Why Is My House So Dusty? 5 Common Causes and How to Fix Them
See what's causing dust buildup in your home and how to keep the dust away.
Is your home feeling dirtier than usual or are your allergies acting up? Are you left wondering "Why is my house so dusty?" While the culprit could be something as simple as leaving the windows open or perhaps road work or construction right outside your door—there are many causes of dust you’re probably not thinking about. Keep reading to learn more about why your house gets dusty, and what you can do to reduce that unpleasant film around your home.
Meet the Experts
Sonia Cajigal, M.D. is a board-certified allergist and immunologist in St. Louis, Missouri.
Shyam Joshi, M.D. is the chief medical and scientific officer for Nectar.
Chris Dooley is the CEO and co-founder of Puraclenz, a clean-air technology company.
What Is Dust?
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 via cracks in the doors and windows, as well as your clothes, shoes, and pets.
Why Is My House So Dusty?
While dusting is an easy chore to forget, a buildup of dust on surfaces can make your home look dirtier and affect your overall air quality and well-being. According to allergist Sonia Cajigal, M.D., there are quite a few hidden sources of dust in every home, but below are some of the most common examples.
Poor Airflow
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.
Soiled Upholstery
If you don’t have allergy encasings for mattresses and pillows, you may want to consider purchasing some. “Dust mites live in mattresses, pillows, and upholstery,” Dr. Cajigal says. Using allergy covers can prevent new dust mites from settling into these areas and irritating those with allergies and asthma.
Shyam Joshi, M.D. of Nectar says that curtains are another common culprit. You may want to invest in non-textile window treatments, such as shutters or blinds, dry-clean your curtains more frequently, or, at the very least, use machine-washable curtains, which are often budget-friendly.
Dirty Rugs and Carpeting
Carpeting can be another major source of dust in your home. The fibers in the carpet are a haven for debris and other allergens. While it may be impossible to eliminate carpeting from your home, especially if you're a renter, regularly cleaning carpets and area rugs can help.
Unbathed Pets
Then there are those sources of dust no one wants to come to terms with. “Cats, dogs, and other household pets tend to be a major source of dust," Dr. Joshi says. "Keeping them out of areas where dust typically accumulates can reduce dust levels." You also may want to consider bathing your furry friends or sending them to the groomer more frequently.
Humidity
Mold and dust mites thrive in humid areas, increasing the amount of allergens in the air. If you live in a humid location, you may have more dust in the home than someone in a drier area. Minimize opening windows and doors to reduce the amount of pollen and dust in your home.
How Often Should You Dust?
Remember that dusting doesn't just refer to wiping down dust on hard surfaces. It also includes vacuuming and washing bed sheets regularly. “Ideally, this should be done every week if possible to keep dust and the many allergens it contains at low numbers,” suggests Dr. Joshi.
While this might sound daunting, you can always space out these individual tasks. For example, you can wash and change out your sheets every Sunday, vacuum every Friday, and wipe down hard surfaces another day of the week.
How to Get Rid of Dust in Your House
With a few simple habits and tweaks, you can substantially decrease the amount of dust that settles in your home. Keep in mind that even when combined, these efforts won’t completely remove dust and dust mites from your home. However, they can decrease your exposure to dust and allergens.
Vacuum More Often
One easy solution to reduce dust is to vacuum more often. If you’re already vacuuming weekly or more, and your vacuum is in good working order—you may need to replace or clean the filter. If your vacuum has a dirt cup, it should be emptied after each use to maximize suction. (If your vacuum is not working properly, consider purchasing a new vacuum.)
Invest in a Robot Vacuum
If your home has major dust issues or you have pets, you might want to think about investing in a robot vacuum. You can even program it to clean daily. Best of all, robot vacuums are great for eliminating dust under large or low pieces of furniture where a standard upright or even a stick vacuum won't always fit.
Change HVAC Filters
Another way to get rid of dust is to change the filters in your HVAC system. Whether you have central heat and air or a window unit, if you don’t remember the last time filters were changed, that probably means it's time for a swap. Dr. Cajigal suggests putting in new filters every one to three months—set a calendar reminder on your phone to help you remember.
Purchase an Air Purifier
You may also want to purchase an air purifier to remove dust particles from the air. “Filtration-based air purifiers are a great way to reduce how much dust settles on surfaces and how often you need to clean surfaces,” says Chris Dooley of Puraclenz. Look for air purifiers with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.
Set Up a Humidifier
While you're investigating air purifiers, it's worth looking into purchasing a humidifier, too. Low humidity can boost dust levels in your home! (All that dry air makes it easier for dust to spread.)
Keep in mind, though, that too much moisture in the environment will exacerbate any dust mite issues, so finding the right balance is important. Aim to keep your home's humidity between 40% and 50%.
Wipe Down Hard Surfaces
You may need to wipe down hard surfaces to eliminate dust more often. Use a microfiber rag or duster if possible, and always start at the top and work your way down so you don’t push dust onto something you just cleaned. Consider dusting right before vacuuming to avoid letting debris sit on your carpet or floors.
Avoid Rugs
As mentioned, carpeting can be a huge source of dust. Thick rugs are notorious for trapping dirt and pollen, and because of this, they're not recommended if you struggle with allergies. Regularly vacuuming your carpets and rugs can mitigate debris, but it's best to skip soft floor coverings in the first place.
Clean Upholstery Frequently
Textiles and cushy surfaces practically invite dust, just like rugs, so clean sofas, pillows, and window treatments often. Once a week, use the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum to get rid of dust and loose soil, then seasonally, run an upholstery cleaner over your soft surfaces. Wash pillows and anything else you can toss in the washing machine.
Take Shoes Off Indoors
Many cultures already consider wearing shoes indoors a sign of disrespect, so you may already be enforcing this habit, but leaving shoes at the door is another way to cut back on dust. Shoes transfer lots of debris from the outside, so removing them as soon as you enter your home will literally stop dust and dirt in its tracks. Use a doormat to trap dirt at the entrance, and be sure to clean that often, too.
Groom Your Pet
Your pet is likely a big culprit of fur, dust, and pollen; it's another body, after all, releasing skin cells everywhere. Bathing and combing your pet regularly—ideally outdoors—will help keep dust at bay. However, doing this excessively will also dry out your pet's skin, leading to flaky skin and ultimately, more dust! Consult with your vet to determine the best grooming routine and frequency.
Vacuum Pet Hair
Try using a vacuum designed to pick up pet hair and dander.
How to Get Rid of Dust Mites
If you or someone in your household has allergies or asthma, the battle doesn't stop at getting rid of dust. While dust mites are microscopic, their body parts and waste can be a potent allergen to those affected, causing sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion, difficulty breathing, and more.
Unfortunately, it's pretty much impossible to eliminate dust mites for good, but there are steps you can take to significantly improve the problem. In addition to using allergy-proof bedding and reducing dust buildup, frequently washing your bedding on a hot cycle (at least 130 degrees) can kill dust mites and rid your bedding of dead skin flakes, which dust mites eat for food.
All of this can sound a bit daunting, and even gross, but once you've established a regular cleaning routine, it can make a big difference in how dusty your home gets and how you feel in your space.
Related: 13 Places You're Forgetting to Dust in Your Home—But Need to ASAP
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