How to Keep Dust Down in a North Texas Apartment

That Cleaning Girl · Apartment Cleaning

You dusted on Saturday and by Wednesday the TV stand is gray again. Sound familiar? North Texas is a dusty place. Dry, windy days, construction sites, unpaved lots and pollen seasons all bring dust into apartments. In How to Remove Hard Water Stains in an Apartment Bathroom we tackled hard water. Now let us look at the other thing our region throws at your home, and how to keep it under control.

Where apartment dust comes from

Dust is a mix of things: soil blown in from outside, pollen, fabric fibers, skin cells, pet dander and tiny bits of everything else. In North Texas, the outside sources are a big part of it.

• Wind carries soil and dust from fields and open lots.
• New construction, which is everywhere around Waxahachie, Midlothian and Red Oak, sends fine dust into the air.
• Cedar season in winter and oak season in spring bring clouds of pollen.
• Every time someone opens the door, some of it comes inside.

Inside, fabrics like carpet, bedding, curtains and upholstery shed fibers that add to the mix.

Apartments have their own dust quirks, too. Shared walls and hallways, older windows that do not seal tightly and balcony doors that open every day all let more outside air in. If your unit faces a busy parking lot or a road, you may notice a darker, grittier dust on the window sills than a unit facing a courtyard. Gaps around the doors and windows are worth mentioning to maintenance, since a new weather strip can cut down on the dust that blows in.

Dust the right way

How you dust matters as much as how often.

• Use a microfiber cloth, slightly damp. It traps dust instead of throwing it into the air.
• Avoid feather dusters. They mostly move dust from one place to another.
• Dust top to bottom: ceiling fans and light fixtures first, then shelves, then furniture, then baseboards.
• Vacuum after you dust, so you pick up anything that fell to the floor.
• Rinse your cloth often, or use a fresh one when it starts to look gray.

Air filters make a big difference

If your lease makes you responsible for the HVAC filter, change it on schedule, and consider changing it more often during pollen season or if you have pets. A fresh filter catches more dust before it lands on your furniture. Ask your leasing office what size and type of filter your unit takes, and whether they replace it during maintenance visits.

Vacuum the return vent cover, too. It collects a gray layer of dust that gets blown back into the room. Some people also like a small air purifier in the bedroom, especially during cedar season. Keep its filter clean, too, or it stops doing much.

Vacuum with care

A vacuum can either remove dust or spread it around. A few things help:

• Use a vacuum with a good filter.
• Empty the canister outside, or into a bag that you tie off right away.
• Vacuum slowly, especially on carpet.
• Use attachments on the couch, curtains and along baseboards.
• Do not forget under the bed, where dust bunnies multiply.

Cut down on dust catchers

Every open surface in a small apartment is a place for dust to land. Fewer things on display means less dust and faster cleaning. Closed storage, like cabinets with doors or bins with lids, keeps items dust-free. Pick a few favorite pieces to display and put the rest away.

Fabrics hold a lot of dust too. Wash throw pillows covers, blankets and curtains regularly, and choose washable options when you can.

Seasonal dust tips

• Winter (cedar season): keep windows closed on high pollen days, and wipe window sills often.
• Spring (oak and grass pollen): wipe outdoor furniture and balcony railings before bringing anything inside, and wash bedding weekly.
• Summer: keep the AC filter fresh, since it runs constantly. Dry, hot days bring dusty winds.
• Fall: a good time for a deep clean of blinds, vents and baseboards before winter.

Keep dust out at the door

• A good door mat outside, and a washable one inside.
• Shoes off at the door, if your household is up for it.
• Keep the balcony door closed on windy days.
• Wipe pets' paws when they come in.

Dust will never go away completely in North Texas, but a steady routine keeps it from taking over. For apartments across the south DFW area, a weekly dusting and vacuum plus a regular filter change makes a noticeable difference.

Small habits add up. Each one blocks a little dust, and together they make your weekly dusting a lot easier. Shake the inside mat outside once a week and wash it monthly, since a full mat stops catching anything.

For more about how we clean small spaces, visit our apartment cleaning services page. To wrap up this series, we look at the most common apartment cleaning mistakes and how to avoid them.