There’s no escaping dust in your home, which contains particles such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria and highly allergenic dust mite debris. Controlling the dust that collects in your rooms will improve your home’s air quality and help you breathe easier, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma. Follow these helpful tips to keep your home as dust-free as possible.

1. Maintain your HVAC air filter. The filter in your forced-air HVAC system traps airborne particles such as dust, mold spores, pollen, dander and bacteria.

2. Dust with a microfiber or electrostatic dusting cloth. Dry cloths and feather dusters don’t collect dust, but rather move it around. Avoid dusting chemicals, which can leave residue on surfaces and compromise your indoor air quality.

3. Vacuum at least once a week. A good-quality vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will trap more and smaller particles to considerably improve your air quality.

4. Shake your rugs. Area rugs gather large amounts of dust and vacuuming won’t remove all of it. Before you vacuum, gather your rugs and take them outside for a good shaking to remove embedded dust, and vacuum both sides before putting them back on the floor. Several times a year, take your rugs outside and hang them over the clothesline or fence and beat the dust out of them with a tennis racket or broom.

5. Wash your bedding weekly in hot water. Your bedroom is one of the dirtiest rooms in your home due to the large number of skin cells you shed during the hours you spend in bed. Microscopic dust mites develop potent allergens.

6. De-clutter your home. Knickknacks and piles of things like books and clothes gather large amounts of dust and make cleaning difficult. Limit items on your shelves and keep your clothes put away in drawers and in your closet.