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"  What&amp;#039;s one little dust bunny swept under the rug? Turns out, a lot. Where there&amp;#039;s one, more are sure to follow\u2014unless you get a handle on it before it multiplies. But how do you get rid of something that keeps coming back? The first line of attack against dust: prevention.   1. Minimize dust-gathering knickknacks, especially in rooms where you spend a lot of time, like living areas and bedrooms, says microbiologist Mark Sneller, owner of Aero-Allergen Research in Tucson, Arizona, and author of Family Health Guide to Better Indoor Air Quality.   2. If you&amp;#039;re allergic to dust mites or wake up with a stuffy nose, consider encasing your mattresses and pillows in zippered, allergen-reducing covers. Twice a year, wash the covers in hot water.   3. Put heavy-duty commercial-style doormats (tight weave, rubber backs) outside of every door used to enter the house.   4. Place air purifiers in your most-used rooms to help suck up dust before it settles down. Skip ionic air cleaners; they release ozone. Instead, choose fan-powered cleaners ($80 to $200 or more). For reviews of units based on Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers standards, go to cadr.org.   5. Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 50% to reduce static, advises Allen Rathey, founder of HousekeepingChannel.com. Static attracts dust and makes it harder to remove.   6. Cheap furnace/air-conditioning filters, like fiberglass ones, do little to prevent dust, says Aileen Gagney, an American Lung Association asthma and environmental health program specialist. Choose pleated filters with a higher MERV rating (mean efficiency reporting value), but don&amp;#039;t exceed your furnace&amp;#039;s abilities. Ask a furnace technician for suggestions if you&amp;#039;re unsure.   7. Wood, metal or plastic blinds are easier to clean than drapes. Just wipe with a microfiber cloth or an electrostatic duster that has lots of &amp;quot;fingers&amp;quot; (like Swiffer&amp;#039;s). If you have drapes, dust or vacuum rods or valances first, then clean the length with your vacuum&amp;#039;s brush or upholstery tool on lower suction.   8. Don&amp;#039;t use fabric softener or dryer sheets on your cleaning rags or microfiber cloths; it reduces their ability to attract and hold dust and absorb liquids. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a3524/8-ways-to-prevent-dust-65222/>