There are a lot of things we’d like to keep in the past, and the Dust Bowl is one of them. Don’t drive yourself mad over figuring out why your room gets so dusty. From having dirty air filters to using the wrong dusting products, there are so many ways you could be contributing to the dust level. Since you don’t know what you don’t know, we’re here to help clue you in on why your room gets so dusty and how to stop the vicious cycle.
7 Reasons Your Room Is So Dusty (& How to Fix It)
If you thought you’d experience way more white-gloved butlers judging the cleanliness of your room with a swipe of their fingers than you have, you’re not alone. No matter how good of a lean, mean cleaning machine you are, you can’t beat dust back forever.
Keep finding your countertops and tchotchkes covered in a smattering of dust even after you’ve cleaned? Your room could be getting so dusty for reasons you’re not addressing. Thankfully, we’re here to help you wise up on the secret reasons your room gets so dusty and all the tricks to beat back that dust for good.
You’re Not Dusting Often Enough
Most people wait to dust until they see it, which is far too infrequently. You should make a habit of dusting every room once a week. This includes out-of-reach areas like fan blades, air vent covers, above your fridge, and so on.
We won’t lie and say dusting is for the faint of heart, but if you want to stop sneezing in the off-season, you’ve got to routinely dust your room.
You Need to Replace Your Air Filters
The more dust that makes its way into the air, the more there is to settle on your furniture and appliances. If you’re noticing more dust than usual and have deep-cleaned several times to no avail, it could be that your air filters are clogged and need to be cleaned.
High-efficiency particulate air filters (aka HEPA filters) are the highest-graded filters on the market. Though they’re on the pricier side, they will work better than any other if you’re locked in a battle against your dust demons. Thankfully, if you’ve already invested in a HEPA filter, there are multiple ways to clean one.
Related: The Anti-Dusting Cleaning Routine That Gets Rid of Dust for Good
Your Pets Need to Be Brushed & Bathed
If you’ve got hairy pets, you’re probably on top of keeping your house vacuumed and swept. But with pet dander being less visible to the eye, you might not attack it with the same gusto. If you have multiple hairy pets in your home, they could be contributing to your room being so dusty.
Make sure your pet is well-groomed throughout the year. Brush your pet outside (if possible) every week or day — depending on your pet’s fur type — to loosen dead skin cells that become dander.
While cats are self-cleaners, dogs need to be bathed. However, every dog breed requires different bathing routines to protect their skin and coat. Check in with your veterinarian to see how often you can bathe your pup.
If your pup can’t be bathed often, try a weekly dander-removing spray like Allerpet’s.
You’re Tracking Dust From Outside
You can easily see when you track mud into the house on your shoes, but noticing the uptick in microscopic dust swirling into the air off of your bags and clothes isn’t so easy.
There are a few ways to limit the amount of dust you’re bringing inside from outside.
- Have a designated area to strip off your clothes, shoes, and bags when you come inside.
- Change into fresh clothes when you get home.
- Don’t leave your garage doors, regular doors, or windows open for long periods.
It’s Humid in Your Area
You can’t control Mother Nature, and if she decides it’s humid where you live, then it’s going to be humid for as long as she wants. Humidity can increase dust because it makes the smaller particles stick together, get heavy, and fall through the air. These particles can’t filter back through your air con system, and instead, they just collect in your room.
If you live in a high-humidity climate, invest in a dehumidifier for your room. The size of the humidifier you need depends on your room’s dimensions, which, in turn, determines its price. But they’re a great investment purchase if you have dusty rooms.
Want a natural way to lower the humidity in your room? Invest in a few houseplants. Houseplants lower humidity by absorbing the water in the air, which can decrease the amount of dust you deal with.
Related: 11 Ways to Reduce Dust in Your House for Cleaner Air & Surfaces
You’re Forgetting to Dust Important Items
Swiping over the back of your TV and your blinds is good, but if you’re not getting those dust-collecting items out of your room, that dust is going to pile up. For example, vacuuming rugs won’t get rid of dust 100%. Every month or so, you should take your rugs outside and beat them with a duster.
Other dusty things you should be cleaning include:
- Refrigerators
- Ceiling fans
- Throw pillows
- Light fixtures
- Dog/cat beds
- Cat trees
- Bedding
You’re Only Dusting With a Duster
When you think of dusting, a sexy French maid outfit and feather duster might come to mind. Dusting equipment has dramatically evolved from the handheld dusters that only seemed to work well at casting dust back into the air. Upgrade your cleaning stash to include the latest and greatest dusting tech on the market.
These are a few of the must-have dusting products that we recommend:
- Microfiber dusting cloths to run over every surface in your room
- A Swiffer duster to get those hard-to-reach places
- A commercial dust mop to clear your linoleum, tile, and hardwood floors
- Dust-busting air blowers to clean your electronics
Prevent Dust Bowl 2.0 From Blowing Through
Your room shouldn’t look like a sandstorm blew through it a few days after you dusted. Finding that visible dust is a clear sign something’s amiss. Your first step to getting a dust-free room should be adding these hacks to next week’s to-do list.
