If you feel like you’re constantly dusting but your house still seems dusty, you’re not alone. And this can be pretty disheartening, especially when you visit a friend or family’s house, and there’s not a speck of dust in sight. So, what’s their secret?
Well, the reality is that getting rid of dust isn’t difficult, but there is a knack to it. That’s because we’re constantly fighting a losing battle against dust, and many people end up dusting more as a result. But while this may seem like the most obvious solution, it’s not the most effective.
That’s why I’ve asked my cleanest friends, family and colleagues for their tips on keeping a dust-free home, and they all have the same thing in common: they use tools and techniques that help them work smarter and not harder to get rid of dust. This is what they do.
1. Use the right dusting tool
I should start by saying that it’s impossible to have a completely dust-free home. After all, something as simple as cracking a window or even leaving the house to go to work can add more dust into the mix. But with the right dusting tool, you can remove that dust in no time.
However, it might surprise you to learn that the right dusting tool isn’t a regular duster. That’s because these dry microfibre clothes often push the dust around, only for it to relocate elsewhere. To capture the particles properly, you’ll need to add some moisture to the mix, and this is called damp dusting.
And while you can simply moisten your microfibre and dust that way, a specific damp-dusting tool like this Scrub Daddy Damp Duster (£2.99 at Amazon) will work much better thanks to the ridges that trap dust particles. You can then rinse it off in the sink, and feel confident that you’ve removed the dust – and damp-dusting works for pollen-proofing, too.
£3 for a pack of 3, these ribbed dusters are perfect for damp dusting. They’re reusable and washable, which means you can rinse the dust down the sink.
Scrub Daddy Damp Duster Towel
If you prefer using cloths, this damp dusting towel will suit you better. It’s made from a soft foam that will trap and capture the dust, instead of wiping it around.
Flash Duster Dust Magnet Starter Kit
While it may not be a damp duster, I can vouch for the effectiveness of this Flash Magnet set. It really does attract dust like a magnet, and this set comes with 13 refills.
2. Leave shoes at the door
Are you a shoes-on or shoes-off household? If you want to follow in the footsteps of people who have a dust-free home, you should always aim to be the latter. After all, shoes are capable of bringing oodles of invisible dust, dirt, pollen, and bacteria particles into your home.
Thankfully, there are a variety of shoe storage ideas you can utilise to ensure you and your guests don’t track these nasties into the house, and the key is to place them as close to the front door as possible so you can get your shoes off immediately. If you have a small or narrow hallway, opting for a space-saving option like this Narrow 3 Tier Shoe Storage Cabinet (£110 at Argos) can work wonders.
For extra dust protection, it’s also worth doubling up on your doormats so that you have one outside the front door – and another outside the front door. This will help to remove the particles from your shoes before they make their way into your home, especially if you opt for a hard-wearing coir doormat.
Welcome Natural & Black Short Pile Doormat
Affordable and welcoming, this doormat is ideal either inside or outside your home. It’s made from durable coir fibres that will help to remove dust and dirt.
This 5-layer shoe rack can serve as the perfect storage spot for your shoes, and can even be folded down when it’s not in use. This makes it perfect for guests.
Muddy Mat Highly Absorbent Microfiber Door Mat and Pet Rug
Pets can also bring in dust from the outside, which is why I swear by these Muddy Mats in my own home. I love them so much that I have two!
3. Make the most of an air purifier
As well as making your home look dirty, dust can also affect your home’s air quality. And one of the things people with healthy air quality always have is an air purifier – a handy appliance that will suck dust particles from the air and capture them so they’re not reintegrated back into your home.
But while the best air purifiers come in all shapes and sizes, you need to choose the right kind if you want an air purifier to reduce dust levels in your home. That’s because you’ll need an air purifier with a HEPA filter that can capture small dust particles. Our top pick is the Blueair Blue 3250i Air Purifier (£169 at Currys).
The best part? You literally don’t have to do anything to get rid of dust this way. Most air purifiers allow you to set up a schedule via the app so you can turn it on for as long or as little as possible, and those with an ‘auto’ function will automatically react on particularly dusty days.
Blueair Blue 511i Max Smart WiFi Air Purifier
This may be a budget air purifier, but it’s still effective. It’s suitable for spaces up to 22m², and it wowed us during testing as it’s incredibly quiet to run.
Shark NeverChange5 Air Purifier
This Shark air purifier won’t just help to remove dust, but it will also release a delicious scent at the same time, thanks to the Anti-Odour Cartridge.
Sleek and stylish, this air purifier is perfect for larger spaces and is incredibly powerful. In fact, it can purify up to 70 litres of air every single second.
4. Keep on top of clutter
Unfortunately, dusting regularly is the key to a dust-free home, but any clutter can seriously get in the way of that. Left too long, this buildup of clutter and dust can even lead to damp in your home, which is something you want to avoid at all costs. Because of this, you should keep on top of clutter if you want to keep dust at bay.
There are so many decluttering methods out there that can help you get rid of those items that you definitely don’t want or need, but the good news is that you don’t have to simply throw them away. By using the many different ways to get rid of items after decluttering, you can give them a second life with friends or family or even make money from them.
The key here is to keep clutter off surfaces and away from areas already difficult to dust, like the corners of your rooms, open (and high) shelving, and smaller nooks and crannies. You need to be able to quickly and easily move things to dust behind them, and if there are too many things there, they need to be addressed.
Argos Home Pack of 6 Mixed Vacuum Storage Bag
Vacuum bags are ideal for extra storage, as they allow you to store extra bedding and even seasonal clothes and ensure they stay dust-free.
ComSaf 1.6L Glass Storage Containers with Lids
Glass containers are so much better than plastic when it comes to food storage, as they can be washed properly to remove any lingering dust or bacteria.
Smartstore Essence Set of 5 Storage Baskets
When it comes to storing non-food items, wipe-clean plastic baskets are preferable, as wicker and woven baskets can trap dust and other particles.
5. Vacuum regularly (or let a robot do it for you)
Dust doesn’t just settle on your windowsills, furniture and other surfaces. It also settles on your floors, and this is particularly bad if you have lots of carpets and rugs, as the dust particles can easily hide within the fibres. Because of this, you need to vacuum regularly – and, ideally, practice slow vacuuming to capture as many particles as possible.
As with an air purifier, you also need to choose the best vacuum cleaner based on its filter if you want a dust-free home. A HEPA filter is key here, as it will capture these dust particles and ensure they’re not released back into the air. A model like the Shark Stratos Vacuum Cleaner (£479.99 at Shark) is ideal.
It’s best to vacuum at least 2-3 times a week in high traffic areas for the best results, but for extra protection, you could also use one of the best robot vacuum cleaners daily to keep on top of things. Plus, most models will also mop your floors – killing bacteria on your hard flooring in the process.
Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25
The best robot vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, this model is easy to use but still incredibly effective. It’ll also mop your floors, and the docking station does everything you need it to.
Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex
If you want power, performance, and protection from dust, this bagged cylinder vacuum fits the bill perfectly. After all, all of the dust, dirt and dander is locked within the bag.
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop Robot Vacuum
If you’re new to robot vacuums, I couldn’t recommend this one more. It’s so easy to use, and comes equipped with UV Reveal technology to uncover hidden stains.
With these tools and techniques, you’ll be on your way to a dust-free home in no time…
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