Dust is everywhere. It’s a fact of life. No matter how diligently you clean, there will always be a few dust mites lurking in the darkest corners of your home. Knowing where to find them is key to keeping your place as neat and tidy as possible.
1. Carpeting and Rugs
Dust mites burrow deep within the fibres of carpeting. In addition to vacuuming regularly, you should steam clean your carpets every few months to help get rid of them. If someone in the home suffers from reoccurring allergies, it may be worth replacing the carpeting with hardwood or tile flooring.
2. Pillows
Bed linens are prime real estate to dust mites, contributing to itching, sneezing, and other irritating allergy symptoms. To combat them, it’s recommended that you wash your pillowcase in hot water at least every three weeks and replace the pillowcases twice a year.
3. Curtains
You surely take time to wash your clothes, linens, and throw blankets — but when was the last time you gave your curtains a clean? When the windows are open, the curtains act sort of as a filter that catches airborne dust and pollen. It’s no surprise that curtains can fill up with dust by the end of the summer!
4. Hanging Clothes
When you bring your summer clothes out of hibernation, be sure to put them through the washing machine before you put them on. Dust often settles in the folds of clothes that linger at the back of the closet. You can prevent this problem by storing your off-season clothes in a plastic bag or storage bin.
5. Ceiling Fan Blades
The ceiling fan is a magnet for dust even when in motion. The simplest way to clean it? Use an old pillowcase, sliding it over each fan blade to prevent dust from flying all over.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to switch the fan rotation from clockwise to counter-clockwise come spring! It will help keep the room cooler.
6. Baseboards and Moulding
It’s easy to overlook these tiny surfaces, but baseboards and molding can catch a lot of dust, especially in the corners. Wipe them down seasonally.
7. Gaps Between Appliances
That little space between your stove and countertop? You can bet it’s full of dust. Unfortunately, it’s also pretty tough to clean. Unless you have a vacuum attachment that fits into the space, your best bet is to move the appliance away from the wall in order to clean beside and behind it. You can also purchase counter gap covers that minimize the amount of dust and debris that gets there in the first place.
8. Air Ducts
Air ducts allow your HVAC system to deliver warm air throughout your home in the winter, and cool air in the summer. All the air that passes through your air conditioner also goes through the ductwork. And those ducts can get surprisingly dusty, even if you change your air filter regularly (as you should).
It’s not just dust that accumulates in the ducts. Cobwebs, mould, and airborne allergens like pollen can also settle in.
Not only does dust pollute the air, but it forces your furnace and air conditioner to work harder, bumping up your energy bill.
Some people try to clean the duct themselves, but there’s simply no way to clear out all that debris with a standard vacuum alone. It takes a specially-designed truck-mounted vacuum system, like the ones our home comfort specialists employ, to really give your ducts a thorough clean. You can learn more about our approach here.
Image: Dolgachov
