How to Deep Clean for Dust and Pollen Season in North Texas

That Cleaning Girl · Deep Cleaning

Every North Texan knows the moment: the car turns a little yellow-green, everyone starts sneezing and the dust on the coffee table seems to come back an hour after you wipe it. Pollen and dust season is real here. If you've stocked up using The Deep Cleaning Supplies Worth Having at Home, you have everything you need to fight back.

Why dust and pollen are so bad here

North Texas gets more than one pollen season. Mountain cedar comes first in winter, then oak and other trees in spring, grasses in summer and ragweed in fall. Add the wind, the dry spells and the dust that blows off construction sites and open fields, and you've got a lot of fine particles looking for a place to settle. Many of them end up inside, on every flat surface in your home.

Newer neighborhoods around Waxahachie, Midlothian and Red Oak often have active construction nearby, which adds even more fine dust to the mix.

The dust inside a home is a blend: outdoor pollen and soil, plus lint, pet dander, skin cells and fibers from carpet and furniture. That's why it keeps coming back even when windows stay shut. A deep clean removes the layer that's built up, and good habits slow down how fast it returns.

Start with the air system

Your HVAC system moves air through the whole house, so it's the first place to start.

• Change the HVAC filter. During heavy pollen months, check it more often than usual.
• Choose a filter rated for capturing fine particles, if your system supports it.
• Vacuum and wash vent covers and return grilles.
• Clean the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.
• Keep doors and windows closed on high-pollen days, and run the air instead.

High surfaces first

Dust and pollen settle on high surfaces first and fall from there. Start every room at the top.

• Ceiling fans, using the pillowcase trick to keep dust from falling.
• Light fixtures and the tops of door frames.
• Tops of cabinets, bookshelves and tall furniture.
• Blinds, slat by slat, and the tops of curtain rods.
• Picture frames and wall decor.

Use a damp microfiber cloth instead of a feather duster. Feather dusters push dust into the air; damp microfiber traps it.

Bedding and soft surfaces

Soft surfaces hold onto pollen and dust more than hard ones.

• Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in warm water, more often during peak season.
• Wash blankets, throws and duvet covers every couple of weeks.
• Vacuum mattresses and pillows, and use protectors you can wash.
• Vacuum couches with the cushions off, plus curtains and fabric shades.
• Wash pet beds often, since pets carry pollen in on their fur.

Floors and entries

Pollen comes in on shoes, clothes and pets. Stop it at the door.

• Put a doormat outside and inside every exterior door.
• Set up a shoes-off spot near the main entry.
• Vacuum carpets and rugs slowly, in several directions, with a vacuum that has a good filter.
• Mop hard floors with a damp mop rather than sweeping, which kicks dust up.
• Wipe down pets' paws and coats when they come in on high-pollen days.

Window sills and tracks collect a surprising amount of pollen, especially if the windows have been opened. Vacuum the tracks, then scrub with a little baking soda and vinegar, and wipe the sills with a damp cloth. Sliding patio doors get the same treatment, since they're opened and closed constantly in nice weather.

Habits that keep it down between cleans

Deep cleaning catches a wave of dust and pollen, but habits keep it from building back up.

• Dust with damp microfiber once or twice a week during peak season.
• Change clothes and wash up after spending time outside on high-pollen days.
• Keep pets brushed outside, not inside.
• Run the vacuum more often in high-traffic areas.
• Keep the car windows up too; you'll carry less into the house.

When to schedule a deep clean

The best times are right after the worst of each wave: late winter after cedar season, late spring after oak season and early fall after the summer dust. A deep clean at each of those points resets the house just as the season shifts. Allergy sufferers often notice the difference most in the bedroom, so give that room extra attention each time: fan, vents, blinds, mattress and every bit of bedding. Pair it with regular cleaning in between, and the house stays a lot more comfortable all year.

An air purifier with a true HEPA filter in the bedroom can help between cleanings, especially for allergy sufferers. Change or clean its filter on schedule, and keep the door closed during the day so it has less air to work through.

Breathe a little easier at home

You can't stop the pollen outside, but you can keep a lot of it out of your home. Start with the air, work top to bottom, wash soft surfaces often and stop dust at the door. If you'd like help resetting the house each season, see our deep cleaning services.