Prevention as a Weapon Against Dust

Q: I love my apartment, but it seems to collect an inordinate amount of dust. In one week, huge billows of dust will collect in corners and under the bed and even up the wall. I have to vacuum once a week just to keep it under control. I have asked the building manager to clean the filters; she says they are replaced every six months. I'm worried it could pose a health hazard. Am I making a big deal over nothing, or could this cause health problems, other than back pain from such frequent vacuuming? -- Washington

A: If the dust bothers you, you should work to reduce it. "Apartments are notorious for being dusty," said Mary Findley, a cleaning expert who co-authored "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cleaning."

Findley said your apartment might be a magnet for dust because it is not well sealed or insulated. She said that if you follow a cleaning regimen -- which includes vacuuming weekly -- you should be able to control the dust.

A few of her suggestions to help you defend against a dust-bunny invasion:

If your heating and air-conditioning unit is in your apartment, you can clean the filter between replacements. Simply remove the filter and use the vacuum cleaner to remove the dust.

Put an older beach towel on the floor in front of sliding-glass doors. That alone could stop half the dust coming into your apartment.

Buy a caulking gun and caulk around the windows. It would cost about $5 and would help prevent dust from coming in the windows.

Clean the window screens, or ask your apartment manager to do so. "If those screens are dirty, it's an open welcome mat," Findley said. To clean screens, go to a pet store and buy what is called a dry sponge, which is designed to remove pet hair from furniture. You don't have to wash the screens to clean them.

Vacuum your curtains, using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Every time you open curtains, the dust goes flying. Or you can remove the curtains, take them outside and have a friend help you shake them out.

Check the ceiling fan. The instant you run fans, any dust goes flying. Wipe them down once a month with a damp cloth.

If you leave your windows open during the day, lowering the top portion of your windows rather raising the bottom part will help keep the dust from coming in through the screens.

Vacuum carpets weekly, more often if you have pets. Even if you don't see dust, it accumulates in the carpet.

Kick off your shoes. "Sand, dust and dirt loves to hitch a ride on shoes," Findlay said. Removing them will keep you from tracking extra dust into your apartment. Don't forget to stomp your feet to shake off dust that has attached itself to your clothing.

You could develop an allergies or sinus problems if you are exposed to a lot of dust, Findley said. Consult a doctor if you develop allergies you can't control on your own.

Other than that, if you see little red marks on your skin, you might have dust mites. To get rid of these, vacuum your whole apartment thoroughly and frequently, even under the bed and couch and areas that may be more difficult to access.

Q: We are considering renting out our second bedroom to a summer intern to help make ends meet. We're a married couple in our early thirties, and it's been a while since either one of us has lived with a roommate. What's the best way to lay out expectations? How can we do this while making the renter feel welcome? I'm thinking about issues like overnight guests. We wouldn't want that to happen too often. How do we address this while interviewing possible renters? -- Washington

A: Simply explain to prospective renters that you want a roommate who is respectful and quiet. Ask prospective tenants whether they would be willing to sign a roommate agreement, in which you spell out a guest policy and your expectations about noise requirements, cleaning duties, etc. The agreement isn't legally binding, but it sets a precedent for expected behavior and collegiality among roommates.

You can also draw up a sublet agreement or a lease, depending on whether you are renters or owners. This is legally binding, and it can include stipulations about rental payment, noise ordinances and termination of the lease agreement -- anything supported by local landlord-tenant law.

But because you're mainly concerned with your future roommate's habits, an informal but written roommate agreement should suffice. Let prospective renters know that you are also going to follow these rules and that you are open to reasonable compromise.

When you find an interested renter who is amenable to signing your roommate agreement, ask for references, even if all he or she can provide is a college resident adviser's name. There's no reason to assume that summer interns are going to be wild partiers who bring home guests every night, but there's also no reason not to check the character and past living habits of your prospective roommate.

It's probably not going to be easy for you and your spouse to share space with a stranger again, but if you pick someone responsible, everyone may benefit from the arrangement.

Q: We rent a unit in a four-unit house. The landlords recently installed expensive energy-efficient windows. If one is broken, the entire window must be replaced because they are sealed, dual-pane windows that require professional installation and repair. Who is responsible if one of these gets broken from the outside? Say a bird flies through it -- which has happened before. -- Annapolis

A: A bird flying through your window is not your fault, and thus you cannot be held accountable. You would have to pay if you send a football through your window. The difference is who caused the damage. As long as you don't break the window, you will not be required to pay for it. It was your landlord's decision to put in better, more expensive windows. Plus, because your windows are new, they are probably not going to shatter as easily the next time a bird crashes into them.

Do you have questions, comments or ideas about apartment life? Contact Sara Gebhardt via e-mail ataptlife@gmail.comor by mail, c/o Real Estate Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.