Dust Busting Tips

Air quality is an important issue for all of us. Many people new to Houston develop what we locals refer to as “Houstonitis”. Folks that have never had allergies before in their lives can discover that our little slice of paradise can be rough on your bronchial tubes and nasal passages. While there isn’t a whole lot we can do about the quality of the air outside, there are several things we can do to make ourselves more comfortable on the inside.

Dust is the number one culprit when it comes to poor indoor air quality. We can’t dust proof our homes. Most dust comes from the fibers from our clothes and flakes from our skin. YUCK! Since dust proofing is out of the question, the next step is to figure out how to cut down on the amount of dust is floating around our home.

Change those filters

Air filters are designed to capture dust particles, but not all filters are made alike. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on filters to cut down on the dust in your home. Your lifestyle and the condition of your health need to be considered when choosing filters for your home.

The cheaper filters work fine, but must be changed out more often. Change these filters once a month; pick a day and mark your calendar. This will insure that the filters do not get clogged, which will reduce their effectiveness for trapping dust and can restrict airflow potentially damaging your heating/cooling system. If you suffer from allergies then you might want to spend a little more money on a high quality air filter that can capture smaller particles and allergens. These filters typically boast a longer life cycle, but be careful. Just because the manufacturer suggests the filter will last for three months or more does not mean it will last that long for you. This is where lifestyle must be taken into consideration.

A family of three with no pets will generate less dust than a family of five with two dogs and a cat. More people means more dust, and those pets are a double whammy. Opening and closing the door, Fido coming in and out, and the pet dander that they produce will all affect the performance of your filter. Make sure you monitor these high dollar filters. A better filter will trap smaller particles than the cheaper filters, which usually only pick up the largest dust particles. Since these filters pick up more particles, it stands to reason that they have the potential to fill up faster. I’ll repeat this because it is so important; a clogged filter will distribute dust throughout your home and can wreak havoc on your heating/cooling system.

Choose the filter that’s right for you, and keep your eye on them. Changing the filter is the easiest way to cut down on the amount of dust that is in your home.

A vacuum can pick it up or spread it around

Using your vacuum can be a double edged sword. It will pick up the dust and dirt, but the agitator and air flow of a vacuum can also spread dust around. If your vacuum has a bag make sure it is changed regularly so it doesn’t get overfull. Check the connection of the bag as well; a small gap will decrease the efficiency and allow dust to be redistributed around the room.

Make sure you use the correct vacuum for your type of flooring. An upright vacuum or a quality canister vac with a good agitator typically works better on carpet. When it comes to tile, wood, or vinyl flooring a canister vacuum without an agitator will work best.

Capture the dust instead of circulating it around the house

Dry cloths and dusters pick up some dust, but they mainly redistribute the dust they come in contact with. Damp cloths and or disposable products (like the Swiffer® products) will pick up the dust and hang on to it. Cloths that use waxes or oils will work well, but may leave a residue on furniture.

Following these little tips will help you cut down on the amount of dust you deal with in your home. If you would like additional tips on cutting down on dust, or if you have ideas you would like to share, please give me a shout at 832-722-7731. I hope this helps!

Stacy is a licensed REALTOR® and the team leader of The Jones Team, a group of REALTORS® in Katy, who work together to provide exceptional service for their clients. Stacy and his team specialize in the areas west of downtown Houston. These incredible real estate agents can help you buy or sell a home in locations such as Katy, Cypress, far West and Northwest Houston, Richmond, Fulshear, Sugar Land, Spring Branch, Memorial, Spring, Tomball, The Woodlands, and Magnolia. Whether you are in the market to sell a home, buy a home, have a question about home appraisal value, need advice about home staging ,or have any other real estate related questions, Stacy and The Jones Team are available to help.