Dust is everywhere and can be a constant battle to keep at bay, but often, dust is more than just annoying and dirty. A new Consumer Reports investigation reveals it may also contain dangerous particles that can cause serious health problems.
“On the surface, dust appears to be skin, hair and dander. But look even closer; you can find unhealthy substances, including heavy metal fragments like lead paint, fungi, mold, mites, microplastics, and forever chemicals, or PFAS,” warned Consumer Reports’ Kevin Loria.
Because we are surrounded by dust, we breathe it, which can irritate our lungs and trigger allergies and asthma in the short term. In the long term, some of the chemicals are linked to diabetes, various cancers, reproductive problems, and other serious health issues.
While battling dust is certainly a challenge, it’s not impossible!
Air purifiers
“A good air purifier that uses HEPA filters is designed to capture at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter -- the size of many dust particles,” Loria said.
Consumer Reports’ recommended air purifiers:
- For a small room, the GermGuardianCDAP4500BCA. We found it for $99.99 at Walmart
- For a larger room, the Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max. We found it for $290.44 on Amazon.
Vacuums
Another weapon in your dust-battling arsenal: A good vacuum with tight seals and excellent filters to keep vacuumed-up debris from spewing back into the air.
In Consumer Reports’ rigorous tests, the Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150 Vacuum checked all those boxes. It’s $299.99 at Walmart.
An angled broom is best for sweeping dust from floors and corners. A dirty little secret: don’t use a dustpan to pick up sweepings; use a handheld vac to suck them up. That eliminates the dust lines where the lip of the pan meets the floor.
Consumer Reports recommends the handheld Shark Ion W1 Cord-Free. We found it for $89.99 on Amazon.
Or if you want to let a robot do the work, Consumer Reports likes the iRobot Roomba S9+.
Don’t vacuum fast because you might miss embedded dirt. When cleaning hardwood floors, be sure to vacuum in a crisscross pattern, which will help suck up any dirt that’s embedded in the cracks.
Another pro tip: Set your vacuum brush at the right height. It should touch the top portion of the carpet.
Dehumidifier
Running a dehumidifier may help reduce humidity in the whole house and limit the spread of dust mites and the allergens they produce. The Midea MAD35S1QWT Dehumidifier -- for $244 on Amazon -- is the highest-rated dehumidifier in Consumer Reports’ tests.
Cloths
Set aside the feather duster and use a microfiber cloth. Match the cloth to the job. Soft, fluffy cloths are absorbent and best for holding dust, which minimizes the potential to scratch surfaces.
Consumer Reports says not to drench your cloth with a cleaning solution. It should be only slightly damp, so you don’t leave any solution behind.
Use less absorbent flatweave cloths are best for glass and other hard surfaces.
Cleaner
Consumer Reports’ editor’s choice for a top-notch multipurpose cleaner goes to Mr. Clean Clean Freak. For glass, it’s Sprayway Glass Cleaner. Speaking of glass...
TVs and computer screens
For TVs and computer screens, Consumer Reports says to skip the cleaning solution and use a disposable electrostatic cloth.
Hard-to-reach places
For those hard-to-reach places, use a Lambswool Duster.
“It might sound weird but vacuum your duster after each use. It will help remove debris trapped in the fibers. Because you can’t toss lambswool into a washing machine, hand-wash the duster occasionally and let it air-dry before storing,” said Ginger Cowles with Consumer Reports.
Don’t forget your doormats need some TLC, too. Shake those out every two weeks.
And, keeping shoes in a closet or on a shoe rack near the door, swapping out fabric curtains for shades, and opting for area rugs or just bare floors instead of carpets are other ways to help you greatly reduce your exposure to dust.