7 Ways to Reduce Dust at Home
- Freshen up with Fresh Wave
- Avoid bringing the outside in
- Use a damp cloth instead of a feather duster
- Be meticulous
- Clean from top to bottom
- Wash blankets and bedding regularly
- Declutter
For many of us, the end of winter and the beginning of spring is a time of year synonymous with a fresh start and cleanliness. As soon as the weather starts to warm up, we become hyper aware of smells in closets, musty build up in drawers and cabinets, and, let’s not forget, the slumbering garden and backyard.
Well, Fresh Wave raises an alternative argument: Why wait until spring to get your cleaning in order – particularly, when those cleaning efforts revolve around managing dust and minimizing allergies. After all, springtime is when dust starts to take hold and settle.
Getting rid of dust and odors at home doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, with a trusted odor-eliminating regimen and natural products like Fresh Wave, eliminating dust from home and managing allergens becomes a lot simpler – just in time for spring.
Where Does Dust Come From?
You may be asking yourself, “where does dust even come from?” Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so pleasant. Dust is made up of fine particles collected by dirt, pollen, skin cells, smoke, pets, mold and mildew, fabric fibers, and more.
What’s even more disturbing, the average amount of dust that collects in the home, each year, is approximately 40 pounds. For reference, that’s the equivalent of four gallons of paint or a medium-sized bag of dog food. And that amount varies due to several factors, too. You’re more likely to see clumps of dust, or dust appearing more frequently, if:
- You live in a dry area or area with high pollen count (Midwest/Texas).
- It’s any time of year between May and October (most dust mites die off in the cold, winter temperatures).
- You haven’t cleaned your heating system in a while (when furnaces click on, they stir up quite a bit of dust, sending it through the vents in your home).
- You haven’t cleaned your vacuum (dust and other particles collect in your vacuum filter, and if you don’t empty it regularly, you could be making your home dustier every time you try to get rid of the dust).
- You have pets.
- You smoke or consistently use a fireplace.
- You leave windows and doors open.
- You don’t clean properly or often enough (we recommend dusting at least once per week, but it also can’t hurt to clean as you go).
But don’t feel discouraged! Cleaning tasks can pile up just as easily as dust bunnies at the start of any year. You can still significantly reduce dust at home if you start sooner than later and save yourself the heartache (or headache) of intense allergies this spring.
How Does Dust Affect Me?
Reducing dust at home isn’t just about making your surroundings look and feel clean. We’re talking about your health here! If you’re already prone to allergies, or have asthma, you’ll want to be especially proactive about removing it.
If you don’t take the steps to get rid of dust, you will be breathing in particles that could eventually reach your lungs and cause more serious health issues. If you start experiencing any of the following symptoms more than usual, consider a good dust-cleaning session:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Itchy, watery eyes and throat
- Cough
Now, it’s time to put your cleaning efforts into action!
7 Ways to Reduce Dust at Home
From mastering dust removal in hard-to-reach places to using the proper dusting tools, and more, we share seven ways to eliminate dust from your home and fight odor as the weather starts to warm up and the days grow longer.
1. Freshen Up with Fresh Wave
When air circulates, it moves around all kinds of particles. That won’t change, but you can make the air and surrounding surfaces fresher and cleaner with a Fresh Wave Odor Removing Spray.
Whether you tackle this step first or after a productive dusting session, you’ll rest easy knowing no harsh or synthetic chemicals are being sprayed into the air (your allergies will thank you for that, too). We also have our Fresh Wave Odor Eliminating Vacuum Beads, perfect for when you don’t want your vacuum spouting out a musty, dusty odor after a long day of cleaning.
2. Avoid Bringing the Outside In
We all love some fresh air in the warmer months, but leaving windows and doors open tracks in more dust. If you can, go outside to enjoy the weather, and when you do come back inside, leave all shoes and coats in a separate space to keep the dust spread minimal.
3. Use a Damp Cloth Instead of a Feather Duster
Feather dusters may seem a more convenient, certainly more whimsical, option, but in reality, you’re just fluffing the dust around even more. By using a damp cloth (either with water or a natural surface cleaner), you’ll be able to trap the dust, instead of just moving it around.
4. Be Meticulous
Your home has many nooks and crannies that entrap build up. Do you know where to look? Double and triple check areas like window blinds and curtains, ceiling and portable fans, baseboards and crown molding, window and door frames, cabinets, bedding and other upholstery, exposed candles, picture frames, electronics, and more.
These easy-to-miss areas can be some of the biggest harborers of allergens that only get worse as the season approaches. Eliminating dust from your home in these small nooks and crannies will have a bigger impact than you’d expect.
5. Clean from Top to Bottom
Logistically, you’ll want to start dusting higher surfaces and work your way down. This way, any dust that falls from the top, can be cleaned down at the bottom. Then there will be no need to double up on the dusting!
6. Wash Blankets and Bedding Regularly
Couches, chairs, and bedding get frequent use and therefore, collect plenty of skin cells, dirt, pet hair, and more. While it’s not realistic to completely clean upholstery every week, you can be proactive in getting rid of dust at home by washing blankets, pillows, and bed covers.
7. Declutter
The less mess you have lying around, the less you’ll have to dust. Trust us, it can be painstaking to dust individual books that have been lying out on the coffee table or toys that have been sitting out unused for weeks.
Once you’ve gotten to work eliminating dust from your home, reward your efforts with a fresh new smell. Fresh Wave creates natural odor eliminating products that feature some of your favorite clean scents. From zesty orange-scented spray to luxurious lavender gels and canisters, Fresh Wave can take you from the depths of winter to refreshing spring.
We’re always coming up with new ideas for making your home feel fresh and new. Be sure to continuously check our cleaning tips and tricks, so that your allergies can bite the dust.