying up.
If you have a home with lots of cubby holes, unused spaces, furniture, or places that are hard to clean because they are out of reach, there may be a dust problem there that is difficult to fix. It can be hard to clean in some areas of the house, and it might be necessary to get help to clean in your home at times.
What to Do about It
For assistance in the tidyup, you can hire professional maids. They can bring tools that will reach those hard to get places and can work quickly to get rid of the dust. It might be smart to call them every so often to do the cleaning you need done instead of letting the dust problem get out of control.
You can also do more cleaning yourself. If the dust is caused by a lack of proper cleaning, then creating a cleaning schedule for yourself may be the solution. Try to get in the habit of regularly cleaning your home so that it stays tidy. If you can get the dust problem under control and then keep on cleaning each week, it will be a simple thing to keep it under control all the time.
You should be using dusting and cleaning methods that are effective, though. Try to avoid using conventional feather dusters, since they spread the dust around instead of getting rid of it. Use wet cleaning cloths that pick up the dust and actually remove it. You can also vacuum the dusty areas and use specialized dusting attachments and corner attachments to clean up dust that cannot be easily vacuumed up with the regular vacuum head.
Dust and Dust Mites
If you have lots of dust in your home, then you will probably have plenty of dust mites as well. These are very small creatures that hide out in dust and make it their home. They leave behind droppings and dander that can make you sneeze, cough, and experience other allergy symptoms.
If you are allergic to dust mites, as many people are, you may not want to do the dusting and cleaning on your own. To ensure you get rid of these pests, use hypoallergenic cleaners and bed covers. Wash your linens with hot water to kill them as well. Also make certain that the house is well ventilated when you are cleaning or dusting so that dust mites will be likely to escape outside rather than stay indoors.
You won’t really know if you got rid of the dust mites, but you can tell if your home is less dusty and if you are experiencing clearer sinuses and fewer allergy symptoms.
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons why you might have a dusty home, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Use the tips we have given you here to get rid of dust and to make your home look much cleaner. If you can manage to remove dust from your home and keep it away, you will sleep better and feel better, and your home will be much more sanitary.
