11 Ways to Reduce Dust in Your House for Cleaner Air & Surfaces

Dust particles eventually find their way into even the cleanest homes. But we've discovered how to prevent the dust in your house without spending all your free time cleaning. Reduce dust in your bedroom or living room and keep it out — even if you have pets — with easy and practical hacks for reducing dust in your home. 

Your air vents and HVAC filters play a large role in keeping dust out of your home. But once they're caked with dust and allergens, they aren't very efficient. Change your filter at least every three months to keep your air and the surfaces in your home a little less dusty. 

If the blades of your ceiling fans have a thick layer of dust on them, then they're going to shed some of that dust every time you turn them on. Use an old pillowcase to trap the dust and smoothly pull it off of each blade without causing it to fly around the room. Do this every couple of months to keep the dust buildup at bay.

Much of the dust we find in our homes comes from the textiles we use regularly. Staying on top of washing your bedding, blankets, and pillows is a great way to keep your home from collecting so much dust. Try to wash your sheets at least once a week and then aim to wash additional bedding or decorative linens and pillows once a month.

Dust settles on our floors and then gets stirred up as we move about. Keep those dust particles to a minimum by running your vacuum often. A quick, daily lap around the most lived-in parts of your home is helpful, but a few times a week works well if you're short on time. These vacuum sessions don't have to be thorough. They're just great for making your deep cleans a little lighter. 

Rugs trap dust easily, so it's important to air them out regularly. Take your rugs outside every few months, give them a good beating, and shake off some of that dust. Be sure to vacuum them once you bring them inside.

Shoes bring tons of things we would rather not think about into our homes. A strict "no shoes in the house" rule cuts down significantly on unwanted dirt and debris. It's okay to ask guests to remove their shoes as well. Just be polite and offer them a place to stash their footwear until it's time to leave.

Related: The Anti-Dust Cleaning Routine That Gets Rid of Dust for Good

Window treatments are an often overlooked spot for cleaning in homes. Make sure yours aren't hiding a ton of dust that could spread around your home. Vacuum or wash draperies, dust blinds and shutters, and clean the trim around your windows to reduce the dust.

Think of it this way: the more items there are in your home, the more things there are to collect dust. Make decluttering a regularly practice so you can cut down on items you don't need and things that tend to capture dust when they aren't cleaned religiously. 

Whether artificial or officially plant babies, the greenery in your home needs regular dusting as well. Gently wipe down the leaves of your plants whenever you're dusting or tidying up. 

Paper towels might seem like the simple choice when cleaning, but they aren't always ideal. Paper towels can send more small particles into the air and, depending on the brand, they might spread far more dust than they trap.

Try a microfiber cloth instead. They're reusable, make your cleaning solutions more effective, and trap dust in. 

Preventing dust in your home makes your daily and weekly cleaning tasks much easier. But there are a few things that cause excess dust in your home. You might want to be mindful of these things and try some tips for lowering their impact on your home's dust level.

• A large collection of books: Stay on top of cleaning and decluttering your library so those books don't collect layers of dust.
• Pets: Regular grooming is important for ensuring your pets don't spread extra dirt and dust around your home. You may also need pet-grade cleaning products and tools.
• Upholstered furniture: Give your upholstered pieces regular deep cleanings so they aren't building up their dust collections. Vacuuming and steam cleaning are usually the most effective for cleaning upholstery.
• Smoking: Make smoking an outdoor activity to keep your home fresh and clean.
• Pollen: Avoid opening your windows on days when the pollen count is high. 
• Fireplaces: If you use your fireplace regularly, make sure it has proper ventilation and clean the surrounding area often.

Now that you know what causes dust in your home and how to prevent it, you can confidently invite guests over without speed cleaning before they arrive. Use these practices to keep the dust in your home to a minimum and make your cleaning routine a little less overwhelming. 

Reducing dust is one way to improve air quality in your home. Discover 12 more.