Why Is My Room So Dusty? (Find Out Now!)

Jennifer Eggerton
by Jennifer Eggerton

Cleaning is a normal part of life. Some people love it, some hate it, and some simply see it as a necessary chore. What almost everyone can agree on is that dust is a persistent presence that should simply go away. You may ask yourself on more than why occasion why your room is so dusty.

Your room is dusty because small airborne particles come in through cracks around windows and doors, as well as from leaks in your attic. Your HVAC system blows air that is full of dust. Carpets, smoking, cooking, and using your fireplace makes your room dusty. Dry skin and pet dander also add to the dust in your room.

Let’s take a closer look at the mysterious dust particles of the natural world and how to best manage it in your home.

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What is Dust?

Dust is a combination of airborne particles, and the characteristics varies from house to house. Your dust is different than your neighbor’s dust. These airborne particles are heavier than air, so they eventually land anywhere they wish. You see dust on your furniture and in the canister of your vacuum, but it also finds its way into your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Dust Under a Microscope

So, what exactly is in dust? Well, you may not want to know, really. It’s kind of gross. If you look at the dust in your house under a microscope, you may see:

  • Dead skin cells
  • Pet dander
  • Hair
  • Dirt and soil
  • Pollen
  • Mold spores
  • Bacteria and viruses
  • Fabric fibers
  • Dust mites
  • Carcasses of dead bugs
  • Teeny, tiny pieces of plastic
  • Chemical substances

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tiny little insects that feed off of dead skin cells. The mites are so small that people don’t know they have them until physical symptoms arise. The symptoms are a type of allergic reaction.

There are chemical products available for treating dust mite problems. You put the chemical on your furniture and carpeting. The products aren’t very effective, though. Dusting, vacuuming, and mopping work better. Also, make sure to wash blankets, rugs, linens, fabric toys, and other items that tend to collect dust.

Is Dust Harmful?

To a degree, dust is not harmful. If you have allergies or other respiratory problems, it can certainly trigger symptoms and make it hard to breathe. Some of the tiny particles are harmful, such as bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. Your immune system fights off these particles the best it can. This is why you may have sinus congestion or a cough.

Signs of a Dust Problem

So, how do you know if you have a “normal” level of dust or a real problem on your hands? First, if you are tired of dusting constantly, then it’s a problem. Other signs to watch for are:

  • Frequent allergies
  • Runny nose, sniffling, congestion, watery eyes, and sneezing
  • Trouble breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Feeling “dirty,” like you just want to take a shower
  • Asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory issues

Why is My Room Constantly Dusty?

You may be wondering how all those particles get into your home. Here are the most common ways that dust gets inside.

Cracks Around Doors and Windows

Cracks around the doors and windows are where the most dust comes into your home. Even the slightest breeze or pressure difference creates air flow in the gaps. With the air comes whatever happens to be suspended in it – pollen, mold spores, bacteria, viruses, ash for a wildfire, you name it.

Leaky Attic

The attic is another place where dust comes into your home. Even if your attic is well-insulated, there may be small openings around vents and electrical boxes. Insulation isn’t designed to improve indoor air quality, so it doesn’t trap the particles. They just float around in your attic until they find a way into the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and any other space.

HVAC Systems

Your heating and cooling system draws air from the outdoors, heats or cools it, and then distributes it into each room. HVAC systems have filters to trap airborne particles, but they don’t always work. The filter may be dirty or clogged. Also, the filters are designed to trap particles of a certain size. For example, a standard HVAC filter will not trap smaller airborne particles, such as viruses. Even a high-quality HEPA filter only captures up to 99.9% of airborne particles.

Outside Transfer

This is a nice way of saying that you bring in some of the particles in household dust. When you are outdoors, the air is filled with tiny particles that attach to your clothing, skin, and hair. When you come inside, those particles are released into the air. Fortunately, this is a relatively minor source of airborne dust. No need to decontaminate before you step inside your home.

Pets

Pets can bring particles from outside, but their biggest contribution is dander. Pet dander is dead skin cells that your fur baby sheds. Any animal with feathers or fur sheds dander. Some people are incredibly allergic to pet dander. Even if you aren’t, just know that your dust contains dander.

Smoking

Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking contributes to dust in a home. If you notice a very fine type of white or greyish dust, this is most likely from smoking. What you are seeing is tiny ash from the combustion process of smoking.

Cooking

Cooking is another type of combustion process. Therefore, it releases small particles into the air, even if you aren’t prone to burning every meal. Natural gas, propane, and wood releases particles, and so do cooking oils. If you love to sear or blacken your dishes, this releases small particles into the air.

Fireplace

Wood and gas-burning fireplaces release ash into the air, as well as chemical byproducts of combustion. If you have a blower on your fireplace, this may disburse even more of the particles that are found in dust.

How Do I Stop My Room from Being So Dusty?

There are some easy steps to take to reduce the amount of dust in your home.

HVAC Filters

HVAC filters greatly reduce the level of airborne particles in your home. Use a HEPA-grade filter, and replace it every 3 to 6 months.

Air Purifiers

Use air purifiers in your home. You have two options – standalone and integrated. Standalone air purifiers are placed in each room of your home. This can be costly because you have to replace the filters in multiple units, and you use more electricity. A whole-home or integrated air purifier is a great option. The purifier fits into your HVAC system and uses ultraviolet light to destroy airborne particles. For best results, use high-quality air purifiers with high-quality HVAC filters.

Seal Doors and Windows

Take some time and seal your doors and windows. Caulk around windows, replace weather stripping, and put sweeps at the bottoms of your exterior doors.

Treat Dry Skin

If you or your fur baby has dry skin, treat it. For your skin, use a good exfoliator and moisturizer. For your fur baby (or feather baby), check with a vet to see if there’s a natural supplement to help with the problem.

Seal Your Attic

If your attic is in good condition, seal it with spray foam. You can find DIY products at your local hardware or home improvement store. If there are problems in the attic, such as water damage, wood rot, and small access areas, have the work done by a professional. You may also want to consider replacing the insulation is it’s more than 10 years old. This won’t’ help with dust, but it will reduce your energy costs.

Smoke Outside

Whenever possible, smoke outside. Another option is to get a smokeless ashtray. HEPA filters and air purifiers also help with airborne particles from smoking.

Use the Oven Vent

Use the oven vent over your stove when you cook. It will remove any airborne particles from the heat and oils. Check to see if your oven vent has a filter. Make sure to clean or replace it as recommended by the manufacturer.

If you have a fan in your bathroom or laundry area, run this to remove dust from parts of your home.

Should I Completely Seal My Home?

Completely sealing a home is challenging. Not only that, but your home does need some natural air flow. It helps remove airborne particles from the air. If you completely seal your home, the particles are trapped inside.


Related Questions

How do I get rid of dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny insects that are found in areas where there is an accumulation of dead skin cells. Manage dust mites by using good quality filters in your HVAC system and an air purification system. Keep windows and doors closed. Treat dry skin. Remove carpeting and rugs. Clean floors thoroughly and regularly.

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Conclusion

Dust is a pretty normal substance, even though it contains some rather unseemly little particles. You can’t completely prevent dust, but you can manage it within your home. HEPA filters and air purifiers will make a world of difference. Follow this up with sealing doors, windows, and attic spaces, as well as some easy lifestyle changes.

Jennifer Eggerton
Jennifer Eggerton

Jennifer L. Eggerton loves being hands-on, whether it's with a home DIY project, making repairs, re-decorating a room, or keeping life organized. She enjoys helping people by sharing her knowledge, insights, and experiences, as well as her lessons learned. In addition to her work as a writer, Jennifer is a Jeep® overlander, self-published author, and nature photographer who loves being outdoors.

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