Don’t Feed Them,

We Can’t Keep Them!!!

Is the dust in your house breeding  like….rabbits?

A few years ago, we had hardwood floors installed throughout our house.  I thought  I would once and for all win the war on dust.  Yes, we disposed of one major dust trap in our home, but the dust didn’t go away with it like I had hoped.

Now, I can see the dust on the floor instead of being hidden in the carpet.  I can’t even think about what must of been in that old carpet after living through two teenagers, a dog and later grandchildren.

I love my beautiful hardwood floors, but they present a new problem…Dust Bunnies!  Now, my dust is free to float around on a smooth surface and multiply faster than I ever dreamed.  Don’t get me wrong.  I keep up with my cleaning, but here in North Mississippi, and particularly in my neighborhood , there’s  an abundance of dust in the air.   If I don’t dust every day…”Houston We Have A Problem.”   Now I am not going to sit here and lie by saying I dust my house everyday.  I will tell you my house needs to be dusted everyday.

Why am I telling you all of this?  I know some of you are living among these “wascally wittle wabbits,” and I wanted to share a few things  I’ve learned along the way.  You may think household dust is harmless but you would be wrong.  You need to be  aware of what else is living in your home.

 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dust bunnies (or dustbunnies), also called dust mice, are small clumps of dust from under furniture and in corners not cleaned on a regular basis. They are made of hair, lint, dead skin, spider webs, dust, and sometimes light rubbish and debris, and are held together by static electricity and felt-like entanglement.  They can house dust mites or other parasites, and can lower the efficiency of dust filters by clogging. The movement of a single large particle can start the formation of a dust bunny.

Dust bunnies are harmful to electronics, as they can obstruct air flow through heat sinks, raising temperatures significantly and shortening the life of electronic components.

So, where are your bunny trails?  

If you know where they burrow, you can stop them from multiplying and enjoy a healthier home as a result.

Under the washer and dryer – Ever been horrified to find what is living under and behind these machines?  Your clothes dryer is the dust capital of your home due to the accumulation of lint.  This can be a fire hazard if you don’t kept in check.  Lint is very flammable so inspect your vent duct for built up lint and make sure it’s sealed tight so dust cannot escape into the room.  Change your lint catcher with every load and dust your laundry area just as often as you do the rest of your house.

Under the refrigerator – I mean get real, how many times have you cleaned underneath that bad boy?  It can get gross in a hurry.  Here hides a grease and dust mix, which can be extra sticky allowing the dust to multiply quickly.  Every time the motor kicks on, your refrigerator spreads dust into the air.  Under the frig is not the only thing needing your attention.  Did you know you are suppose to clean your refrigerator coils at least twice a year?

If you take the kick plate “vent” from the bottom front of your refrigerator, you will see the coils.  If you never cleaned them, you will be surprised as to how much dust is on them.  This requires more energy and makes your refrigerator work harder which lessens the life expectancy of the appliance.  Just make sure you check your manual on how to properly clean them and don’t forget to unplug it first.

Electronics (TV, computer, DVD player, stereo, etc.)  – When was the last time that you removed the cover and cleaned the inside of your electronics?  I remove the cover from my computer tower at least every other month and give it a thorough dusting.  Make sure it’s unplugged before doing this!!!  The way I do mine is with a soft artist paint brush and my vacuum hose.  I never put my hose inside the machine, I carefully collect the dust on the brush and vacuum the brush repeatedly.  The static from the brush collects it from places that I can’t reach.  Plus it’s a fun project.  Yes, I’m weird like that.  Unless you are familiar with the inside of your computer, I recommend you have it professionally cleaned by your local computer professional.

Wherever you have electronics running, you have dust so make sure you keep the  entertainment centers and desks around them dusted regularly.

Inside the return registers and their vent covers

Under furniture

Ceiling fans (not just the blades)

Base boards 

Window sills – make sure you have weather stripping properly installed.  A drafty window can allow unwanted dust into your home.

Now that you are aware of where most dust hides, you will be able to keep the overall dust in your home under control.

Upholstered Furniture – Keep it vacuumed!

Vacuum Cleaners

Dust Mops

Refrigerator Coil Cleaners (For dryer vents too)

Dusting Products

Everyone has dust,  but not everyone has been dust educated

REMEMBER….IF YOU TRY TO CLEAN ANY ELECTRICAL PRODUCT IN YOUR HOME…..UNPLUG IT FIRST!!!!

Dat’s All Folks!

 Baby Steps Series

Baby Steps #1  – New Year New You

Baby Steps #2 – Motivation

Baby Steps #3 – If You Don’t Use It, You Must Excuse It

Baby Steps #4 – Closet Resolution

Baby Steps #5 – Monkey See Monkey Do

Baby Steps #6 – Turn Your Clutter Into Decor