Don't let dust lurk around while you sleep
We spend about eight hours per night in bed, but this can be an unpleasant time if you’re sniffling, sneezing, or side-eyeing dust in every corner. Dust mites can even keep you from getting a good night’s sleep when left unchecked.
No matter how much you clean, dust still sticks around. Thankfully, there are some tricks to keeping dust to a minimum, especially in bedrooms
1. Wash Your Bedding Weekly
We shed many skin cells and hairs while we’re sleeping, which can accumulate into dust. Plus, dust mites tend to grow in unwashed sheets. "It has been found that when pillowcases have been left on for longer periods of time, skin cells, hair, and bacteria can accumulate and cause various skin issues," says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA.
To reduce allergens and dust mites, wash your bedding once a week in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. For pillows, plan to dry clean them every three to six months.
2. Vacuum and Steam Clean Carpets, Curtains, and Upholstery
It’s best to minimize the amount of heavy fabrics in your bedroom to reduce dust. If you have a mix of carpeting, rugs, upholstered furniture, and curtains, vacuuming and steam cleaning them can help keep dust to a minimum.
Get in the habit of vacuuming your carpet, rugs, and other heavy fabrics twice per week. Steam cleaning is also effective in killing dust mites. Hire a local carpet steam cleaning professional to steam clean your carpets every four to six months, and then follow up with regular vacuuming.
3. Keep Your Shoes Out of the Bedroom
Think about everywhere your shoes have been. You’ve walked around the neighborhood, through the grocery store, in the office, and on a dusty hiking trail.
No matter where your shoes have carried you, they’ll bring dust and dirt into your home. To stop tracking dirt through your house, keep a shoe rack or bin by the front door rather than stashing your shoes in the bedroom closet.
4. Store Seasonal Clothing in Plastic Bins
Organizing your closet will also help reduce the amount of dust particles in your bedroom. Stash seasonal clothes, like your favorite winter coat and matching mittens, into clear plastic tubs with lids. That way, you can see what’s in the bin, and dust can’t collect inside the closed container. These sturdy plastic containers are easy to clean if the outside gets dusty, too.
5. Clean Surfaces With a Damp Cloth
Cleaning with a duster or a microfiber cloth can help pick up some dust, but it will stick better to a damp cloth. To keep your bedroom dust-free, clean surfaces, such as your dresser, vanity, and even windowsills, with a damp cloth every week.
6. Move Pets to Another Room (Or Wash Their Beds Regularly)
Pet dander contributes to dust, and the best way to reduce dander in the bedroom is to prohibit pets from sleeping in there. But no judgment if you can’t say no to those big, puppy-dog eyes. If your furry friends sleep in your bedroom, be diligent in washing your bedding and their pet beds and soft toys every week.
7. Keep Your Floors Clean
It may seem harmless to leave a pile of clothing, pet toys, and other items on your bedroom floor, but it will invite dust to overstay its welcome.
Instead, put clothes in a laundry bin and store toys and other items in storage containers. Keep the floors clean, too, to keep dust and dirt from accumulating.
Vacuum rugs or carpet floors at least two times per week.
Shake out rugs once per month to get rid of stubborn dust or dirt particles.
For hardwood floors, damp-mop them once per day to remove dust.
8. Minimize Upholstery
Let’s be honest, that stylish chair in the corner of your room is more often used to hold the week’s rejected outfits rather than for sitting. Plus, upholstery may make a room feel cozy, but it also creates a comfortable habitat for dust mites to live inside. Swap the “clothes chair” for another decor piece or a solid wood or metal alternative that’s equally stylish but won’t attract dust.
9. Consider a Dehumidifier
Dust mites are nearly everywhere, and while they won’t sting or bite you, they do tend to trigger many people’s allergies. Dust mites thrive in humidity. By keeping your bedroom humidity level below 50% with a dehumidifier, you can help reduce the presence of dust mites. Air conditioning will also help dry out the room, and opening your windows for about one hour per day during dry days will help minimize dust mites in the bedroom.
10. Add an Air Purifier
Choose an air purifier with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to help remove dust and pet dander from your bedroom. Make sure you mark your calendar to refresh the filter about every 12 months. A HEPA filter should work optimally for up to 8,760 usable hours.
