It sometimes seems as if controlling dust in the home is a losing proposition. The minute you clean it up, it’s back again. And it’s not only unsightly, but it’s also harmful to our lungs and respiratory tracts, exacerbating allergies, asthma and other issues. But you can improve indoor air quality by keeping dust under control. Here are some practices to adopt in your home.
Fibers
A good bit of the dust you find in your home is from fibers shed by textiles, carpets and clothing. You can minimize that type of dust by organizing closets. Bag or box items on shelves. Put garment bags or plastic bags around items such as coats that you may wear only part of the year — or better yet, put them away in a cedar chest. Clean the floors in your closets and keep them clean, and less dust will come flying out when you open the doors.
Your bedding also gives off fibers and collects dust so wash it weekly.
Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture to get rid of loose fibers and other dust; shake area rugs and cushions outdoors.
Cleaning Tips
Vacuum the right way. Use a vacuum with an agitator (a spiral, rotating brush, located on the bottom of the vacuum) to stir up dust, then turn the HVAC system fan to “on” so it will inhale the dust. Use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your vacuum to get rid of the smallest particles of dust. Also, install a good quality air filter (pleated, cotton or polyester) to trap smaller dust particles that might harm your HVAC system or be recirculated into your home’s air.
Use a damp mop to clean hard floors, and an electrostatic cloth to wipe off hard surfaces.
Air Cleaners
Install a whole-house air cleaner in your HVAC system to control dust. Several models are available: consider an electrostatic or electronic cleaner, both of which attract particles through a static charge.
For more on how to improve indoor air quality, contact Arpi’s Industries Ltd. We’ve been serving Calgary homeowners for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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