The McKinney and Allen areas might not be as dry as other parts of Texas, but we still have enough dust to cause problems. Clearing the dust from your home helps improve indoor air quality, makes cleaning easier, and protects your heating and cooling equipment.
Stop Dust at Its Source
The first step toward cleaner air is to make sure less dust gets into your home. Place heavy-duty, tight-weave doormats in front of your exterior doors. Consider setting up an air purifier near your main entry door. This will trap dust, pollen and other contaminants before they drift too far inside.
Store lint-producing clothes in drawers, boxes or in garment bags. Keep clothes and linen closets organized to make the area easier to clean. Change sheets and shake out blankets weekly to minimize dust in the bedroom.
Drapes tend to collect dust, so replacing them with easy-to-clean plastic or metal blinds can also help improve indoor air quality.
Clean More Efficiently
Minimize the clutter and knickknacks in your home to give dust fewer places to hide. Dust with microfiber cloths, which pick up dust rather than just redistribute it. To clean carpets, use a vacuum attachment that includes an agitator brush. Use a brushless attachment for smooth floors and a hose attachment for soft furniture.
While you’re cleaning, set your heating and cooling system to “fan only.” This draws your home’s air through the HVAC air filter to trap the dust kicked up during cleaning. Make sure you’re using a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) between 5 and 11. Filters with MERVs lower than 5 do little to protect against dust.
A whole-house electronic air cleaner will also reduce your home’s dust levels. These systems use electrostatic attraction to trap the tiny dust particles many filters miss.
Learn more about how to improve indoor air quality from the pros at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating, or contact us today at 888-414-4655 for your home comfort needs!
