The battle with dust is one that most people know all too well.
It seems like, no matter how much you clean, the dust is always back the next day.
Dust is made up of many different things, and it can accumulate quickly and be hard to clean.
If you are struggling with dust in your home or a particular room, there may be some things you can do to prevent it and remove it more easily.
Why Is My Room So Dusty? (5 Reasons, Fixes)
If you notice that your room is dusty, several things could be causing it.
Finding the causes of the dust build-up is important.
It will allow you to come up with solutions that can prevent or reduce the amount of dust that accumulates in your home or specific rooms in your home.
Here are five reasons your room may be dusty and five ways to fix it.
1. Carpet
Carpets can hold onto dust and then release it when you walk on it or move something across it.
The fibers of the carpet make it easy for dust to settle and stay hidden.
Since the carpet is on the floor, it’s where a majority of the dust will fall and build up.
Every time you move something on a shelf, bed, or another surface, the dust will move through the air and eventually settle in other places.
Fix
Vacuum the carpet often.
This will remove the dust from the room and not just move it around.
Since the dust on the carpet will likely come from surfaces in the room, you may want to dust them before you vacuum so more of the loose dust falls on the floor and can be vacuumed up each time.
There will always be new dust entering the room on your clothing, through vents, and on other things, so the more you vacuum, the less dust you will see in your room.
2. Appliances
Many appliances have filters that collect dust to keep the moving components inside from getting dirty.
They also have cooling fans that prevent them from overheating.
The cooling fans also blow the air out into the room, so it spreads to other surfaces and carpets.
When the filters get full and need to be changed, more dust can get through and spread into the room.
Fix
If you have a lot of appliances in your home or a specific room, be sure to keep the filters clean.
Always dust and clean around and behind the appliances to reduce the amount of dust and debris that will get sucked into the appliance and then blown out into your room.
Keep surfaces and appliances wiped down with a damp cloth to reduce the dust in your room.
3. Pets
If you have pets in your home, it could increase the amount of dust in your room.
Pets shed, stir up dust and dirt, and have dander that turns into dust particles.
When pets run through your home, they release and move around all the dust on them and in the area.
The dust flies around the room where it can land or surfaces and corners and continues to build up.
Fix
Keep pets contained in certain rooms and do not allow them full access to your home to limit the amount of dust they bring into your room.
Groom pets often to reduce shedding and dander.
Treat pets to ensure there are no parasites that could cause pets to scratch and lead to more dander, mites, and hair flying around inside your home and making its way to various rooms.
4. Skin Cells
We lose skin cells every day, and a lot of them are lost while we are sleeping.
As the skin cells build up, they turn into dust that can spread all over your room.
If your skin is dry or you tend to scratch and move around a lot in your sleep, you could lose even more skin cells than normal.
The more you lose, the more dust will end up in your room.
Fix
While you can’t stop losing your skin cells, you can shower before bed and moisturize to prevent your skin from drying out and falling off easily.
Cleaning your bet sheets and keeping dirty clothes in a hamper can help reduce how much your dead skin cells travel around.
5. Air Vents
If you have an air conditioner or any type of vent in your home, it’s easy for dust particles to enter any room.
Vents blow air, and dust travels in that air.
While the filters in your air conditioner and vents can prevent some things from getting through, the air circulation still pushes the dust and dirt around.
Fix
The best way to prevent dust from getting into your air conditioning or heating vents is to keep your filters clean.
This will prevent the dust from getting through them and will allow them to block out any particles that may move around in your home and room and cause dust to accumulate.
Are Certain Homes More Prone To Dust?
Some homes have more dust than others, and this may be due to a lot of different factors.
Your cleaning habits, lifestyle, and location can all play a role in the amount of dust in your home.
If you have any of these things in your home or life, they could be making your home dusty.
Pets
Homes with pets are much more likely to be dusty than homes without pets.
Pets shed and have dander.
They also stir up a lot of dust and dirt in your home and track it in from outdoors.
Cheap Air Filters
While you may not need to splurge on the most expensive air filters on the market, buying the cheapest can have some consequences.
The cheaper, poorer-quality air filters are less likely to be effective at preventing dust from entering your vents and air units and could be pushing dust and dirt around your home.
Leaking Windows
If your windows are not sealing properly or if you have gaps around your windows and doors, these are all places where dust and debris can enter your home.
Even small gaps and holes can allow insects, hair, dust, pollen, and other things that make up dust to enter your home and blow around from room to room.
What Is Dust Made Of?
Dust is an accumulation of small particles that exist inside and outside your home.
These particles are attracted to each other, and they come together to form what we know as dust.
Many different things make up dust, and the dust in every home or location is different.
Some things that make up dust particles include…
- Pollen
- Animal fur
- Hair
- Dandruff
- Skin cells
- Food crumbs
- Dust mites
- Insect droppings
- Dryer lint
- Fabric fibers
Can Dust Make You Sick?
Dust can contain bacteria and viruses and may make people and animals sick.
Most dust is not harmful, but if someone is sick in the home or brings in contaminated dust from outside, it could spread around your room and cause a variety of health problems, including…
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Breathing problems
- Skin rash
- Congestion
- Sore throat
Tips For Removing Dust From A Room
If you have a lot of dust in your room and are looking for a way to reduce or remove it, there are some things you can do.
Keep in mind, you will always battle dust and will never be able to completely remove it from your home.
These tips can help you reduce how much you see daily.
1. Decrease Surface Area
The more surface area you have in your room, the more places you have for the dust to settle.
If you have shelves and furniture with decorations and trinkets on them, these are all places where dust will accumulate.
Reduce the number of things you have in your room and the number of places you have for the dust to land.
This will also reduce the number of things you have to dust and clean.
2. Wash Sheets And Pillowcases Once A Week
Your sheets and pillowcases are where a lot of your skin cells end up before they start to turn into dust and move around your room.
You can help control the amount of dust in your room by washing the bedding at least once a week.
This will get rid of the dead skin cells, so they are less likely to blow around your room and become dust particles.
3. Store Shoes Elsewhere
A lot of dirt and dust comes in on your shoes, and if you leave them out in your room, there’s a good chance the dust will blow around your room and settle on other things.
Consider taking your shoes off at the door or even taking them off outside your home before you enter your home.
4. Keep Dirty Clothes Contained
Your clothes bring a lot of dust into your home, and when you drop them on the floor or scatter them around the room, it causes that dust to fly through the air.
By keeping your clothes in a hamper, you reduce the area they cover and the surface area in the room.
It’s also important to wash your laundry to reduce how much dust builds up on it.
5. Keep Pets Out Of The Room
Pets cause a significant amount of dust, so if possible, do not allow them in your room.
As pets scratch, move around, and shed, they add to dust particles and can make the room extremely dusty.
You can reduce the dust by keeping your pets crated at night or when you aren’t home, creating boundaries for them, and not allowing them in the rooms you want to keep dust-free.
6. Wipe Down Surfaces Often
Wiping down surfaces will help reduce the rate that dust spreads and builds up.
Wiping the surfaces will remove any dust that accumulates daily, so you will not have as much to deal with.
Dust will show up every day, but dusting or wiping down the surfaces will remove it before it becomes an eyesore or has a chance to grow larger and spread around the room to other surfaces.
7. Vacuum Often
Vacuuming removes any dust that may be present on your carpet.
You can also use the vacuum attachments to clean window blinds, window seals, curtains, fans, walls, and upholstery.
Removing the dust from all these places will reduce the overall amount of dust in the room and make the entire room cleaner.
Tips For Preventing Dust In A Room
If you don’t want to deal with cleaning the dust from your room on a regular basis, you can reduce the amount of dust you bring into a room instead.
Here are some tips that can help you do that.
1. Declutter
If you look around your home, you will probably see a lot of things you don’t need.
Everyone is guilty of having clutter, but if you feel like you have a significant amount, you may need to declutter your home.
Removing these unnecessary items will remove a lot of surface area, which provides room for dust to accumulate.
It will also make your home easier to clean and allow you to get it done in less time.
2. Use An Air Purifier
Air purifiers help to filter the air in your home and purify it.
Not only do they catch some of the dust particles that are in the air before they make it to your room, but they can help reduce the chance of bacteria, mold, and viruses from attaching to other particles in the dust.
You can add the air purifier to your room or any other area of your home to help improve the air quality around you.
3. Leave Accessories At The Door
Everything you wear has a chance of being covered in dust.
Dust is a part of the air, and if you walk into a building or even down the street, things like hair, dander, pollen, and insect droppings will find their way on your clothing.
If you carry a purse, umbrella, scarf, gloves, or other accessories, they can also attract dust particles.
Wearing them through your home and into your room will bring that dust into your room.
Taking them off at the door will reduce the amount of dust that enters your home and gets transferred to your room.
4. Keep Your Door Closed
The airflow in your home will bring dust into your room, and if you want to keep it out, closing your door is one of the easiest options.
You may also want to keep your windows closed when possible.
Of course, air circulation is important, and keeping your windows closed at all times may not be a good option for you.
It’s best to close your windows and doors whenever you aren’t in your room or are sleeping.
5. Keep A Mat Outside The Door
A lot of dust is tracked in on your shoes.
Leaving a mat outside the door of your home or even outside your bedroom door will give you a place to dust off your feet and remove any debris or particles before you track them into your home.
You will still need to clean this mat regularly, but it can be much easier to clean than trying to remove dust from your room or home.
6. Groom Pets
A huge portion of dust is caused by pet hair and dander.
Grooming your pets will help cut down on shedding and dry skin.
Keeping your pet’s hair cut short can also help reduce how much hair is in your home.
Always be sure to brush and groom your pets outdoors, as doing so inside will only release the hair and dander into your home more easily.
If you aren’t comfortable grooming your pet yourself, you can always take it to a groomer.
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