Share This Guide
Have you ever noticed that the bedrooms are the dustiest places in the house even though we spend the least time there? The total time we spend in the bedroom doing makeup, sleeping, dressing up, relaxing, and sleeping makes up only 1/3 of the daily routine. Yet, they tend to be the dustiest. This brings us to a question, why does my bedroom get so dusty?
Your bedroom is dusty due to dust from pet dander, hair and dead skin cells, fabrics, paper, clutter, faulty air purifiers, and outside dust. Keep it dust-free by keeping fabrics in drawers, changing beddings often, using an air purifier, dusting often, decluttering, and using hypoallergenic covers.
Reasons Why There Is So Much Dust In A Room
The dust you find floating or clinging onto the surfaces and floors in your bedroom is due to the following sources:
1. Pet dander and waste
Let’s face it: we all love cuddling with pets, and sometimes they even curl up alongside us in our beds. But what you may not be aware of is that pets are also responsible for the dust found in our bedrooms. Pets will also give off hairs, dander, and waste, all of which, combined with fibers from fabrics, make up the bedroom dust. This is evident, especially when you have unhealthy pets that always shed hair and dander.
2. Hair and dead skin cells
Our bedrooms are the main areas where we do our hair after taking a shower in the bathroom. So many hairs and scalp dead cells come off when we blow-dry or comb our hairs. And because the blow-dryer has a blower, these hairs are blown all over the room, and they end up settling on the beddings, clothes, and carpet if you have one. This is the reason air purifiers with HEPA filters so that they can pick up the hairs together with the dust.
3. Carpets and fabrics hold dust
The fabrics we stack up in our rooms are another source of the dust we find in our bedrooms. This is because when fabrics, especially clothes, are disturbed, they always give off fibers that end up on the bed, window sills, and the floor.
Another primary source of dust in our bedrooms is the carpet. This has fibers that trap dirt and debris from shoes, which later turn into dust.
To avoid this dust, consider tucking all your clothes in the closet and, if not, use plastic boxes for storing clothes. Also, replace that fluffy carpet with a hardwood, vinyl, or tile floor. This is because fluffy carpets are a magnet for all hairs and dirt that later turns into dust.
4. Paper and clutter contain dust
Old books and writing papers give off dust, especially when they are disturbed. The dust is coupled with a funny musty smell that is not just annoying but is also harmful to your health. Therefore, you should never hoard old books and papers in your bedroom. Only keep the ones you need and store them in a covered plastic box.
On the other hand, plastic papers are also a source of dust in your bedroom. These, when disturbed and rub off against other items, produce static charges that attract so much of the dust floating in your house. For this reason, consider decluttering your house often.
5. Faulty air purifiers and fans
Air purifiers suck most of the dust from the air inside the house. But with time, the filters in the blower of the purifier may become laced with so much dust that it tends to prevent the normal functioning of the purifier. Instead of sucking the dust, the purifier may start giving off the already stuck dust on the filters.
A dusty bedroom is not the only concern of a faulty purifier, but the purifier will have to blow so hard to keep the room clean. This will raise your monthly energy bills, which will not augur very well for your finances.
Besides that, dust high up in the room will collect on the fan’s blades. When you turn it on, it will spread the dirt into the house. This kind of dust is hard to notice since it collects on the upper side of the fan’s blades, where you can’t see it from below.
6. Dust from outside
Most of the dust that ends up in our bedrooms comes from outside. Our shoes pick up dust, dirt, and all clutter from fields. If you are the type that doesn’t remove their shoes when getting into the house, then this dust and dirt will end up in your rooms when it’s trapped by the carpet.
This is where doormats come in, as they trap the dust and dirt from outside so that you do not transfer it into the house. If possible, you should always remove your shoes at the doorstep and encourage your visitors to do the same. This way, you will have less dust in your house.
10 Ways On How To Keep Bedrooms Dust-Free
Preventing a room from getting dusty in the first place is better than offering solutions on how to clean it, and here is how to go about it, to prevent dust in the first place:
1. Tuck your clothes and all fabrics into the drawers
Clothes lying all over the bedroom can attract dust from outside and on the floor. They can also be a source of dust when they shed off fibers that combine with animal dander, dirt, and smoke to form the dust you find in your bedroom.
To avoid this scenario, tuck all your clothes and any other fabrics into the closet so that even if they shed off fibers, they will not be blown into the whole room. If the clothes have to be out of the closet, ensure to store them in plastic boxes for the same reason.
2. Change your bedding often
Bedsheets and duvets are fabrics that will always collect dust while at the same time contributing to bedroom dust by shedding off fibers. And because you cannot prevent them from shedding off fibers, you can reduce the dust they attract and the fibers they shed by changing them regularly. Once a week is ideal.
3. Use an air purifier
The key to getting rid of dust in your bedroom lies in using a great purifier, not just any purifier. Some good purifiers with filters dissipate static charges that attract dust and particles before storing them. A faulty or low-quality purifier does not solve your bedroom dust problems but worsens them. Dyson TP01 and TP02 are some of the best air purifiers for dust removal.
4. Clean your room often
The fundamental solution to keeping your bedroom dust-free is to clean it often. Normalize dusting and vacuuming the bedroom every once a week. And, as you do that, follow the right procedure, which is from top to bottom. Also, use a damp microfiber cloth to dust surfaces and appliances and a vacuum for the floor, not a feather duster that only agitates the dust further.
Cleaning your bedroom often helps deal with the little dust before it accumulates to elevated levels, at which time it is even harder to do the job.
5. Remove clutter
Some people have a habit of keeping all manner of things that they do not need, a condition commonly known as hoarding. Some of these items could be old books you read long ago, old and broken appliances, clothes, etc. Some of this clutter, for example, old books give off paper dust, clothes produce fibers, and old appliances attract dust.
6. Use hypoallergenic covers
Use hypoallergenic covers for your mattresses, pillows, and other furniture pieces and bendings. These don’t cause allergic reactions and, most importantly, prevent dust mites from infesting the house.
Sometimes it may be the hardest thing to do, but letting such things go can go a long way in keeping your bedroom dust-free. You can make some money from selling some of these items, for example, the appliances, and you could even make an impact on society by donating things such as books to the local library.
7. Take off your shoes
As previously noted, shoes can pick up all dust and particles from outside and be transferred into the house. This happens when we do not have a doormat at the doorstep, and then we proceed to our bedrooms with the shoes on. Leaving the shoes at the doorstep can help prevent dust from finding its way into the house in the first place.
8. Change air filters
When filters in an air purifier become clogged with dust and debris, they tend to become ineffective because they can no longer pick up any more dust like they are supposed to. Instead, they start dissipating the dust back into the house when the purifier is turned on. Change them regularly as directed by the manufacturer or at least once every six months. You should also dust the fans at least once weekly to prevent dust from spreading into the room.
Drywall dust can also be a problem for those who have a home workshop. There are many high-quality shop vacs that can help you maintain good quality airflow.
9. Seal all cracks and sills
Cracks on the hardwood floor can also be a significant source of bedroom dust. This happens when dust from outside and beneath the floor seeps into the cracks and finally settles in the bedroom. To avoid this, have your floor cracks sealed with caulk. It will not only save you from the bedroom dust menace but also protect you from mole exposure. Window sills, likewise, are a significant loophole for the dust to creep into the bedroom, so have them sealed the moment you find cracks in them.
10. Keep doors and windows shut
To prevent dust from outside entering the home and settling on your beddings and other surfaces, keep the doors and windows shut until absolutely necessary. You can also install dust catchers such as nets with bristles to catch the dust from outside.
We have seen that dust in our bedrooms is usually a result of the clutter, clothes, hairs, carpets, and pet dander and dust coming through the vents, windows, and doors. The good news is that having identified reasons for a dusty bedroom, you can prevent the dust and keep your bedroom dust-free.
HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.