This One Cleaning Mistake Could Be Trapping Dust In Your Home

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Regular dusting is recommended for all homes, but if the debris is building up and making you feel the need to pull out the duster multiple times per week, then there may be a bigger problem. Typically, dusting once per week should be more than enough for high-traffic areas, even the dustiest room in your home. If you find yourself needing to clean much more than that, then there might be something else causing a buildup of dust in your home. This abundance of little particles can be a result of many common causes, such as high humidity or HVAC issues, but the way you clean might also be making things worse. While it is tempting to just wipe a rag or microfiber cloth over the air vent, this is a cleaning mistake that can actually trap dust in the vent. 

The better method for cleaning your air vents to reduce the overall dust level in your home is to use a vacuum attachment. Unlike wiping that pushes dirt back into the vent and duct, your vacuum will pull the dust away from the vent without spreading it into the air. This same idea applies to the rest of the home, as well. Your cleaning may not be getting dust from surfaces effectively, and other areas besides the vent may benefit from vacuuming. While the vacuum is better than most methods, it still provides a light clean, so you may need to do more to release trapped dust. 

To use a vacuum for air vent cleaning, you will need a HEPA-filtered vacuum and a brush attachment. HEPA-filtered vacuums have high-efficiency particulate air filters that are able to pick up smaller particles, ensuring you get all of the dust. This AHNR handheld cordless vacuum on Amazon has a 4.8-star rating, costs $39.99, and comes with a dust brush and two HEPA filters, making it a good fit for this project. Once you have the tools you need, make sure the HVAC is off. Then, use a soft-bristle brush attachment to vacuum up dust. Then, you can wipe down missed spots with a microfiber cloth. 

To get a deeper clean and remove any dirt you have accidentally pushed into the duct and vent, you should take off the vent cover after vacuuming and clean it in warm, soapy water. Scrub gently if needed, dry the covers, and put them back in place. Removing the vent covers also allows you to clean dust out of the air ducts using a vacuum hose. Keeping the air ducts clean is an effective way to reduce dust in your home, so it is important to schedule a cleaning if you can't handle it yourself. You could also learn how to DIY clean your air ducts just like the professionals and avoid the cost of hiring. If a thorough dusting of the vents does not reduce the dust in your home enough, knowing how to get rid of dust in the air may be the next step.