The battle against dust is an endless one, and also a least-favorite apartment cleaning chore. But keeping your home dust-free doesn’t just make it look better, it’s better for your health, as well. Try these cleaning tips to get a leg up on the dust war in your apartment.
Manage your floors
Carpet holds more dust than almost any other large surface in your home, and it may be the one you think of least as a dust catcher. If your apartment is fully carpeted, commit to a weekly regimen of vacuuming to keep the dust at bay, preferably with a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter.
If your apartment has uncarpeted floors, a mop and rinse routine using a cleaner appropriate for the type of surface should be helpful. A few area rugs (the more washable, the better) can warm things up, give you less to vacuum and, best of all, help keep your apartment dust free.
The greatest gathering spot for dust bunnies is in corners and under furniture. Don’t forget to hit these spots during your weekly apartment cleaning. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner, a long-handled broom or a dry-cloth sweeper.
Change your HVAC filter
Keeping your apartment’s air filter clean is an important way to manage dust in your home and also a big money-saver for your heating and cooling bill. The system’s filter traps dust and lots of other nasty things in your circulating air, so make sure it’s changed often enough to do a good job; every three to six months is a good rule of thumb. This is a task that may fall to your landlord; if not, you will want to consult him or her about how to do it yourself.
Wash your bedding regularly
Your bedding is another seemingly unlikely source of dust production in your home. Bits of cloth fiber constantly break off and make their way into the air and onto the floor. It is also a place where dust mites thrive, feeding on bits of sloughed-off skin. (Dust mites and their waste are a main component in house dust and also a major allergen.) Wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill these mites and remove the broken textile fibers.
Maintain your pet’s coat
Animal hair and dander are two other significant contributors to house dust. Be sure to bathe, brush and comb your dog or cat regularly to collect hair, and use a lint roller to remove hair from your upholstered furniture. (Regular grooming also keeps your pet happy and healthy!)
Limit dust-gathering knick-knacks
Yes, decorative details and the memorabilia of your life add personality to your home, but they also give dust a place to gather. Make sure you regularly wipe down the items you leave out as part of your apartment cleaning regimen. You might use the dusting moment as an opportunity to move items around and place them differently in the room for visual variety.
Consider your environment
Get in the habit of removing your shoes when you come in to your apartment. Also make sure that your windows and outside doors are well-sealed, which will also save on your energy bill. Keeping outside dust from entering in the first place will give you fewer sources of dust to combat.
Try an indoor air filter/purifier
You might look into the wide array of air-cleaning systems for your apartment that are designed to capture and reduce dust levels. Some use UV technology, while others rely on changeable filters. Before you make an investment, match the size of your apartment to a machine that will be effective for your space.
While there is no way to live dust-free, there are ways to cut down on the dust in your home. Integrate these tips into your regular cleaning methods, and your apartment will be better able to pass the “white-glove” test.
