According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dust is one of the leading triggers of asthma and allergies and is everywhere. Dust always returns; it doesn’t matter your cleaning habits or where you live.
And this can be linked to the fact that dust sources are everywhere. Both indoors and outdoors. In fact, about two-thirds of dust found in most homes comes from outdoors.
At the same time, only one-third of dust originates indoors. So the bottom line is that dust entering your home is inevitable.
And that’s an unfortunate fact of life. Its sizes and characteristics vary and are dependent on those sources.
No matter the source, dust can be difficult to prevent or kick out. Do air purifiers help with dust? Yes, they do.
So if you’re fed up with seeing dust accumulate in the corners of your room, or you want to eliminate dust to relieve your asthma or allergy symptoms, you should consider getting an air purifier.
In this blog post, you’ll learn how effectively air purifiers can remove dust and helpful tips for eliminating dust without an air purifier.
So let’s dive into it.
Can air purifiers remove dust?
Air Purifiers are designed to remove airborne particles indoors effectively. But this is only true if it meets these two criteria.
Firstly, the air purifier should feature a True HEPA filter. Air purifiers with True HEPA filters are the recommended air purifier for dust.
And this is because True HEPA filters are the only filter certified with a 99.97% efficiency rating to remove particles 0.3 microns and larger. And this includes ultrafine dust particles.
So the second most crucial criterion to know before getting an air purifier for dust is that the air purifier should be appropriately sized for the room.
In other words, you must choose an air purifier that exceeds or matches the square footage of the room where you’ll use the air purifier.
If the room is underpowered, the air purifier will likely operate inefficiently and won’t produce the desired result. Calculating the square footage requires these simple three steps.
Firstly, measure the length of the room in feet. Similarly, measure the width of the room in feet.
Next, multiply the length times the width to get the correct square footage of the room.
How do air purifiers remove dust?
An air purifier for dust possesses two different and vital filters that will take care of dust particles; the Pre-filter and a True HEPA particle filter.
These filters will capture dust particles and leave them trapped on their surface. The Pre-filter takes care of the larger dust particles and other airborne impurities.
More so, it’s the first layer of defense through which impure air passes when it enters the air purifier.
So any naturally large dust particles get trapped by this filter. This filter is available on most units on the market.
However, you should know that the Pre-filter comes in two variances; the washable or permanent Pre-filter and the replaceable Pre-filter.
It would be best to opt for an air purifier with a washable Pre-filter. The washable Pre-filter is going to saturate with larger dust particles.
But you don’t have to buy to replace it. Instead, it allows you to clean, vacuum, and wash it when necessary.
Contrary to washable Pre-filters, replaceable pre-filters will require a replacement at some saturation level.
The purpose of the Pre-filter is simply to prevent the HEPA filter from saturating quickly. And this increases the filter life of the HEPA filter.
That said, the smaller dust particles will escape the Pre-filter and eventually get to the True HEPA Filter, where they will get trapped.
A True HEPA filter is more effective than other particle filters. It’s superior to even HEPA-type filters….A true HEPA filter eliminates airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns in size.
Hence, if you’re purchasing an air purifier for dust, you must look for the one with the two filter recommendations.
The filter system should also include an Activated Carbon Filter to remove the odors from the dust and other sources.
How long does it take for an air purifier to remove dust?
This significantly depends on a few factors, such as the level of dust contamination in your room, the size of the room, as well as the air purifier’s setting.
So, you’ll need to invest in an air purifier with the correct square footage for your room size.
And an air quality indicator to monitor your indoor air quality throughout the day.
You can click here to learn how to determine the size of the air purifier you need in your room.
Usually, an air purifier uses about 20 to 30 minutes to clean the air in a small room. And around 3 hours in large rooms.
However, running your air purifier for 3 hours isn’t enough to prevent dust from entering your home.
So you may have to keep your air purifier running for over 3 hours or less.
Do Air Purifiers help with dust mites?
Yes, they do. Dust and dust mites are closely connected. These highly tiny bugs live in household dust.
They are also commonly found in mattresses, pillows, and bedding, where they feed on dead skin cells and further dust formation.
In addition, their feces contain enzymes responsible for the symptoms commonly experienced by people with dust mites allergies.
However, Air Purifiers with True HEPA Filters can help capture airborne dust mites, their droppings, and allergens.
Click here for my detailed article on how air purifiers help with dust mites.
How to remove dust from air without Air Purifiers
Removing dust from the air without air purifiers requires cleaning and preventive techniques.
And most importantly, a lot of diligence. First, you’ll need to take care of every entry point of dust into your home.
This involves putting doormats at your doors and using blinds for your windows instead of curtains that amass dust.
Visitors can come into your home with dust underneath their shoes. A doormat in such a high-traffic area can help reduce the dust entering your home.
Secondly, you must dust your home frequently, always starting from the top places to the bottom spots.
High dusting ensures that you clean your home in an orderly manner. For example, if you clean the floor before dusting high places, you may have to clean the floor again once the dust settles on the floor.
After cleaning the top areas, move on to clean the dusty surfaces. Using a damp microfiber towel is very effective in removing dust from surfaces.
It possesses electrostatic charges that attract dusty particles to itself, making cleaning super easy.
Next, move to the floor. By now, the floor should be littered with particles of dust.
So mopping the floor with warm water and vinegar will help immensely in cleaning and disinfecting the floor of dust.
However, you should know that manual cleaning isn’t enough to curb dust. An air purifier combined with a cleaning approach will significantly help limit dust in your home.
An air purifier does more than clean your air. Most air purifiers have inbuilt sensors that monitor indoor air quality and alert you when air contaminant gets too high.
Conclusion?
Dust covers the earth, so it’s impossible to completely prevent dust from entering your home.
Aside from triggering allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems, dust can cause a mess in your home, thus creating an eyesore.
Unfortunately, dust can be home to dust mites, which causes more dust, making it a pain to eliminate.
So if you are wondering whether an air purifier helps with dust, the answer is yes. However, the air purifier must be of the correct square footage for your room.
In addition, it must feature a True HEPA filter and a washable Pre-filter for it to work efficiently in your space.
Air purifiers cannot eradicate particles, but with regular use, they can provide a significant reduction in household dust
And you must know that air purifiers shouldn’t substitute for household cleaning.
Instead, it would help if you combined manual cleaning with an air purifier. This makes the air purifier more efficient and last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do air purifiers help with allergies?
If you have asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions, an air purifier can greatly relieve your symptoms.
An air purifier, especially one with a True HEPA filter, removes airborne contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander other allergens.
Thus keeping your air clean and fresh so you can sleep better and comfortably.
Do air purifiers help with dust and dog hair?
Yes, they do. Most air purifiers are designed to trap dust and many airborne particles, including dog hair.
HEPA air purifiers effectively remove dog hair, dust, pet dander, and other allergens.
This keeps the air in a clean and breathable state.
Do air purifiers help with dust mite allergy?
Dust mites allergies are caused mainly by the enzymes secreted in dust mites’ droppings and allergens.
When dust mites and their waste becomes airborne, they can trigger asthma and even asthma once inhaled.
Fortunately, air purifier with HEPA filters can capture dust mites and their feces once they become airborne, reducing your chances of inhaling them and flaring up your allergies.