How To Reduce Dust (& Make Your Home Spotless!)

How To Reduce Dust (& Make Your Home Spotless!)

Do you want to know how to reduce dust in your home?

If you often find yourself sneezing, have watery eyes or wheeze in your own home, you may have a dust mite allergy.

We've put together a list of 21 ways for you to reduce the dust in your house to make your home look better than ever, and help you breathe easier too!

Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in June 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in March 2018.

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How to reduce dust in your home

1. Change your bedding

messy bed sheets
Change those sheets!

Your dear old bed collects skin flakes and dust with ease.

An easy way to prevent dust in your home is washing your bedsheets and pillowcases weekly. Get the pillows dry cleaned or wash them yourself.

2. How to prevent dust in the home by sweeping the floors

If there are areas where you don't need to vacuum, use a broom and dustpan to sweep the floors. Wash your dustpan and brush every few months and let them air-dry before storing.

3. How to prevent dust with a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier will help reduce the levels of humidity in the house and is one of the best ways to help dust mite control.

There are lots of different types of dehumidifiers available including the Pro Breeze 500ml Compact which I've just ordered myself.

4. Install roller blinds

Roller blinds won't eradicate dust, but they will enable you to reduce the dust in your home.

Instead of curtains why not try roller blinds? These are much easier to remove and clean, or try cloth curtains which are easily washed in the washing machine.

For tips on how to clean vertical blinds, take a look at our other guide.

5. Vacuum regularly to reduce dust

vacuuming
It sounds obvious, because it is!

Vacuum your house to help suck up all the dust, especially high traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.

If you're serious about reducing dust in your home, look out for vacuum cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which are supposed to remove 99.9% of pollen, animal dander and bacteria from the air.

Before you get started, be sure to read our article on whether you should vacuum or dust first. You could be making more work for yourself! 

6. Use a microfiber cloth to reduce dust

Grab a microfiber cloth to use on all your furniture and surfaces. These cloths have more fibres that are able to attach themselves to the smallest dirt particles - meaning they make dusting light work.

7. How to prevent dust for pet owners

Keep an eye on pet fur and dander by regularly brushing your pets. When picking a place to brush them, choose a tile or stone floor that's easier to clean.

8. Clean the tumble dryer

Tumble driers can get pretty dusty...

...check your lint collector and clean the dirt and dust from it. This will help the tumble dryer and prevent dust from flying around every time you open the door.

9. Mop the floors

mopping
Mopping is essential.

A wet mop will collect the dust that you missed after sweeping. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be, so give it a go today!

10. Use an air purifier to reduce dust

Reduce dust particles with an air purifier and store them close to windows. This will prevent airborne contaminants getting in and circulating the room.

11. Clean air ducts & vents to prevent dust

Dirty air vents can build up a dust, dirt and grime layer. Give it a good clean and this will improve ventilation.

12. How to reduce dust by decluttering

If you've got a cluttered home, chances are all your knick-knacks are gathering dust. 

Have a good sort out and try to keep your home more minimalist. It'll be much easier to keep up with dust this way. 

13. Beat cushions & rugs

rug
Take them outside and give them a good beating.

Want to know how to reduce dust in the living room?

Use an old broom handle or a carpet beater to beat your cushions and rugs. Continue to do so until you no longer see any dust flying off them.

14. How to prevent dust in kids' rooms

If your child is sensitive to dust then it's a good idea to learn how to reduce dust in their room.

Buy washable toys, made out of wood, rubber or plastic, and store them in a big box so dust won't get in.

15. Keep the windows shut on windy days

Here's a good tip if you have a lot of dust in your house - keep your windows closed on windy days!

16. Get a wooden floor

Carpet holds a lot of dust and each time you take a step on it, it releases dust. If you're truly set on preventing dust in your home consider installing a wooden floor, or another hard surface like stone, tile or vinyl flooring.

17. How to prevent dust in the wardrobe

wardrobe
You'd be surprised by how much dust can settle here.

Wardrobe organisation can be tricky at the best of times, so why make it harder by allowing dust to settle inside? Store any clothes, bags or items that you aren't using in plastic containers or cloth bags to prevent dust from getting in.  

This might sound obvious, but ensure that you keep your wardrobe doors closed at all times, too. 

18. How to prevent dust using dust covers

Cover any appliance while you're not using it, such as computer keyboards. This will help stop dust before it gets into tiny places.

19. How to prevent dust with a doormat

Prevent outside dirt from coming into the home by getting a doormat and leaving it outside your home. Make sure to wash the mats to help prevent the dirt from building up. Here's a great doormat from SUCK UK available at Amazon.co.uk for £16.25.

20. Prevent dust by limiting the textiles in your home

Textiles trap and create dust as they disintegrate when you use them. Try lightweight curtains, furnishings and try and reduce blankets and other materials around the home to prevent dust building up.

21. Remove your shoes to keep dust away

shoes
Take them off as soon as you get home.

As soon as people get in your home, ask them to take off their shoes. Any dirt on the bottom of their footwear that gets trodden into the house will eventually turn into dust when it dries. 

Are you going to be giving these tips a try? Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more life hacks!

Hopefully now you're full of ways to prevent dust in the home! If you've got a tip we might not know about, let us know in the comments below, we'd love to hear them!

Colleen B

Editor

Lifelong biscuit addict. Obsessed with recipes, cooking & eating. Slightly lazier than the average bear, so likes writing about life hacks & discovering the quickest / easiest way to do things.

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  1. Author Helen on July 1, 2016 at 10:08 am

    Sticky lint rollers are my top tip for removing pet hair from clothing and furnishings, my beloved cats and dog all love my bed, which is fine but I can't bare the fur they leave behind, I use my lint roller several times a day but it's quick and easy, it also reduces the amount of fur that eventually ends up on the floor, I buy refills in bulk online so it's a fairly low cost for a huge benefit, I highly recommend. ~^..^~

    1. Author Colleen B on July 7, 2016 at 8:42 am

      Hi Helen, how funny - I'm just working on a Lint Roller blog post at the moment! Thanks for your tip.

    2. Author Cindi Skillman on September 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      I found throwing my blankets and pillows and anything I can fit in the dryer in between washings with a damp cloth and a fabric softener sheet for 15-20 minutes a great way to get cat hair off of them and freshen them in between.

    3. Author Sandy on May 11, 2022 at 9:23 pm

      Every morning before making the beds I use a lint roller on the sheets. We have 2 dogs that sleep with us and when I use the lint rollers I don't have to wash the sheets more often..

    4. Author Joanne A on July 20, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      That's a great idea, Sandy!

    5. Author Joanne A on March 22, 2023 at 12:09 pm

      That's a great tip! Using the dryer with a damp cloth and fabric softener sheet effectively removes cat hair and freshens up your blankets and pillows between washings. The moisture from the wet cloth helps to loosen the hair, while the fabric softener sheet leaves a pleasant scent. This method is beneficial when cat hair quickly accumulates on fabrics during the shedding season. Additionally, it's a quick and easy solution for people with busy schedules who may not have time for frequent washings.

    Reply
  2. Author Heather on July 14, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    House plants - the leaves can be full of dust so as you water them it is best to gently spray the leaves too.

    1. Author Colleen B on July 14, 2016 at 3:49 pm

      A great tip Heather, thanks!

    Reply
  3. Author Tina Rayner on July 15, 2016 at 11:46 am

    HELEN: I've been having this problem especially trying to remove the cat hair from my black quilt cover and sheets! Thank you for sharing this tip.

    Reply
  4. Author Tina Rayner on July 15, 2016 at 11:56 am

    Another way to remove dust from house plants, especially larger ones is to lightly brush over the leaves with an old make up brush! I use a soft large sized powder brush ☺

    1. Author Colleen B on July 19, 2016 at 9:39 am

      A fantastic tip! Thank you Tina. I'll try that one.

    Reply
  5. Author Debbie on July 20, 2016 at 10:46 am

    I agree with most of this, but have to say I find it annoying when people ask me to remove my shoes when I enter their houses. Obviously, if they're very muddy or wet it's only common politeness and consideration, and if a doormat is there it should most definitely be used. Maybe this stems from once having an embarrassing experience when I was asked to remove my shoes and had a blinking great hole in my tights!!

    1. Author Colleen B on July 21, 2016 at 8:23 am

      Ha ha!

    2. Author Alex on October 9, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      Hello. My wife is from Japan, the land of no shoes in the house. I am from the mid-west country where I grew up with shoes everywhere. I will have to say this though, there is one thing my wife side that convinced me that shoes off in the house is a good practice, and I will repeat here what she said to me that changed me forever. With shoes you have on that you are about to walk into a house with, do you also use them to walk into public restrooms? That comment and image alone forever changed me.

    3. Author Stephanie C on October 11, 2017 at 10:21 am

      Hi Alex. Wow, this is a very interesting thought and something I've never considered before. It's shoes off for me in the future! Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply
  6. Author theresia Guschlbauer on October 17, 2017 at 3:36 am

    Hi Colleen, I don't understand how you can advise keeping the windows shut. Where I come from, my grandparents used to as a matter of hygiene, open the widows wide to 'air' the room, no matter what time of the year! Fresh contains a lot of oxygen which is essential to humans. As air comes into the room, it mixes with the stale air in the room and takes its place, taking some of the dust away with it! In fact I cannot sleep without the window open. The lack of fresh air is no doubt responsible for the modern epidemic of 'dust-related' illnesses.

    1. Author Colleen B on November 15, 2017 at 5:28 pm

      Hi Theresia, thank you so much for your comment. I will change my tip to say that only when there are high levels of pollen, should you close your windows.

    Reply
  7. Author Hazel on January 11, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    Shoes off always! i don’t want my children rolling around nd in all those germs! I think it’s rude not to. I would always take my shoes off when entering someone else’s home also.

    1. Author Joanne A on January 14, 2019 at 9:25 am

      So would we, Hazel! Shoes can bring in so much dust.

    2. Author Karen Cenkner on March 15, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Shoes off in my house. All I have to think of are people who spit on the sidewalks or worse and that getting on my carpet. Also, I have an upright vacuum for carpet and a tank vacuum for my kitchen and bath floors as well as vacuuming my dryer lint filter and fabric furniture, plus I vacuum my lamp shade with the vacuum attachments. For dusting I have a pail of water about 3 inches deep and a cloth I use and wring out until it’s just damp and dust with that, continually rinsing it. I’m OCD my kids have said, but I find the things I learned to do really help keep the dust down in my home. And don’t forget your ceiling fans.

    3. Author Joanne A on March 24, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Karen!

    4. Author Diane Amundsen on May 24, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      As far as pets on the bed. I never allowed my cat to sleep on my sheets. I would lay something over my comforrer for him to lay on. A friend of mine uses silk flowers all over her home. They are dust collecters. I suggest washing them good once a morth or use plastic ones. I enjoyed reading all your tips.

    5. Author Joanne A on October 25, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      That's a great idea!

    Reply
  8. Author Miss E.J Thomas on July 15, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    1. I don't have a tumble dryer. 2. When I have my own place eventually, I won't have blinds. I will have cool shutters at all the windows. ? ( Cleaning = damp dusting!) ? 3. Where I currently live, the window doesn't open anyway.? And I have an air purifier, for my Charlie Bear cubs ? already! 4. I will be having hard floors and rugs that can be steam cleaned.? ( I won't be buying a vacuum cleaner, because as a higher functioning autistic, I can't tolerate the noise they make!) ???? 5. I use micro fibre cloths, all the time for damp dusting. Very effective!☺ And when they get dirty, I toss them into the washing machine! ??

    1. Author Joanne A on July 17, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      Great idea! Would you use a carpet broom instead of a vacuum?

    Reply
  9. Author Lucy Power on July 16, 2019 at 11:13 am

    This was very interesting to read, I've seen a few things I didn't know, I'll share this with my mum as I often do with these articles. Thank you.

    1. Author Joanne A on July 17, 2019 at 12:16 pm

      We're so pleased to hear that you share our articles with your mother. Thanks for the kind words, Lucy!

    Reply
  10. Author Martin on July 17, 2019 at 10:03 pm

    You know, when I saw the title of this article I expected some new advanced bit of kit or method?? But all it is, is a list of common sense tasks, and most deal with the symptoms and not the cause!? Me thinks that I need to unsubscribe from future emails, as most of them are really poor!

    1. Author Joanne A on July 18, 2019 at 10:55 am

      Hi Martin! I'm saddened to hear that you don't find our emails helpful. Have you tried all of these tips in your home? Dust can be quite tricky to keep under control.

    Reply
  11. Author Kk on December 22, 2019 at 6:42 pm

    Hi I recently moved to NYC and the amount of dust I have is unbelievable. I can vacuum in the morning and by evening the place needs another vacuuming. I have used micro cloths, I bought a huge air purifier, I have wood floors, a new carpet, new bed clothing. Still I can see the dust in the room. Believe me I am not a clean freak, the dust is simply driving me crazy. This is the first time in 30 years that I have lived in an apartment. I just don’t get it. Any more suggestions are most welcomed.

    1. Author Joanne A on January 3, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      Hi there! Have you followed all of the steps listed in this article like removing shoes? It can take time to see the impact of your efforts, but you might also be struggling as a result of air pollution outside.

    Reply
  12. Author Faith Engle on June 23, 2020 at 4:52 am

    About dust.... My windows are old and huge. I should call them but I'm going to use plastic on them and I know that will really cut down on dust. Already put filters in my air ducts and vacum and dust often. Also as for shoes in the house very unsanitary full of germs and Lord only knows what else. Not in my house. Love wood floors and damp mopping. Quick and easy. Happy cleaning everyone.

    1. Author Joanne A on November 3, 2020 at 12:17 pm

      Happy cleaning!

    Reply
  13. Author Melissa Hegarty on September 15, 2020 at 8:25 am

    After polishing run a tumble dryer sheet over your polished surfaces, the anti static properties prevents dust settling, an extra couple of days of no polishing.

    1. Author Joanne A on February 17, 2023 at 11:32 am

      Using a tumble dryer sheet to prevent dust from settling on polished surfaces can be helpful, but it's essential to test it on a small area first and not rely solely on this method for maintaining cleanliness.

    Reply
  14. Author Brian on September 25, 2020 at 12:44 am

    I agree with the shoes comment but there is no mention of what pets bring into the house on their paws and dare I say it their behinds on carpets and furnishings, not very hygienic!

    1. Author Joanne A on October 25, 2022 at 12:20 pm

      Sadly, there's not much that can be done about that... unless you can train them to wear shoes!

    Reply
  15. Author Amy Lee on November 5, 2020 at 6:15 am

    Thank you for the great tips for dust prevention, I have found that slippers tend to hold onto dust. I take mine outside every few days to clap together to remove quite a bit of dust. Each time I am amazed at how much comes out.

    1. Author Joanne A on November 10, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      That's a great idea!

    Reply
  16. Author Connie on December 10, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    My husband and I remove our shoes everytime before going into our home. If people really thought about where they walk everyday, they would never do it again. Also another idea we do to keep out the dust, we shake every piece of clothing, towels or even sheets outside before we wash them. You would be amazed at what comes out from your clothes. Especially because our washer and dryer is in the middle of our home.

    1. Author Joanne A on October 19, 2022 at 9:14 am

      Great tips!

    Reply
  17. Author Mary on January 16, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    One thing I found to be very helpful for me. Ff I usually vacuum my hardwood floors at night. If you have a vacuum that doesn’t have lights use a flashlight and lay it on the floor where you’re vacuuming. You can really see the dirt and dust a lot better!!

    1. Author Joanne A on October 19, 2022 at 9:05 am

      That's a good idea!

    Reply
  18. Author Cheryl McKinnon on March 19, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    Helen- I loved your lint roller comment as that’s been a trick of mine with my old cat and now with my new one and it’s great for the back of curtains too..if your cats are anything like mine she loves to lie and sit at the window and speak to birds ,dogs and people? And my curtains were getting in an awful state on the inside (facing outside?)so its good for so many things as well as clothes! Especially if you’ve just hoovered and they like to have a roll about & make some mess before it gets too clean!???Cheryl

    1. Author Joanne A on March 30, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      Great tips, Cheryl!

    Reply
  19. Author Kimmy Kervel on April 14, 2021 at 11:29 am

    This is mind blowing, thanks for sharing this precious information with us.

    1. Author Joanne A on April 16, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      You're welcome, Kimmy!

    Reply
  20. Author Rosalind Eden on February 27, 2022 at 11:04 am

    Open windows for 5 to 10 minute periods at regular intervals, just to change the air.

    1. Author Joanne A on February 28, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Interesting tip!

    Reply
  21. Author annette daniels on April 30, 2022 at 3:07 am

    I recently had an air purifier installed on my furnace. I do have ocd for keeping everything clean. I am finding myself "why" I had this installed because it is not a cheap item. Do you think I did the wrong thing?

    1. Author Joanne A on November 10, 2022 at 4:58 pm

      We think air purifiers are great! Why would you have done the wrong thing?

    Reply
  22. Author Jenn on May 10, 2022 at 1:01 am

    Be careful not to put your hand bags on your kitchen benches either. The germs from the base transfers to your benches. Interesting fact - we shed 1 000 000 dead body cells per hour. Most dust is our body cells. I notice when I have family come to stay i have to sweep so much more.

    1. Author Joanne A on September 27, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      It's really interesting, isn't it?

    Reply
  23. Author Melissa on June 26, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    Hi, I have horrible, year round, allergies to everything - trees, grass, flowers, (so pollen in general) dust, mold, etc. I know that everyone thinks that opening the windows helps but I can’t help but think it would make things worse for me…. I have air purifiers and do many of the things that you suggest, I still have to take allergy medicine for sinus pressure and I have been to the doctor and allergy specialists. I’ve never really thought about asking them about opening up my apartment. Interesting.

    1. Author Joanne A on September 6, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      Hi Melissa! If you have allergies, it's best to keep your windows shut. Maybe look into getting an air purifier?

    Reply
  24. Author DB on February 10, 2023 at 1:23 am

    Hello there, another thing to try is after dusting (with a microfiber cloth) wipe everything down again with a fresh dryer sheet. This helps prevent dust from settling back down so quickly because it repels the dust. This is a great thing to do especially on your mini blinds. Hope this helps.

    1. Author Joanne A on February 10, 2023 at 2:42 pm

      Good idea! This technique is often recommended for dusting mini blinds and other surfaces that attract dust.

    Reply
  25. Author Cathy See on December 10, 2023 at 2:26 pm

    I had a professional carpet cleaner recommend that you keep a spray bottle of water with you when vacuuming. LIGHTLY mist the carpet just before vacuuming. It holds the dust and pet hair together and prevents it from escaping out of the filter. Be sure to empty filters after each use

    1. Author Joanne A on April 15, 2024 at 11:27 am

      That's an interesting tip! Vacuuming with a light mist of water should be safe for most vacuum cleaners, but check the manufacturer's guidelines. Use a very light mist, avoid electrical components, and remember to empty and dry the filters after each use. Remember to empty the filters after each use for best results.

    Reply
  26. Author Edna on January 16, 2024 at 1:25 am

    I enjoyed reading all your tips. I will be trying some of them and see how it works. We recently started using our humidifier and it is amazing in my home. Our skin does not dry out so much and it is so much easier to breathe!

    1. Author Joanne A on April 15, 2024 at 11:19 am

      That's great!

    Reply

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