What are Dust Bunnies?

Dust bunnies are something that everyone is unfortunately familiar with. While they are filthy, they may seem to be relatively harmless. The reality is that dust bunnies are more than a bothersome nuisance that may seem to plague your home. After you learn more about what dust bunnies are and how they form, you will see why you may need to step up your cleaning efforts.

• What Are Dust Bunnies Made Out Of?

One of the many elements found in dust bunnies is dust, but what is dust made out of? Dust in homes is generally comprised of soil and other organic matter that you and your family members may track in on a daily basis. You may also find clothes fibers, skin cells, and other organic matter in dust particles. Dust bunnies also contain everything from fungal spores and lawn chemicals to fecal matter and body parts from insects, endotoxins, bacteria, pet dander, food particles, and more. These small clusters of filth are also home to dust mites. While many of these elements are allergens that can cause minor to significant respiratory distress and other allergic responses, others may cause more serious health issues.

• How Are Dust Bunnies Formed

Pet and human hair combine with the many other various elements that are moving throughout your home regularly, and they are charged by static electricity. This static electricity results in the formation of a cluster. When enough matter has accumulated in the clump, the mess grows to a size that may be easy to spot from across a room. Dust bunnies can accumulate in any location, but they are most prevalent in areas that you do not clean regularly. These areas include underneath furniture and appliances, in corners, and in deeper crevices that may be difficult to clean. Dust bunnies can continue to grow in size in these and other areas without interruption, but some of them may move when they are dislodged by air currents and other forces.

• How Do You Get Rid of Dust Bunnies?

When you know what dust bunnies are, how they form, and where they are most commonly found, you are in a better position to get rid of them. In many cases, the easiest way to remove dust bunnies from your home is with a powerful vacuum. Choose a vacuum that has a superior air filter. This will prevent the dust and debris from recirculating in the home while you are vacuuming. Utilize the vacuum’s various attachments to clean the areas of your home that you may normally pass over. This may require you to pull cushions off of the sofa, to launder the curtains, and to move furniture and appliances around.

• How Can You Prevent Dust Bunnies?

Regularly and thoroughly cleaning your home is one of the best ways to decrease the accumulation of filthy particles that ultimately create dust bunnies. If necessary, invest in a new vacuum cleaner that has enhanced filtration capabilities. You also should utilize a microfiber cloth when dusting so that more of the particles are trapped. Other types of cloths may simply dislodge the elements so that they are spread throughout the space. Because your HVAC system circulates air and dramatically affects indoor air quality, replace your air filters regularly. Use quality filters that capture more particles. In addition, clean the ceiling fan blades and air vents.

By removing particles promptly, the dust bunnies will take much longer to form. You can also reduce the amount of debris that gets into your home by taking your shoes off before entering and by keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible. If humidity is problematically high in your home, invest in a dehumidifier. Humidity affects static electricity, so a dehumidifier that moderates humidity can reduce the strength of the static charge that pulls the debris together.