Aarrrgh!!dust!!

Updated on February 06, 2008
J.R. asks from Overland Park, KS
18 answers

Hi ladies! Does anyone have any sure fire ways of keeping dust at a minimum?? I know one component is my vacuum, so we're planning on getting a new one of those soon. It seems like no matter what I try, the dust is back in the same day! I have tried swiffers, endust, different cloths, shag dusters, etc. and I still see dust not long afterwards. I have my vents and air filter cleaned regularly too so I know that's not the problem. Help!

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

I use baby wipes to clean with it helps better to pick up dust lent etc. and no harsh chemical smell

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M.L.

answers from Tulsa on

I have the same problem! I have never lived in or worked in an environment that gets so dusty! I rarely have to dust at my office- which is 1500 sq feet but at home, its like sludge forms in 10 minutes. I can't wait to see if anyone actually has any ideas....m

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F.C.

answers from Kansas City on

My husband is an HVAC tech & his biggest complaint is that customers don't change their filters. You say you have them cleaned regularly. Does this mean you do not have one that you can change yourself monthly or even more frequently? Have you had your duct work cleaned? Do you keep your humidity between 40-55%? Do you live in an industrial area or out in the country or on a dirt road? These all will contribute to more than avg. dust. Good luck! As far as a vacuum, keep it cleaned out frequently as well. Check it after every use. Do your homework (Consumer Reports or the like) before making that purchase & spend the most you can spend. This is not an appliance you want to scrimp on the cost with.

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A.K.

answers from St. Louis on

When you put in a new furnace filter spray it with Pledge this helps a bit. Using the allergen filters is also a huge improvement. They also make allergen bags for vacuums. Those help too.

One of the furniture polish companies is advertising a new polish that require less dusting. It's either Pledge or Endust. I saw the ad just the other day.

Hope this helps a bit.

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L.W.

answers from Kansas City on

One thing you didn't mention is changing your furnace filter. That does help but, if you live in a never home it seems to have more dust. Which I had a great answer but, happy dusting!

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L.D.

answers from St. Louis on

You probably need to have your whole central air/heat system cleaned out. That includes all the duct work, vents, returns and the main(s). Call around, the prices can very from around $200.00 to around $600.00. I know people who have had this done and the dust problem was a million times better.

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N.W.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm having my air-ducts cleaned out today for this very problem. I'll let you know if it helps!

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L.H.

answers from Peoria on

I was just told over the summer that is gets more dusty where the sun hits. I'm not sure if this is true but I started closing my blinds when the sun was out the strongest and it seemed to help.

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Call the Stanley Steamer people and have them come in and look into your duct work with a video scope. We bought our house and could not figure out what was going on with the dust. After having our ducts looked at, we found the problem. Dirty ducts, return and the ones that blow out. We've since had them cleaned and cover the ones that blow out the air with filters and it has helped tremendously. To have Steamer people come out and look is free, you can get several estimates from local companies. It is not cheap to have done but worth it.
P.S. I read the response about the candles. Yes, you have to be careful where you place them, but you also need to make sure not to use cheap candles. My mom awoke one night to her house being covered with soot (in the rooms where she would light candles). It was on her and my dad and in the den, bathrooms, etc. The a/c guy said it was from cheap candles that allow soot to get into the air and collect in the vents. They had a power surge or something with their a/c unit and poof, soot every where. She had to have the carpets cleaned and the walls cleaned and repainted and the furniture cleaned. Insurance paid for most, but it still wasn't cheap. So use the more expensive candles from respective companies to prevent soot in the air (Yankee, PartyLite, etc).

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J.S.

answers from Oklahoma City on

J.,
Have you checked your clothes dryer vent? Our dryer vents out and up the wall to the second story of our home and I can tell it needs cleaned out whenever my house starts getting more dusty than normal. My husband takes the extra strong leaf blower he has and blows it into the wall and tons of lent and dust will blow out the hole on the roof. Most dryers vent out an outside wall and they can become clogged also.

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C.S.

answers from Lawrence on

Hey J.!! You will probably think that this is funny but wanted to let you know that all those products you are using are attracting more and more dust!!! Believe it or not, it is the marketing idea behind those products. Endust has sticky residue (along with many other harmful chemicals that you shouldn't breathe in) in it that attracts the dust to it. So you can use your Endust then 5 minutes later it is going to be dusty again! I know, we struggled with that ourselves! But they put something in it to make you think that you have to use more of the product and so you will go buy more so they can make money! Also read on the back of your Endust label for the product warning! What we did is switched to shopping from a different store with products that actually work and keep the dust away for days. The active ingredient in the product has many different uses and so it keeps the dust away, saves you time cleaning and saves you money so you don't have to go keep buying more products that don't work! The store I shop from also allows us to have a toxin-free home so it has made a difference in our health and many others, not to mention we can work from home with this company and earn extra income too! Check out www.livetotalwellness.com/cindygeoff or www.2abetterlife.com or send me a note if you want to chat more so I can tell you how to get rid of the dust and what you need to do and where you need to shop! Then Happy Cleaning!!!

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M.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi J.,

We have the same problem. I will say that when you do buy a new vacuum cleaner, check out consumer reports. They have endorsed as their "CR best buy" the Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870. We were going to buy a Dyson and then read some pretty bad reviews. I just wanted to give you a heads up since we are buying that vacuum today. Good luck!

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B.C.

answers from St. Joseph on

Hi J.! One time when I was asking the same question, one of my friends said to light candles around your house. If you look around a candle that you burn often, you will notice that there is little or no dust sitting on or around it. Of course, with soon to be three little ones like myself, you have to be very careful about where you burn the candles, but with a little strategic planning, it can be done. :) This might not solve your dust problem but it could at least minimize it. Have a great day!

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E.H.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi J.,
I have two boys with dust allergies. I have lived mostly in old homes, which I love, but are really horrible for dust because there is so much of it in the walls and floors. So, if you're in a relatively new home, you have a real advantage right there. If you're planning on buying a new vacuum, it will be worth it to bite the bullet and purchase the ones that have the dust/allergen reducing feature. They are substantially more expensive, but are really effective. Also, ask at the hardware store for the furnace filters that cut down on dust. Check on line for mattress covers that reduce dust mites in bedding. As disgusting as it sounds, our beds are huge culprits. Lastly, as much as the kids love their stuffed toys, they hold a lot of dust and dust mites. If they can't be washed on a regular basis, they need to be tossed. Good luck.
Peace--E. H.

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D.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Have you considered the Ionic Breeze Air Purifier from Sharper Image? I think you can purchase them at Lowes now. They work wonderfully.

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S.S.

answers from St. Louis on

All of the suggestions are good ones - but I think it also has a lot to do with your house and the location. Does your home have plaster or drywall walls? I've lived in both and found the plaster house to be more dusty. We also lived on a busy street - thus more dust! We have a built in vacuum system now and that seems to help. It takes the dirt/dust thru tubes in your walls out to a main compartment in the garage ...so all the dust gets sucked out of the house! Good luck!

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I only wish I knew!

Suzi

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W.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Good morning,

The bulk of household dust is lint fibers from linens and tissue paper. Next is your own dead skins. The rest is a mix of allergens including pollen and dust mite feces.

New furnaces will blow old dirt out the air ducts if the ducts are not cleaned prior to the change-out.

Cracked and leaking dryer vent hose needs to be replaced. (NEVER use white vinyl flex pipe, it is for the bathroom exhaust, not the dryer. Use the silver flex-pipe and keep it short and straight.

The ionic devices DON'T work they way you might think: They electrically charge everything in the room. They air is a bit cleaner, but the room gets dirty! Filtration is best.

Call me if you need more help.

Traci H.

Owner, Air-Vision Duct Cleaning of KC ###-###-####

www.cleanducts4kc.net

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