Is your house dusty?
Does it feel like dust appears on every surface of even after a thorough cleaning?
Are you wondering, “Why does my house get so dusty?”
If so, you’re not alone.
Many of us battle with having too much dust collect in our homes.
But where does all of this dust come from? And more importantly, what can you do to stop it?
That’s what we’ll cover in this post.
Why Does My House Get so Dusty?
Dust is an element that occurs naturally.
Many people think that dust is only composed of tiny particles of dirt, but it also contains pollen, fibers, pet dander, hair, human skin flakes, mold spores, bacteria, viruses, food particles, dust mite waste, and more.
Not only is dust unsightly, but it can also have a negative impact on your health—especially if you have allergies.
Being exposed to dust can cause any number of allergic reactions too, like itchy eyes, a stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, poor sleep, etc.
So, it’s a good idea to figure out where dust comes from and how to fix the problem.
Below, are the top reasons why your home gets dusty.
1. Dust Circulates Through the Air
Dust is microscopic and very lightweight, so it’s often floating around in the air.
If you’ve ever looked at the light shining through a window, you’ve probably seen thousands of dust particles moving around for no apparent reason.
However, there are many ways that shifts in air currents can happen inside your home.
Any time you walk around in your house, you’re creating an air current that can stir up dust particles that are on the floor or other surfaces.
The same thing is true if you turn on a ceiling fan or operate an air conditioner.
One of the best ways to reduce the occurrence of dust floating through the air is to add an air purifier to your home.
Air purifiers suck in air from the surrounding area and force it through filters, which trap the dust particles.
The air purifier will then push out clean air, reducing the amount of dust in your home.
Adding an air purifier to your home is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to reduce the amount of dust in your space.
And the more the unit runts, the cleaner the air in your house gets.
It’s important to remember that for an air purifier to work properly, you’ll need to change the filters every so often.
Once they get clogged, they won’t be as efficient at removing dust.
You can view our best dust air purifiers list to find a good air purifier for dust for your needs and budget.
See all of Amazon's Best Selling Air Purifiers
2. Dust Gets Tracked Indoors
When asking, “Why do I have so much dust in my house?” you may not think about yourself as being the culprit.
But, quite often, you bring dust inside your home every time you venture out.
As you just learned, dust is always floating around in the air, and the same thing is true in the outdoors.
So, whenever you walk around outside, you’re collecting dust particles on your clothing.
And, when you come back to your home, some of those dust particles fall off of your clothes and remain inside your house.
3. Carpets Can Trap Dust
Not all dust floats on the air.
Some of it will settle into your carpet.
This is especially true if you have pets that shed often.
Dirt can also be brought in on your shoes or your pet’s paws.
Anyone who happens to sit or play on the floor will be exposed to all of the dust that has gotten trapped in the fibers.
Also, each time you move through a space, some of that dust gets kicked back up into the air and eventually lands on surfaces like tables, bookshelves, and lampshades.
If you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of dust found in your carpet, then you need to vacuum on a regular basis.
Should you have pets, you might consider vacuuming every day or every other day.
It’s also beneficial to have a vacuum that’s equipped with a HEPA filter.
A HEPA filter has the ability to trap 99.97% of microscopic dust particles so that they don’t get stirred up and float through the air in your home.
Another way to help reduce the amount of dust in your carpet is to encourage everyone who enters your house to remove their shoes at the door.
You can also wipe your pet’s paws with a towel after they’ve been outside and before letting them into your home.
4. Your Furniture and Curtains Are Harboring Dust
Carpeting isn’t the only place in your home where dust settles.
It also collects on your upholstery and in your curtains.
When you sit on your favorite chair or open your curtains to let the sun into your home, you disturb the dust.
Once it gets into the air, it can fly to various places in the room and settle on other surfaces.
To reduce the amount of dust that collects on your furniture, it’s a good idea to vacuum the upholstery every once in a while.
You might even consider switching out your fabric furniture for items made of leather or wood.
Dust has a harder time collecting on those types of surfaces.
When it comes to your curtains, you should consider laundering or dry cleaning them once a year to reduce the amount of dust they collect.
You can also switch fabric curtains out for blinds, which are easier and more convenient to dust on a regular basis.
5. Windows and Doors Let Dust In
When you open your windows and doors, this lets dust in. Even if you do it for just a few seconds.
If there are any gaps or leaks around your windows and doors, this is also letting dust in.
To reduce the amount of dust that gets into your home through your windows and doors, it’s beneficial to seal any cracks.
This can also help reduce your heating and cooling bills since the conditioned air won’t escape.
6. The HVAC Ducts Might be Leaking
In addition to leaky windows and doors letting dust in, if the HVAC ductwork for your heating and air conditioning system has any leaks, this could also allow dust to circulate through your home.
If you happen to notice that there’s more dust after the furnace or air conditioner runs, then your ducts might be the cause of your dust issues.
You’ll need to call an HVAC technician to have them inspect your ducts for any problems and/or to get them cleaned.
7. The HVAC Filters are Dirty
If you’re seeing a lot of dust and suspect that it may be from faulty ductwork, you should check your HVAC system’s air filters before you call the technician.
The solution might just be a simple replacement for those filters.
Over time, those filters collect dust particles as air is pulled through the system. And, these filters can get dirty fast.
During the summer season, it’s recommended to change the air filter every 1-3 months because of increase in outdoor pollution and particles in the air.
If you’re not changing your HVAC filters that often, give it a try to see if that helps reduce the amount of dust in your home.
Your House Doesn’t Have to Get So Dusty
We hope you enjoyed this article that focused on the question, “Why does my house get so dusty?”
As you discovered, there are many ways dust gets into your home.
Thankfully, there are also many ways to get rid of dust as well.
In addition to cleaning on a regular basis, adding an air purifier can help reduce a large amount of dust accumulation.
Getting an air purifier that’s equipped with a True HEPA filter ensures that you’re removing the smallest particles from your home.
Be sure to check out our best dust air purifiers list to find the unit that will work for you.
Just because your house is dusty now, doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
