7 ways to dust-proof your house

With winter comes a bout of dust and dryness. Finding dust in your home is never pleasant, especially for those suffering from allergies.

To make matters worse, dust attracts dust mites, which can wreak havoc on your health. As compiled from rd.com, magazine.foxnews.com, brightnest.com and dummies.com, here are a few ways to keep dust at bay.

Change your bedding every week

Your comfy bed can be a major dust distributor as your bedding collects skin flakes, sheds its own fibres, and gives out a puff of dust every time you roll over. Dust mites love to dwell in sheets, pillows and mattresses. To minimise this, wash sheets and pillowcases weekly.

Use the right cleaning supplies

The key is to capture dust and not just spread it around, which is exactly what feather dusters and dry rags will do. Damp rags or disposable cloths that attract and hold dust with an electrostatic charge work much better. Clothes that attract dust with oils or waxes also work well but can leave residue on furniture.

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Give rugs and cushions a beating 

Carpets are a huge dust reservoir, since all its fibres absorb dust like a giant sponge and send it airborne every time you take a step. Drape them over a fence or clothesline and beat them with a broom or tennis racket. Do the same for your cushions. Upholstery fabric not only sheds its own fibres but also absorbs dust that settles on it, so it emits puffs of dust every time you sit down. Beat cushions in the backyard or use slipcovers and give them a good shake. If you want to eliminate upholstery dust, buy leather or vinyl-covered furniture.

Invest in air purifiers

If you have severe allergies or asthma symptoms, an air purifier can be beneficial. But air purifiers filter dust particles and don’t take care of dust mites. For it to be effective, you will need one for each room.

Limit decorations and furnishings

Use furniture made of wood, vinyl, plastic and leather throughout your home instead of that made of upholstery. Make your bedroom as uncluttered and wipeable as possible. Avoid shelves, pennants, posters, photos or pictures, heavy cushions, and other dust-collectors. Limit clothes, books, and other personal objects in your bedroom to essentials, and make sure you keep those not in use in closets or drawers.

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Vacuum more often

Vacuuming once a week is a great way to remove dust from your rugs and floors, but it’s also important to use the right tool for the job. Upright vacuums with an agitator are best for carpets and rugs while canister vacuums, which are more compact and capable of producing strong suction even with attachments, are more effective on woods, tile and other types of hard floors.

Clean your closet once a week

Your closet is essentially a dust factory. The fabric of your clothing and towels is constantly shedding tiny fibres that accumulate on the floor and then spread throughout your house. But it’s easy to forget about your closet during your cleaning routine. Vacuum and clean your closet once a week to remove dust right from its source.

By Komal Anwar

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2015.

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