Wash your bedding weekly
Sheets, pillowcases and doonas/duvets collect dead skin cells, a favourite food source for dust mites, and every time you climb in or shake out a blanket you send fibres and mite debris drifting through the room. Washing bedding weekly on the hottest setting the fabric allows makes a real difference, and a mattress and pillow protector helps too, catching dust before it settles somewhere you can't easily clean.
Stop dust at the door
Shoes track in dust, pollen and outdoor grit with every step, so a doormat on both sides of the door catches far more than one alone. Taking shoes off at the door cuts it down even further, and a small tray or shoe rack nearby makes the habit easier to stick to.
Clean from top to bottom
Dust shelves, blinds, skirting boards, ceiling fans and lampshades before you tackle the floor, so anything dislodged settles somewhere you're about to clean anyway rather than back onto a surface you've already finished. Ceiling fans in particular build up a surprising amount of dust that then gets blown around the room every time they're switched on.
Vacuum rather than sweep
Sweeping flicks fine dust into the air instead of removing it, and much of it simply resettles once you're done. A vacuum with a HEPA filter traps dust particles rather than blowing some of them straight back out the exhaust, which matters if anyone in the house has allergies or asthma.
Don't forget soft furnishings
Sofas, curtains, rugs and cushions trap dust deep in their fibres, well beyond what a quick shake or wipe can reach. A vacuum with an upholstery attachment gets into seams and folds, and curtains benefit from an occasional wash or a run through the dryer on a no-heat cycle to loosen embedded dust.
Clear the clutter
Every extra ornament, stack of papers or pile of clothes is another surface for dust to settle on and another thing to clean around rather than through. Storing items in closed boxes or cabinets rather than out on open shelves keeps them dust-free without adding to your cleaning list, and the same goes for clothes you rarely wear, which still collect dust while hanging or folded away.
Check filters and seal gaps
Air conditioning and heater filters clogged with dust end up recirculating it through every room, so check them against the manufacturer's schedule, typically every one to three months, and replace as needed. Small gaps around windows and doors let outdoor dust and pollen drift in constantly, even when everything looks closed, so draft stoppers or weather strips can quietly cut down on that steady trickle from outside.
Groom pets regularly
Pet hair and dander are among the biggest contributors to household dust, so a regular brushing routine, ideally done outside or somewhere easy to sweep, keeps loose fur from ending up on your floors and furniture.
