These 5 storage options are silently making your home dustier – the quick (and affordable) changes you can make to stop dust in its tracks

Anyone who has ever lived both with and without proper storage in their home will know just how essential it is for everything to have a dedicated place. But while storage is key to a clutter-free home, many storage options can actually make your house dustier without you ever realising.

Yes, just as there are many items you need to declutter to prevent damp, there are so many storage options out there that are making your home so much dustier and dirtier. And before long, this will affect your home’s air quality, leave you struggling to get rid of dust, and potentially accelerate the deterioration of your belongings.

Cleaning more is obviously an easy solution to this problem, but making quick (and relatively inexpensive) changes to these storage options can also make a huge difference. So, these are the home storage mistakes making your home dustier - and what to do about it.

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1. Open shelving

Many people aspire to have open shelving in their homes - from stylish open shelving in a kitchen to custom storage units in their living rooms. And while there’s no denying that they look good and make a space look so much more inviting, they’re a breeding ground for invisible particles like dust, dirt, pet dander, and even pollen.

This is echoed by Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co., who says, ‘Open shelving and uncovered storage (especially for items not used daily) can quickly become dust traps. This is particularly true in bedrooms and living spaces where soft furnishings are already holding onto allergens. Open shelving looks great, but it does mean committing to more regular cleaning.’

For those who love their open shelving but still want to maintain a dust-free home, regular damp dusting is the way forward. This dusting method will help you trap this dust with each pass over the open shelving, so you don’t simply spread it from one area of the shelf to the other. Just remember to damp dust underneath the items on the shelf, too.

2. Fabric and woven baskets

I’m a sucker for pretty-but-practical storage baskets that help to hide clutter and give everything a home. But if you’re worried about rising dust levels in your home - or you want to pollen-proof your home - it’s best to avoid using fabric or woven baskets.

Shannon explains, ‘Wicker, along with fabric storage boxes and rope baskets, tends to trap dust and is much harder to clean thoroughly. They can look lovely, but they’re not always the most practical choice for anyone sensitive to allergens or wanting to keep things in pristine condition.’ That doesn’t mean that you need to avoid storage baskets completely, though.

In a kitchen, swapping to glass containers can still be pretty and practical, and there are many plastic storage baskets and boxes that will still make a statement. Plus, fabric and woven baskets can still be used if you pick them properly - like choosing a wicker basket with large gaps between each weave, instead of choosing one that’s tightly woven. This way, you can still dust them.

3. Long-term storage

Unless you’re a keen minimalist, most people like to keep items that they don’t use regularly. These are those ‘just in case’ items, or memories that they just can’t bear to part with. And while there’s nothing wrong with this per se, these long-term storage areas can be a breeding ground for dust. In fact, professional organisers say that garages and lofts are forgotten too often.

Shannon says, ‘Boxes that are packed away and forgotten about (especially in lofts, cupboards or spare rooms) can become hotspots for dust and even mould if conditions are right. Regularly getting these items out and editing what you keep is important and gets the air moving.’

This is particularly dangerous if you opt for cardboard boxes, as they are difficult to clean and can damage the contents if they become damp or damaged. That’s why I’d suggest swapping these cardboard boxes for plastic storage boxes with airtight lids to keep dust and moisture at bay.

4. Under-bed storage

When you’re working with a small home and limited in-built storage space, the space under your bed can seem like the perfect solution. But what many people don’t realise is that experts don’t want you to store anything under your bed if you can help it - mainly because it’s a major dust hot-spot.

Shannon agrees, stating, ‘Overfilled or disorganised storage under the bed can restrict airflow and allow dust to gather in a place that’s already difficult to clean. This is not ideal in a space where you’re sleeping.’ This is especially true if you opt for fabric under-bed storage bags that can trap dust and dirt within the fibres.

Of course, you don’t have to avoid using the space under your bed if you really don’t have any other storage options. Opting for vacuum storage bags or roll-out plastic boxes can be a great compromise, as long as you regularly get under there and dust them. I’d also suggest using one of the best robot vacuum cleaners to vacuum under the bed, too.

5. Keeping clutter

While the above storage options can all lead to a build-up of dust and dirt in your home, one of the biggest contributors to dust is your belongings themselves. And Johnny Liang, Air Purifier Specialist at Levoit, says that a build-up of clutter will ultimately affect your air quality more than you think.

‘Cluttered spaces tend to accumulate more dust and pollen,’ he says. ‘Reducing unnecessary clutter, prioritising closed storage solutions, and running an air purifier continuously can help minimise allergens both at the source and in the air. This not only keeps the space tidier but also significantly improves overall living comfort.’

Because of this, knowing how often you should declutter and using one of the best air purifiers are key to keeping dust at bay. And when you get rid of items that you no longer want - or no longer serve you - you’ll find it easier to manage dust as time goes on, too. So, it’s a win-win.

Say goodbye to dust... not to practical storage!