22 Low-Tox Strategies for Combating Dust & Dust Mites

Ever since I made the mistake of looking up the composition of dust, I consider it an icky four-letter word. I had assumed dust was just really fine dirt. Like super ground up rock particles. Yeah, no.

People who study dust—

Let me pause right here and say that I am extremely grateful for such researchers and doubly glad that I am not one of them.

—have found that dust is made of an overwhelming cocktail that includes shed human skin, animal dander, insect parts, food particles, fibers from textiles, soil from outside, soot, particles from combustion in gas and propane appliances—and here we get to the really disturbing stuff—heavy metals, microplastics, endocrine disrupting phthalates, flame retardants, synthetic fragrance compounds, highly fluorinated compounds (the PFAs and PFAs, aka “forever” chemicals), and phenols. This isn’t dust from obscure places. These chemicals, which are increasingly linked to a swath of maladies from infertility to diabetes to neurological issues to cancer, are in 100% of dust samples analyzed in a nationwide U.S. study over 16 years.

Stay with me here. I’m not done convincing you dust is bad.

What could be worse than dust? Dust mites

As if that list isn’t bad enough, then comes the knowledge that where you have dust, you have dust mites. Dust mites, which are a type of arachnid (think spider cousin), are something I really don’t like to think about, especially not in the context of their residence in my house. As disgusting as dust is, it is actually the mites that pose the greater problem to people with allergies or asthma. Dust mites, or to be more specific, the parts and poop of dust mites, are a more common trigger of allergies and asthma than the dust itself. I know you didn’t want to know this, but we’ll be brave and face it together. 

With this knowledge, I have now bumped dust, and its mite-y companions, up near the top of my list of concerning contaminants in my house. They have joined VOCs (volatile organic compounds), or airborne contaminants, in my cleaning prioritization. (Learn more about VOCs and their hazards in my article, “When Good Smells Are Bad Signs”.) The reason these two rank near the top of my list of concerns is not because they pose the most danger, micron for micron. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi (so-called “germs”) can do more harm if we compare the threat of equal amounts, but because dust/dust mites and VOCs are far more ubiquitous, voluminous, pervasive, and seemingly innocuous. 

Where dust and dust mites are the most concentrated

The biggest concentration of dust and dust mites is in our carpets, our bedding, and our fabric upholstered furniture. And who can blame them? It’s cozy, it’s protected, and bedding contains lots and lots of shed skin particles, their favorite snack.  

The problem is, these exact places are where people like to spend a lot of their time, too.  

If your kids are anything like mine were, they spend a whole lot of time in full body contact with the floors, and when it comes to bedding, it is the very young and the infirmed who spend the most time in them as well. What does this add up to? The most vulnerable among us are the most exposed to the highest concentration of dust and dust mites.

22 ways to reduce and eliminate dust and dust mites

1. Wash sheets weekly with hot water and dry in a hot dryer. As you might imagine, with the 8-ish hours we are spending between the sheets each day, they collect a tremendous amount of shed skin cells, otherwise known as dust mite food. This is why it is essential to launder sheets and other bedding that is in direct skin contact weekly, and pillowcases possibly twice a week. Purchase sheets with a thread count of 300 or higher so they can withstand the frequent washing. Use a soap or detergent that does not leave residues such as fabric softeners on the fabrics, which can contribute to dust. Fluff pillows, comforters, and other bedding in the dryer weekly and give a full wash seasonally.  

2. Wipe down all surfaces with a damp, absorbent cloth once or twice a week. There is no need to use any chemical dusting spray which adds VOCs to the air and residues to the surfaces. A damp cloth is sufficient to pick up dust and not leave any residues behind. 

3. Vacuum once or twice a week using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Invest in a high-quality vacuum. Read reviews because expensive does not necessarily equal effective. A good vacuum saves money in the long run because it lasts longer and does a better job, which protects your health. Consider the attachments in your purchasing decision too as they can help clean furniture, lamp shades, pet beds, window AC units, baseboards and crown moldings.   

4. Mop hard floors once or twice a week with a damp microfiber mop. Use a mophead that is detachable and washable so that you remove all the debris you pick up each week. Also use a clean-rinsing floor cleaner that does not add VOCs to the air or residues to the floor.  

5. Place floor mats outside and inside every door. Wiping shoes twice before entering the house is one way to catch debris before it gets tracked indoors. Vacuum or wash these mats often. 

6. Use washable throw rugs wherever possible and wash regularly. Take advantage of the availability of rugs that are easily washed in a washer.

7. Have indoor house shoes, and don’t wear your outside shoes inside. I am a constant shoe wearer even indoors, and this is one habit I have come to realize the wisdom of. Having indoor shoes helps keep outdoor debris from being tracked through your house. 

8. Wash filters on your vacuum, stove hood, and other appliances that air passes through. Filters need to be cleaned regularly to be effective. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds and hot water is what I use. 

9. Install air filters with a MERV 13 or higher rating on your HVAC system (check your system’s capability). Regularly changing your HVAC filters reduces strain on your system and produces better filtration. I know there is a vast range of cost of HVAC filters, but this is one spot that is worth the extra cost. Consider purchasing in bulk to reduce the price. 

10. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) in your area registers over 100 (or over 50 for sensitive individuals), keep your windows closed. Most weather apps include a daily AQI reading. It is not a perfect system, but it is a good indicator on what the particulate level is in your area. 

11. Use ventilation fans in the kitchen and the bathroom. When actively cooking, showering, or using the bathroom, turn on the available vents and open windows if possible. This will help capture any food or combustion particles emitted during cooking, and will help reduce humidity levels in the bathrooms. 

12. Use an effective air purifier in bedrooms or other high-occupancy spaces. An air purifier is an electric appliance that trap pollutants and operate independently, as opposed to an air filter which attaches to an HVAC system. These are especially needed if you can’t open windows, or if the outdoor air quality is worse than indoors due to smoke, pollen, or other contaminants. There are many air purifiers on the market with a range of quality, so do your research. Identify one appropriate for the size and use situation. Keep up with the filter maintenance.  

13. Declutter surfaces. Having less stuff out means fewer places for dust to hide and less stuff to dust around. Dusting will seem like less of a chore. 

14. Reduce the number of stuffed animals, and wash or at least fluff them with the no-heat dryer cycle regularly. I know this can be a tough one for kiddos. My own kiddos have definitely sworn that all 43 stuffed animals are beloved and meaningful. However, plush toys hold on to a lot of dust and then get cuddled and nuzzled offering prime exposure to dust and mites. 

15. Fluff curtains and throw pillows on the no-heat setting on the dryer. It is amazing how much dust curtains and pillows gather. Just running them through the air fluff cycle in the dryer will pull a tremendous amount of dust out. If they can withstand washing, then do so, and if they can take a little heat, that will help, too. 

16. Keep the humidity inside your home below 50%. Dust mites thrive in high-humidity environments. HVAC systems often dehumidify when they are running, but you can also look into a specific dehumidifier to bring down the moisture levels, especially if you live in an area of high humidity. 

17. Install allergy covers on mattresses and pillows. These have come a long way recently. This does not mean encasing your mattresses in crinkly plastic. There are soft but effective coverings that keep dust and mites out of mattresses and pillows and are easily washable. 

18. Wash and brush pets regularly. Furry friends deposit a lot of debris in our house not only from their own shedding, but also in the dirt that they carry in their fur and drop on carpets and furnishings. 

19. Wash pet beds regularly. Keeping pets clean is not very effective if their beds are still harboring lots of dirt, hair, and debris. Purchase beds that can be easily washed, and wash them regularly. 

20. Exfoliate. This may sound like a funny house-cleaning tip, but it was pointed out to me in Taryn Maria’s dusting video and makes perfect sense. If dust is made up partly of sluffed-off skin cells, then if we reduce the skin we’re sluffing-off, we’ll reduce the dust. Therefore, exfoliate ashy skin in the shower and stop the dust at its source. A GIY Sugar Scrub either with a coconut oil base (if you need extra moisturizing) or a simple soap base is a great way to do this.  

21. When purchasing new flooring, consider hard surface. I know this is a big, long-term consideration, and of course super pricey. But if you are at a point of re-flooring your house, it is easier to keep dust off hard surfaces rather than carpeting. 

22. When purchasing new furniture, consider leather or other less fuzzy coverings. As with flooring, I know this isn’t something you can run out and do every day. However, if you happen to be looking for new furniture, and especially if you have allergy or asthma considerations, look for easier to clean surfaces. Also, opt out of flame-retardant coatings, which produce many of the hazardous chemicals that have been found in dust.

How residues contribute to dust

One of my biggest peeves with conventional cleaners is that most are designed to leave residues on surfaces. Whether it’s fabric softeners on laundry or shine on furniture or scent on counters, all of these are residues that are sitting on the surfaces after we have supposedly cleaned them. The purpose of these residues are to bring you, the consumer, instant gratification and joy. They do not add to the cleanliness of the surface, but they supposedly make you feel better.  

You know what makes me feel better when I clean? Knowing that the surfaces are indeed getting clean and free of any substance on their surface. 

Of the many problems with residues, the relevant one to the topic of dust is that residues grab hold of other particles and can even become particles themselves. This keeps dust around and creates more dust. 

This is why it is super important to avoid products that leave residues. It is one of the primary reasons I recommend Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Magic Soap and Sal Suds. They are clean rinsing, have no ingredients designed to remain on surfaces, meaning they do not leave residues.  

As you evaluate the cleaning products you use around your house, think beyond the immediate usage, and choose ones that leave less residue behind on surfaces and are better for you, your loved ones, and the planet.  

While this list of 22 may seem like a lot, choose just a few to implement first and you’ll notice a difference. I hope these tips help you stop dust at its source and clean up what is left.

Further reading

• Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet
• Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
• 13 Essential Green Cleaning Ingredients 
• Cleaning Upholstery with Dr. Bronner’s

Sal Suds cleaner shows >60% biodegradation after 28 days per ISO 14593.