What Causes Dust In Your Bathroom and Solutions to Prevent It
There seems to be never-ceasing warfare between you and dust in the bathroom! We know it can be frustrating, especially when you clearly understand that dust in the bathroom could result in mold and mildew growth or respiratory and allergen problems.
It's more frustrating if you can't tell the cause or the solution, yet you don't seem to achieve your cleaning goals regardless of how much you clean the bathroom. It happens!
Most causes of dust in the bathroom include:
- An extractor fan
- Pets
- A dusty house
- Improper cleaning methods
- Human hair
- Clothes lint
- Toilet paper
- Shedding towels
- Poorly designed or maintained HVAC
- Excess humidity
This article covers the above and gives you excellent, workable solutions. Read on.
Why Is My Bathroom So Dusty?
The most frustrating thing is to open the bathroom door after about a week of thorough cleaning and disinfecting, only to see dust particles lying all over the place.
While cleaning a dusty bathroom might look tedious and expensive, it's important because it could cause major health issues, including respiratory problems.
Therefore, it's paramount, especially if it becomes a recurrent thing, to know the cause and the best workable solution to have it spotlessly clean and fresh.
Major causes of dust in bathrooms
Pets
Pets often release fur and dust into the air, especially after a day's walk. When they do, the fur and dust accumulate on carpets, bathroom rugs, furniture, and other surfaces.
So, whether your pet goes to the bathroom with you or not, you'll carry his fur and dust to the bathroom using your clothes or shoes. Plus, when the bathroom door is open, the bathroom fans suck in dust from other rooms and release it into the air.
Extractor Fan
An extractor fan helps remove water vapor accumulated on walls and mirrors. In addition, they remove pollutants and excess moisture from the bathroom.
Sadly, these helpful assets also suck in dust from the towel, toilet paper, bathroom rug, and other adjoining rooms, as long as there's a clear path to your bathroom.
Consequently, dust and dirt start to build up in the fan. So, when you turn on the fan, it releases dust on the bathroom surfaces.
Dusty House
Oh yes, you read that right! Your dusty home could be causing your bathroom to become dusty.
Your shoes or bare feet carry dust and transfer it to your bathroom floor or rugs when you walk along a dusty corridor to your bathroom.
Improper Cleaning Methods
Sometimes, we think we know how to clean our homes correctly, including the bathroom, until the experts prove us wrong.
Take, for example, some people start cleaning the floor and then the walls and eventually the ceiling. Wrong! Such cleaning methods transfer dust to other clean surfaces!
One of the cleaning tips by Zerorez® experts is to start cleaning the bathroom from the top to the bottom (ceiling to floor).
Human Hair and Cloth Lint
Do you often comb your hair or shave your beard in the bathroom? Hair and beard become dust and accumulate on the bathroom surfaces.
Worst still, hair and beard stubble easily block the extractor fan, reducing the fan's effectiveness.
Also, storing dirty clothes in the bathroom transfers dust and loose fibers to the bathroom surfaces.
Toilet Paper and Shedding Towels
Unrolling your toilet paper releases dust particles in the air, which accumulate on the bathroom surfaces. Though even high-quality toilet papers shed some dust (or lint), poor quality toilet papers shed more.
The grounded material sometimes fails to bond correctly during toilet paper manufacturing. As a result, the toilet paper sheds when you roll or unroll it.
New towels shed lots of lint, but even old ones do, too. So, when you store towels in the bathroom, expect to see some dust around the storage area and other surfaces if there's a fan in your bathroom.
Poorly Designed or Maintained HVAC
A properly designed and maintained HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system freshens the air and keeps your home clean.
In contrast, when it's poorly designed and neglected, it releases dust onto the floors and other surfaces.
Vents, for example, are among the 5 surprising places in your home that need a deep cleaning! When they're blocked, they release lots of dust in the bathrooms.
Dirt and dust causes the vents not to work correctly. They hinder excellent airflow in and out of the bathroom.
On the other hand, ductwork consists of air tunnels with joints, varying lengths of suspended metal sheets, and bends that are invisible and hard to reach. Sadly, the interior surfaces accumulate lots of dust and lint fibers.
When ducts accumulate lint fibers from rugs, clothes, and towels, you'll notice black dust in bathroom (on floor, on wall).
Black dust in the duct could also signify the presence of mold growth.
Talking of the filters, they release dust in the air and bathroom surfaces when they're dusty.
Excess Humidity
Lots of moisture in the bathroom results in sticky dust accumulating on the bathroom surfaces. Mostly, this sticky dust sticks to surfaces, including the doors, walls, countertops, blinds, shower curtains, and mirrors.
Also, poor lighting, excessive dampness, and high moisture result in yellow mold growth. As a result, you'll have a yellow dust bathroom.
The yellow dust exposes you to respiratory health problems due to compromised air quality, and it may also lead to structural damage to the bathroom.
Have you noticed pink dust in bathroom? It's a product of bacteria growth in your highly moist bathroom. Aureobasidium pullulans and Serratia marcescens are the major bacteria that cause a pinkish shower mold-like stain on your bathroom faucets, shower, curtains, and other surfaces, like moldy shower grout.
Though this bacteria is not as dangerous as the black mold, you should not allow it in your bathroom.
How to Prevent/Control Dust in Bathroom
You now know what's causing your bathroom to be dusty. Congratulations! But how do you keep the bathroom dust-free?
Hire a Professional Cleaning Company
There's more than mopping, wiping, dusting, and vacuum cleaning your bathroom, though Zerorez does offer a Zero Residue® Zr Maids™ Housekeeping Service which is a great first step for combating dust in the bathroom. At Zerorez, we will help you dust, clean, and freshen your bathroom without harsh chemicals.
We can also help clean your shower glass enclosures and professionally deep clean your tile and grout.
But, as Zerorez is the Expert in the Science of Clean™, we can help identify the root of recurring dust in your bathroom and provide a workable solution, with one recommendation likely to be having your air ducts professionally cleaned.
Proper Ventilation
A poorly ventilated bathroom attracts dust due to high humidity levels. Hence, normalize opening the bathroom window during and after hot or warm showers to allow the moisture and heat to escape.
Alternatively, run the exhaust fan when taking a warm or hot shower.
If your bathroom windows are small, leave a small gap in the door for 45 minutes after showering to increase airflow.
Buying a dehumidifier will also be a great idea if humidity levels in your area are high. A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the bathroom, helping prevent dust accumulation.
Remember to change air filters regularly to help the HVAC and the air purifier function correctly. It's best to change them after three months.
Also, regularly clean the ducts so that they can correctly and consistently pull in fresh air.
Regularly and Correctly Clean and Dust the Bathroom
If your bathroom is prone to dust, probably because of high humidity or living near the road, regularly clean and dust it thoroughly.
Avoid using a cleaner that leaves the bathroom surfaces with sticky residue. Such attracts dust, thereby making your cleaning efforts a waste of time.
You may want to clean or dust the bathroom, often based on how soon it becomes dirty. Maybe once a week or twice a week.
While at it, attend to all areas, including the light switch, vanity drawers, toilet paper and toothbrush holders, shower head, and bathmat.
The rule of thumb? Dust from top to bottom.
First, remove everything from bathroom shelves, floor, and other surfaces so the room is bare.
It's also best to avoid storing dirty clothes or any clutter in the bathroom and store them where you vacuum clean often.
Start by cleaning the fans, the shelves, and all other top areas. Next, clean the walls and finish with the floor.
If this is too much work for you, don't worry. Our professional cleaners will deeply clean your bathroom, leaving it clean and smelling great!
Besides, at Zerorez, we use the best cleaning products - another reason you should hire us!
Shut the Bathroom Door and Windows
Avoid leaving bathroom windows and windows open 24/7, as they may pave the way for dust from outside into the bathroom.
Only open the windows and door (if appropriate) while showering and several minutes afterward to allow hot or warm moisture out of the bathroom.
Install an Air Purifier and Dehumidifier
Install high-quality air purifiers, preferably those with HFRA filters. High-quality air purifiers capture dust from the air and remove any airborne particles, such as dust, human hair, and pet dander.
They prevent dust accumulation in your bathroom and lower the chances of odor and mold growth.
High-end air purifiers may also have a dehumidifier. Order and install one if yours doesn't come with it, especially if the humidity in your bathroom is high.
While keeping your bathroom dust-free, dehumidifiers will also keep dust out. Besides, you'll never have to worry about dust mites in the bathroom.
Use High-Quality Vacuum Cleaners
Aside from discouraging your pet(s) from going into your bathroom, use a vacuum cleaner with a hair attachment to regularly clean your bathroom and other areas throughout your home your pets frequently visit.
However, vacuuming often isn't enough, so be sure to look for your nearest Zerorez branch and book an appointment for a professionally cleaned carpet (especially if you have a carpeted bathroom).
However, it's also paramount that you often bathe your pets and correctly brush their fur to reduce excess shedding.
Change Toilet Paper Brand
If there's too much white dust in bathroom from toilet paper, please try changing the brand. Buy soft toilet paper and tissues as they shed less.
Whether the dust in the bathroom results from an extractor fan, pet dander, a dusty house, improper cleaning methods, human hair and clothes lint, toilet paper, towel lint, poorly designed or maintained HVAC, or excess humidity, you must address it. Professionally!
We offer the best bathroom (and home) cleaning services!
Despite using the best dust cleaner for the bathroom, we have clean records of being the best in the industry as our customers have tested and confirmed that our services are fantastic.
That's why we believe we're the best cleaning company for all your bathroom (and home) cleaning needs.
What are you waiting for? Get in touch and see the beauty of a transformed dust-free bathroom!
