Dust continues to accumulate in seemingly vacant spaces due to external factors. Airborne particles from the outdoors, ventilation systems, air pollution, and natural human skin cell shedding contribute to dust formation. These particles eventually settle on indoor surfaces, persisting even in unoccupied environments.
There is “so much dust" in buildings that are uninhabited by humans because no one is around to disturb what blows in or comes off the other critters that may be around. Rats, snakes, and insects all shed dust as well. The dust is just left to accumulate over time.
Dust should mostly be dead skin cells in a clean home. Old paint can shed off walls and present as dust. If you've an old paint job that could be a contributing factor to your dust problem. People tracking dirt inside would be another possible source. Micrpoplastics/fibers off clothing also can present as dust.
In an empty house, the equilibrium shifts towards more dust settling out onto surfaces, because there's less movement to push it back into the air. And noone is doing regular cleaning, so the ongoing increment from insect etc. biological processes just builds up.
To reduce dust buildup at home, consider regular cleaning routines, using air purifiers, maintaining proper humidity levels, and minimizing clutter. Proper sealing of windows and doors can also help reduce outdoor dust infiltration.
A buildup of dust in your home is often the result of poor airflow. Combined with infrequent cleaning, poor airflow can lead dust and dust mites to settle comfortably into several areas in your home. Make sure your HVAC system is running properly and consider running ceiling fans to help air circulate.
Make dust spray:
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.
Dust continues to accumulate in seemingly vacant spaces due to external factors. Airborne particles from the outdoors, ventilation systems, air pollution, and natural human skin cell shedding contribute to dust formation. These particles eventually settle on indoor surfaces, persisting even in unoccupied environments.
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.
Exposure to dust inside homes can have adverse health outcomes, such as respiratory problems, asthma, allergic reactions, and lead poisoning (if the dust contains lead).
The biggest cause of a dusty home is probably your HVAC system. It acts as the lungs of your home—it brings air in and lets air out of your home to heat or cool it accordingly. An HVAC system has many working parts which, if not maintained properly, can lead to a very dusty house.
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.
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.
Water is one of the primary reasons that vacant or abandoned building will start to decay. If water from precipitation, such as rain or snow, gets inside the home and is not attended to, this can cause a lot of damage. Water damage can include dissolving drywall, rotting wood, rusted metal, and melted plaster.
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.
Common Sources of Dust in Homes
Outdoor sources may include pollen, soil particles, and pollutants that enter through open windows, doors, or on shoes and clothing. The age of your house and its HVAC system can also contribute to dust accumulation, as older homes may have more cracks and crevices where dust can settle.
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.
Vacuuming regularly helps keep the dust from getting deeper into your carpets. On high-traffic areas, vacuum back and forth over the same spot to loosen and remove more dust. Vacuuming is not just for carpets and rugs – vacuum hardwoods too! Sweeping pushes dust around instead of removing it.
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.
Even if you clean regularly, your house can still be dusty due to various factors like outdoor pollution, pet dander, and inadequate air filtration. Ensure you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, change HVAC filters regularly, and seal windows and doors to minimize dust entry from outside.
Even in closed-up homes, it will still settle from the indoor atmosphere, leak from the ceiling cornices and attic spaces, and seep into your living areas through cracks around windows and doors. Any particles of dirt, smoke, fibres or crushed materials that go into the air eventually come down as dust.
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.
Should you dust with a damp cloth? We at Castle Keepers find dusting with a plain, slightly damp microfiber cloth the best way to remove dust from the home, much superior to dusting with oils or sprays. “Damp dusting” is also much easier than dry dusting and more effective because it catches more dust.