More than 40% of household dust comes from tiny flakes of skin and barely visible fabric fibres aside from being blown from outside that floats on the slightest air current and settles on every surface in your house.
Organize your closets to keep dust to a minimum
Closets are full of tiny fibres from clothes, towels, and bedding. And every time you open the door, you whip up an invisible dust storm. You can’t prevent clothes from shedding fibres, but you can make closets easier to keep clean.
You should box or bag items on shelves, preferably in clear plastic containers. Plus, when you dust, they’re easy to pull off the shelves and wipe clean. Keep coats in garment bags.
And finally, keep your closet floors clear. If the floor is cluttered, chances are you’ll just bypass it while cleaning, and dust will start to collect.
Change your bedding every week
Your cozy bed is a major dust distributor. That’s because your bedding collects skin flakes, sheds its own fibres, and sends out a puff of dust every time you roll over.
To minimize the fallout, wash sheets and pillowcases weekly. Just take blankets and bedspreads outside and shake them down. You can smack some of the dust out of pillows, but for a thorough cleaning, wash or dry-clean them.
Here’s how often to wash bedding:
- Weekly: sheets and pillowcases.
- Monthly: Mattress covers, duvet covers, and uncovered comforters.
- Seasonally: Duvet inserts, bed skirts, bedspreads, and pillows.
Use the right cleaning supplies
The key is to capture, not just spread it around. Problem is, that’s exactly what dry rags do. A better option: Damp rags or disposable cloths, which attract and hold dust with an electrostatic charge.
Cloths that attract dust with oils or waxes also work well but can leave residue on furniture.
Give rugs and cushions a beating
Carpets are a huge dust reservoir since all its fibres absorb dust and can send it airborne every time you take a step.
“Taking carpets outside for a good beating is an overlooked necessity.“
Drape them over a fence or clothesline and beat them with a broom or tennis racket. Give your cushions the same treatment. Upholstery fabric not only sheds its own fibres but also absorbs dust that settles on it.
Beat cushions in the backyard or use slipcovers and give them a good shake.
Avoid shoes in the household
In most African households, it’s considered good manners to remove your shoes when you enter someone else’s home, but there are always people who resist the No Shoe Policy.
Stop the dirt at the doors
Sturdy mats inside and outside of every entrance to your home give people a place to wipe their feet before entering. That practice alone will significantly cut down on the amount of dust tracked indoors even if people take their shoes off inside.
Shake the mats outside or clean them every couple of days and you’ll notice a definite reduction of dust.