Send the Dust Bunnies Hopping!
Unlike the Easter Bunny, dust bunnies are unwelcome at Easter. In fact, they should be unwelcome any day of the year. While the term “dust bunny” may seem cute and cuddly, the reality is they make your home look dirty, make you sneeze, and can be harmful to your health.
What Are Dust Bunnies?
Simply put, they’re a collection of hair, lint, flakes of dead skin, spider webs, dust, and other light debris, all held together by static electricity. Gross, right? But don’t stop there. A gram of dust can contain thousands of dust mites, their waste causes sniffles and more serious health problems in those who are allergic. And, that’s just a tiny speck, just imagine the impact of a bunny-sized clump!
Where to Find Dust Bunnies
Much like real live bunnies, dust bunnies like to hide. Some of their favourite hiding spots include:
- Under, around and behind appliances – pull the fridge and stove out once a month to sweep the areas clean.
- Under and behind furniture – move couches and tables as part of your cleaning routine to corral dust bunnies.
- Behind mattresses and box springs – the areas behind and underneath your bed collect dust, so be sure to dust them every time you change the sheets.
- On the floor, in corners – vacuum these awkward spots, as well as molding, to dislodge bunnies.
- In anything with a pleat – if your curtains, bed skirts, or lampshades have pleats, expect to find a dusty mess inside them.
How To Get Rid of Dust Bunnies
- Invest in a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air filter – this type of filter features a fine mesh that traps dust and other harmful particles.
- Put your vacuum attachments to work, matching each to the task – use the crevice tool to attack baseboards, ceiling molding, and the spaces in-between appliances that you don’t plan to pull out that week.
- Use the upholstery tool to capture dust on soft pieces of furniture, sucking up dust mites. Don’t forget the backs and sides of couches and under the cushions – for surfaces you shouldn’t vacuum, such as your TV, keep microfibre cloths on hand. Microfibre cloths are a dusting powerhouse. They gently clean and trap dust instead of sending it on to settle elsewhere.
- Finally, bring in the professionals for a deep cleaning once a season – we can clean inside your house, while a handyman or HVAC technician can clean ducts and vents to ensure dust bunnies living in those spaces don’t multiply and move into interior rooms.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
