How to keep your home dust free?

One of the most common infections faced by people all over the world is dust allergy. What starts as a simple cough and cold allergy takes a toll on the respiratory system and leads to issues like trouble with breathing, chest congestion etc. While we have medicines as step 2 of solving this problem, the first step is to keep your space dust free. This guide outlines important and practical tips for a clean living space. 

See also: Smart home cleaning tools and tips

What are the sources of dust?

It is imperative to know the sources of dust that affect your living space. The common sources of dust in your living space are: 

• Fibers from fabric
• Flakes from pets
• Human skin cells
• Outside air pollution that enter homes and contribute in elevating the dust levels
• Pollen
• Poor ventilation

Cleaning routine for minimizing dust at home

To maintain a dust-free home, you can divide the tasks between daily and weekly. 

Daily-tasks for minimising dust at home

Dusting furniture surfaces

• Wipe the surface of the furniture daily especially with a microfiber cloth that can arrest the dust. You can use surface cleaning agents that are available which are either natural or chemical based. 

• Also, clean the window sills, door frames and décor items that are displayed on a daily basis as these attract dust every day. 

• Sweep the walls and the floor to ensure that there is no chance of any cobweb settling. Mop that floor with a disinfectant that can keep infectious bacteria at bay. 

Weekly-tasks for minimising dust at home

• Vacuum the heavy traffic areas of the house once a week. A vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter will remove allergens and dirt from the house. 
• Also, vacuum the carpets, upholstery, cushions, curtains, window sills, etc. that attract dust. 

• Wash the bedsheets, pillow covers and blankets according to care instructions once a week.

• Clean the air vent with a damp cloth or vacuum it to effectively remove allergens.  Note that before cleaning the air vent, always turn off the HVAC system. Also replace the air filters periodically to ensure the expected performance.

• Wipe the walls of your house with a mild soap that will prevent dust from settling on them. Also, wipe areas such as white boards, corners, lamps, switch boards etc. by taking utmost care (to avoid electric shock). 

Hacks to follow for dust free space

• If carpet is not a necessity in your living space and is just an element of décor do away with it as these are major sources of dust collection areas.
• While open book shelves look beautiful they also attract dust easily, it’s a good idea to have doors on the cabinets – glass or wood to protect them from dust attack. 
• While doing the house, choose easy to clean and maintain furniture and upholstery. 
• Check for a pet or a pollen allergy before you decide to keep pets or plants at home. Allergies to both are very common and lead to severe health issues.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com