Books, carpet, rugs, upholstered furniture, fireplaces, and pets all contribute to the dust load. Dirt, pollen, smoke, exhaust, sand, and many other things may bring in dust from outside. In addition, mold, bacteria, and dust mites are all likely to inhabit and often proliferate in dust.
Roughly 60% of the dust in your home comes from outside. Pollen and dirt particles are brought inside by attaching themselves to your clothes, shoes, and hair. As you walk around your home, you spread these particles around where they eventually settle and make dust.
Most dust, about two-thirds of it, comes from airborne particles that enter from outside your home. These are things like pollen and dirt in the air, according to experts. The rest comes from inside sources. A pet, a sweater or a rug can shed particles.
If you notice a lot of dust in your house, it's likely due to a combination of factors affecting air quality and ventilation. Dust particles from outside can enter through open windows or doors, while indoor sources like pet dander, dead skin cells, and fibers from textiles contribute to the buildup.
It is often dirt, skin cells, or fabric fibers, but could be more or less anything that could dry and flake off. Books, carpet, rugs, upholstered furniture, fireplaces, and pets all contribute to the dust load. Dirt, pollen, smoke, exhaust, sand, and many other things may bring in dust from outside.
The short answer is yes, most air purifiers on the market are designed to remove large dust particles from the air. Many feature mechanical filtration, which is a method of capturing pollutants on filters.
Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters are the best for containing dust, and remember that sweeping isn't nearly as effective for removing dust. If you like, you can also use any multi-surface dust spray, and finally, water when mopping the floors or cleaning the windows.
Cleaner ducts reduce the likelihood of distributing dust and other debris around your home. A thorough cleaning gives you peace of mind, knowing there's nothing growing (or living) in your vents.
Get an Air Purifier
An air purifier cleans the atmosphere of your home by reducing contaminants, which include dust. "Although an air purifier can not remove dust entirely, it can help to reduce the amount of dust settling in your home," says Sokolowski.
Air purifiers assist in eliminating household dust by helping clean the air at home. These machines are engineered with technology that traps dust before it settles on your furniture and floors. Opt for a HEPA air purifier that captures 99.97% of dust and particles as small as 0.3 microns.
There are many potential sources of dust including open windows and doors, pets that shed fur or dander, carpet fibers, clothing, shoes and more. If these are left unchecked, dust can accumulate rapidly.
Test Dust Levels with Our Sampling Kit
LCS Laboratory offers a professional-grade air sampling kit to help homeowners measure dust concentrations in their homes. If you suspect that your house is excessively dusty, our kit provides an easy and reliable way to confirm it.
Around 60% of the dust inside your home actually comes from outside*6. Pollen and soil, as well as outdoor pollutants, are carried into your home through your shoes, clothes, and hair. As you'd expect, they also come in through cracks, windows and doors*7.
The Impact of Open Windows on Indoor Air Quality
One study by the University of Arizona found that opening windows increased dust and pollen levels in homes. In addition, the study found that when windows were open, dust and pollen from outside could enter the home and settle on surfaces.
Use a brush to loosen any buildup of dust in the ductwork. Lift register and insert vacuum hose as far into the piping as it can go. Turn the vacuum on to capture as much dust as possible that the fan is pushing through the ductwork.
Dust is an accumulation of pollen, dead skin cells, pet dander, mold, bacteria, dust mite droppings, and other particles. Outside air can add to indoor dust in your home, too. Soil, sand, chemicals, and germs can enter your home from cracks in the doors and windows or from your clothes, shoes, and pets.
Inexpensive, washable vent filters may offer an improvement. However, stubborn dust issues may benefit from the addition of a HEPA air filter.
It's common to clean dusty surfaces with a wet cloth, but the most effective method for eliminating household dust, including dust mites and their droppings, is to vacuum them first. Vacuum hard floors then use attachments for surfaces and fabrics.
All you need is vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of soap to recreate my grandmother's dust-repellant spray recipe. The coating the spray leaves helps more dust propel off surfaces and onto the floor, which means you'll have to clean those hard to dust places a little less.
Pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 2 cups warm water, and ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil into a spray bottle. Shake until the ingredients are combined.
There are thousands of portable air purifiers that can help, but the best room air filter for dust is a HEPA filter. Unlike home air filters for an HVAC system, highly efficient HEPA air filters work very well in a standalone air purifier. A HEPA air filter traps 99.97% of particles in the air.