Your Bedroom Is Attracting Insane Amounts Of Dust. Here's How To Prevent It

Dust perpetually seems to be just about everywhere: on your baseboards, on top of your curtains, under your bed. If the air is touching it, it's probably going to get dust on it. Dust accumulates in some areas more than others. Your bedroom is one place that tends to be chock-full of the stuff because of how much time you spend in there, shedding dead skin cells among the fibers from your clothes and bedding. Those particles are exactly what dust is made of. But prevention methods, like regular cleaning and running an air purifier, can help you cut down on how much dust your bedroom attracts.

In addition to looking, well, dusty, built-up dust in your home also has some hidden hazards. Alongside dead skin cells and fabric fibers, dust may contain a wide range of other components, including dust mites, pollen, and pet dander — three common allergens. It has dirt, bacteria, and pieces of dead insects. This mixture of particles also contains contaminants from all the products and materials that we interact with throughout the day, like plastics and perfumes. There's no way to completely prevent dust; it's a natural byproduct of living indoors. But by cutting down on the amount, you can do your health a favor as well as enjoy a more clean-looking home.

A few simple changes can cut down on the amount of dust that your bedroom attracts. These largely involve tackling the biggest sources of bedroom dust, such as fabrics and pets. First, consider going carpet-free and removing any upholstered furniture that you don't use often. Second, keep unused clothes (like your winter wardrobe) in plastic containers where dust can't reach — clothes tend to produce dust every time they're touched. Similarly, reduce clutter as much as possible — no more tossing the day's outfit on the floor all night.

If you have a pet, consider keeping them out of the bedroom. Also, stop wearing your shoes inside, or at least take them off before you enter your bedroom. Shoes are a magnet for dust and dirt that then transfer into your room.

Lastly, invest in an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which filters dust particles and pet dander out of the air. Air purifiers can't cut down on dust mites. But dust mites thrive in humid environments, so a dehumidifier that keeps your bedroom humidity below 50% is also helpful.

Perhaps you can't quite let go of your favorite rug or say no to your fur baby. Luckily, you can still reduce the amount of dust that builds up week-over-week by maintaining the right cleaning habits. Wash your sheets and pillowcases and change your bedding weekly (as well as any pet bedding). In addition to washing the pillowcases, also wash the pillows themselves regularly; these can contain a boggling amount of dust inside all that fluff. Also, vacuum twice a week, especially if you do have carpets, and shake those rugs out once a month. Don't forget to vacuum under furniture.

You won't be able to avoid dusting entirely but don't bother busting out the feather duster, which tends to stir up the dust so it can settle elsewhere. Instead, wipe surfaces with a damp cloth each week. The dust will stick to the cloth, so more of it gets picked up and removed.

Your fans, air vents, and filters can also get clogged with dust that then recirculates through the air, so make these a part of your cleaning routine as well. One easy hack to keep your ceiling fan dust-free is to wipe it with a dryer sheet, which repels dust. Similarly, for a dust-free air vent cover, trying wiping it down with shaving cream.