Improve Indoor Air Quality to Keep Dust Allergies at Bay

In order to keep your indoor air clean and allergy free, don’t surrender in the eternal campaign against household dust. With the following dust-fighting strategies, you can win the war against dust, improve indoor air quality and keep dust allergies at bay.

Proven Ways to Reduce Dust in Your Home

• Wash bed sheets and pillow cases frequently: A variety of dust components, including skin flakes, cloth fibers and dust mites, rapidly accumulate in bedding. Wash them in hot water at least once a week. For blankets and spreads too large for the washing machine, take them outside, drape them over a clothesline or other handy object, and beat them with a broom. Do the same thing with rugs and couch cushions.
• Organize and clean closets: An incredible amount of dust can accumulate in cluttered closets with loose-hanging clothing. Over time, clothing fibers are constantly falling and adding to the dust. Use plastic boxes and garment bags for unused clothing. Put away winter coats in garment bags during the summer. Make sure you keep clutter off the closet floor and shelves, so they’ll be easier to vacuum and clean.
•  Vacuum frequently: When you do vacuum, run your central HVAC system on “fan-only.” This will keep air circulating and filtered while the vacuum stirs up dust.
• Don’t use dry rags or feather dusters: These just move dirt and dust around rather than removing it. Instead, use wet wipes or cloths, or the type of special wipes equipped with electrostatic attraction.
• Upgrade the air filter in your central HVAC system: Basic flat-panel fiberglass filters only remove the largest dust particles from the air, and do little to improve indoor air quality. Choose a filter that’s rated to remove a wide range of dust and other airborne particulates, and then inspect and change the filter regularly.
• Ask family members and guests to remove their shoes: A lot of dust can be transported inside on people’s shoes.

For more strategies that will help improve indoor air quality in your northwest Arkansas home, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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