Dust is made up of
tiny particles that include bits of human skin, paper, cloth fibers,
hair and pet dander among other things. If you let it build up too
much, it can lead to outbursts of allergens as well as other health
issues.
Check out my advice to banish the dust from your household:
Feather duster of
regular dust cloth?
Instead of using a
feather duster, you may try to use an electronic cloth or a
microfiber towel to dispose dust instead of just moving it around.
IMO this is really the best approach. E-cloths attract dust like a
magnet. As soon as you are done, you can wash, air and reuse these.
Microfiber towel usually have strips which contribute to their
cleaning power. If you don’t have a microfiber, you can always
dampen a regular cloth.
Using a dustpan and
a broom to eliminate dust is another great way of reducing your
household dust. Frequently sweep areas that tend to harbor dust, such
as the kitchen floors, doorways and hallways. Toss out dust into the
garbage can to be sure it does not re-enter your household.
Wet or dry?
A damp mop cleans
much better compared to a dry one; however water can be hard on
specific surfaces, like wood. Microfibers are available in both wet
and dry varieties. Although it can sound as overkill, you should dry
mop a wooden floor once per day.
Which comes
first, vacuuming or dusting?
This is similar to
the briefs/boxers debate: there is evidence of choices, and in most
cases, it boils down to individual preferences. I prefer vacuuming
first since vacuums will blow around tiny dust particles, which
can be gotten rid of through dusting post-vacuuming. However,
majority of dust-first aficionados argue that gravity favors them;
even the lightest dust will finally end up settling on the floor-
where it can be vacuumed after dusting.
Organize your
closets to keep dust to a minimum.
Your closets are the
dust haven, filled with small fibers from your clothes, bedding and
towels. And any time you open the closet, an invisible dust storm is
whipped out. You cannot prevent your clothes from shedding fibers.
However, you are able to make your closets much easier to clean. This
will greatly reduce dust. Bag or box all the items on the shelf.
Clear plastic containers are the most preferred – they will lock
dust out and fibers in. They will also allow you to see clearly what
is inside. As you dust, they are easier to pull off the shelf &
wipe clean.
Coats that are worn
only during winter shed off fibers all year round; slip large garbage
bags or garment bags over them to contain fibers as well as prevent
the clothes from getting coated with dust. Lastly, ensure that your
closet floor is clear. In case the floor is cluttered, you are likely
to bypass it while vacuuming, and this will lead to the accumulation
of dust. But a wide-open floor requires only a few seconds to be
properly vacuumed. A wire-shelf allows you to clear all the shoes off
the floor without necessarily losing your storage space.
Change your
bedding once a week
Dust is normally
found in sheets, mattresses and pillows. Encasing your box spring and
mattress in allergen-proof cover, and washing your entire bedding
once every week will effectively keep dust at bay.
Stop it before it
starts
Replace the air
filters in your air conditioning system at the recommended pace. Try
to use air filters that are pleated: these trap even more dust
particles. Others are electrostatically charged to attract pollens
and other allergens.
Clean the air
while you clean the house
According to some
pertinent vacuum reviews,
these appliances whip out dust particles with their “agitator” (a
cylindrical brush that sweeps carpets) or blow exhaust streams. The
dust eventually settles on the “just cleaned” surfaces. You are
able to filter out some of this dust just before it settles by having
your thermostat switched to fan on. This will turn on the blower
inside the furnace and filter the air even when the system is not
heating or cooling. Leave your blower on for approximately 15 minutes
after you’ve completed cleaning. However, remember to switch back
to “auto” mode after this timeframe. The majority of blowers are
not designed to run constantly.
Beat your
cushions and rugs once a month
Just like your
bedding, your rugs as well as your furniture cushions have a tendency
to harbor airborne particles over time. Every time you walk on your
rug or sit on your couch, you send dust particles into the air. At
least every three months, take your rugs and cushions outside for
several whacks and try to get rid of as much dust as possible. Old
broom handles are a great tool to be used in beating cushions and
rugs:
- Beat all over, not just in one place.
- Continue beating cushions and rugs until you are unable to see dust flying into the air.
Clean walls from
top to bottom
Every few weeks,
when your house is about to undergo thorough cleaning, go over your
walls, baseboards and trim with microfiber clothes or special vacuum
attachments. First, clean the top of the walls, moving all the way to
the bottom. This way, you will be able to trap all the dust particles
that fall as you clean.
Remove piles of
magazines and books
As the above items
degrade, they generate a lot of dust. Having piles of them in your
house is one potential way to create a dust-full environment. Arrange
your books on the bookshelf, and recycle magazines and other paper
items regularly. Store papers that you wish to keep in a plastic bag
to avoid making your house dusty.
About 90% of dust particles found in your home come from fabric and people: small flakes of skin, tiny fibers that float on slightest air currents and settle on the surface of your household items. You may not be able to completely get rid of these dust particles. However, with the above guide, you will keep dust under control. However, I might’ve missed something, so I would definitely appreciate your feedback on this subject.
Nice article, in order to really keep dust under control you need a good quality vacuum cleaner that has HEPA filtration and is a certified sealed system. The choice of vacuum cleaners that have this is not so large. Check out http://homevacuumzone.com for help on this.
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ReplyDeleteValuable post. You describe easily a vital issue about dust cleaning. I think one can easily realize your advice and able to clean the home completely. Remember, A vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter is always good for allergic symptom. Thanks for sharing awesome post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a best guide. I love this post. thanks for share with us.
ReplyDelete