Many homes tend to become dusty during the winter. While dust can come from various sources, it seems to pile up faster when it’s cold. In today’s post, Air Quality HVAC shares the reason for this and what you can do to reduce dust this season.
What Causes Dust in the Winter?
Cold air tends to draw out moisture, which is why food that’s left in the fridge for a few days often forms a dry crust on top. Cold air causes skin to dry out faster than normal, which results in more dead skin cells being shed. If you have pets in the house, dander will also contribute to dust. People tend to stay indoors during the winter, so it stands to reason that dust would end up in the same spaces. Human skin isn’t the only source of dust, of course, but it is a significant one, especially if you have several people living in your home.
How to Reduce Winter Dust
You’re probably holding off until spring for your annual home cleaning and furnace repair, but you can get started early with a few small tasks that can help reduce dust at home:
Dust and clean more often — Make it a point to dust each room at least once a week. Try to clean everything, including drapes, upholstery and mattresses.
Clean the closets and cupboards — These areas tend to collect dust. Take everything out of your closets and cupboards, vacuum them and clean the contents before putting them back in. You’ll want to use a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to agitate the layers of dust.
Change your air filter — Your HVAC system has an air filter that traps particles like dust. It gets clogged faster during seasons of heavy heating and cooling use, so you have to inspect it at least once a month and clean or replace it if clogged.
Moisturize — Applying moisturizer can help reduce the amount of dead skin cells you shed. If you have pets at home, bathe them regularly to reduce dander.
Call Air Quality for Your HVAC Needs
Air Quality Heating & Air Conditioning is your leading provider of heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality needs. Give us a call at (408) 920-3910. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in San Jose and surrounding communities.