Microfiber cloths are great all-around hand dusters to keep at home because they're gentle on surfaces and act like a magnet for dust — the material attracts the tiny particles, lifts them off surfaces and traps them.
Though all of our experts agree that you'll pick up a good amount of dust with a dry microfiber cloth, several of them suggest dampening your microfiber cloths with water or spraying them with an all-purpose cleaner before use, to help them grip and remove dust better.
Get an air purifier.
There are machines designed to collect and trap dust—basically doing the work of reducing dust in your home for you. Make sure your air purifier (just like your vacuum) has a HEPA filter, and place it near the door or window for optimal dust-dodging action.
Microfiber cloths lift and trap significantly more dust and dirt than traditional cleaning cloths, making everyday dusting faster and easier. For dusting furniture and other surfaces, use a dry microfiber towel and follow up with a damp one to remove even more dust.
The tiny fibers of microfiber effectively pick up and trap 99.54% of dirt, dust and bacteria at the microscopic level using water alone, reducing the amount of chemicals your facility needs for maintenance. Standard cotton mops only pick up 67% of dirt and will re-deposit 33% of that back onto your floors1.”
Microfibers are much thinner in diameter than human hair. Those used in cleaning textiles are split in a way that creates spaces within each fiber. Regular microfiber, such as Split microfiber vs cotton that used on furniture or in clothing, is soft but not useful for cleaning because it is not absorbent.
All you need is vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of soap to recreate my grandmother's dust-repellant spray recipe. The coating the spray leaves helps more dust propel off surfaces and onto the floor, which means you'll have to clean those hard to dust places a little less.
Use Dust Proof Materials
Leather and synthetic leather make great covers for people with allergies. Unlike woven fabrics, which have tiny holes through which dust can accumulate, leather or vinyl has a solid, uniform surface which is both dust-proof and easy to clean.
All you need is vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of soap to recreate my grandmother's dust-repellant spray recipe. The coating the spray leaves helps more dust propel off surfaces and onto the floor, which means you'll have to clean those hard to dust places a little less.
Unfortunately, keeping your windows open will not reduce the amount of dust in your home; in fact, doing this could increase it. There is a lot of dust in the air outside, which is comprised of dirt, sand, pollen, spores,'bits' of insects and a great deal more.
Frequent dusting, sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming can help reduce levels of dust in the air. People can also change and wash bedding regularly. Air purifiers can also help remove dust from the air. The EPA writes that air purifiers with HEPA filters can remove 99.97% of airborne particles.
There are only a few simple ingredients. You will need water, vinegar, olive oil, essential oils. The vinegar helps to repel the dust. And, the olive oil helps to recondition the wood.
For general dusting like wiping down the table, counter, or another smooth surface, a microfiber cloth works wonders. While other cloths simply move dirt and dust from one place to another, the tiny fibers in microfiber cloths collect and trap more dust than cotton cleaning rags.
Dust is often caused by pets or furniture that's not been cleaned regularly. If you have a pet, make sure to vacuum and clean their bedding on a regular basis. And if you have any upholstered furniture, be sure to vacuum it regularly as well. Poor ventilation can also cause dust to accumulate over time.
A buildup of dust in your home is often the result of poor airflow. A combination of poor airflow and infrequent cleaning can lead dust and dust mites to settle comfortably into several areas in your home. “Dust mites live in mattresses, pillows, and upholstery,” Dr. Cajigal says.
Books, carpet, rugs, upholstered furniture, fireplaces, and pets all contribute to the dust load.
Cotton sheets are more breathable than microfiber and won't trap heat as easily, providing a more comfortable sleep.
These fibers are up to 100 times finer than strands of human hair, and because of the sheer number of the tiny fibers found on microfiber cleaning cloths in particular, there's a lot of surface area for dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants to cling to.
Use just one cloth and water to wash, and another to dry. Dusting: Microfiber cloths and mops trap much more dust than cotton rags, which makes the job faster and easier. Wash and dry microfiber separately from all other laundry. Because microfiber has a charge, it will attract dirt, hair and lint from other laundry.
The short answer is yes, most air purifiers on the market are designed to remove large dust particles from the air. Many feature mechanical filtration, which is a method of capturing pollutants on filters. Either the particles are meant to stick to the filter or be trapped within the filter fibers.
“Fresh air isn't the enemy. Open your windows,” says Dr Appelles Econs, an allergy specialist at the Burghwood Clinic. Keeping your windows shut all day will allow chemicals and allergens to build up inside. Even if you live in a polluted city, you are going to have to open the windows from time to time.
Dust before vacuuming
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.