Dust Is Piling Up In Your Home In Winter: Here's Why

Dust doesn't quit. All 365 days of the year, those tiny particles of dirt and debris are busy finding a way to gather on any surface possible throughout your home. Forget about taking off for a winter getaway — you may have already noticed that it actually tends to accumulate more during the cooler months.

There are a few different reasons our winter behavior invites dust. For one, we're generally sealing up our homes tightly to avoid heat escaping, and the limited ventilation gives dust piles no choice but to stay put. Heating systems can be to blame, too, thanks to overwork and the dust-attracting static electricity they cause. And while spending time cozied up inside sounds nice during the chilly months, it also means we're adding more dust to our surroundings, thanks to factors like dry skin and pet dander.

Dusty homes spell bad news for everyone. Aside from being annoying to clean, there are hidden hazards of built-up dust in your home. It can lead to allergies and respiratory and cardiovascular issues brought on by poor indoor air quality, as well as higher energy bills or maintenance costs thanks to overworked and inefficient HVAC systems. The good news? Once you know what's to blame, you can mitigate the winter dust buildup in your home.

If you're finding that the cooler months are extra dusty (and wheezy!), there are small changes to make to your home to keep allergies at bay during winter. First, pay attention to your home ventilation. You're probably keeping it as sealed as possible throughout the cooler months to prevent high heating costs. But this means that dust has nowhere to go. Improve ventilation during the winter with an air purifier with a HEPA filter. A once-daily 5-10 minute window opening will also freshen the air inside your home without making too big of a dent in your energy costs. And certain greenery, such as spider plants, can improve humidity and naturally purify the air.

Additionally, keep your HVAC system up to date with a clean filter. When it's overworked, it can circulate accumulated dust back into your home and do a poor job of ventilating. And even when it is running efficiently, it could be stripping your place of much-needed moisture and humidity, creating the static electricity that makes it easier for dust to hang on to surfaces.

At the same time, you and your household may be creating more dust than usual, thanks to dry skin on both you and your pets, soot from fireplaces or candles, and all the outdoor debris that your extra layers (like grippy boots and fuzzy scarves) can bring inside. It's all the more reason to stay on top of moisturizing. And when you dust, do it the right way. It's possible you've been dusting wrong all along and had no idea. To truly get rid of the dust, be sure to use a clean and moist microfiber cloth to wipe down surfaces, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.