Does anyone use a furnace filter in the (return air grille) that actually works? I have heavy amounts of dust and tons of cat hair flying around the inside of my home. I've used the smaller, individual room electric type and they are not effective, plus, the disposable filters are very expensive to buy. I have searched and searched the Web and everyone touts their filter as being the best. I have purchased the cheap disposable filters for my furnace, but they aren't very effective either. Thanking you in advance for any tips.
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We bought a washable furnace filter for our furnace after breaking the bank with disposable ones for much the same problems as you have. Take the brand name and model of your furnace to a home improvement store like Home Depot or even call the manufacturer of the furnace and find out if it is possible they make a permanent washable filter. We just rinse ours under the tap after vaccuuming it off and let dry, then pop back in the furnace.
I had an electrostatic filter added to my furnace for all the same reasons. All I have to do now is rinse them every few weeks and put them back in.
I've tried the permanent ones and HATE washing them, and they NEVER seem to come clean, EVER.
So, keeping windows/doors shut, putting down entry
To cut down on some of the dust you can do what I was told to implement when we had some home improvement years ago.
Take a clean throw rug that is machine washable. Go outdoors and spray heavily with Endust on the part you'll walk on. You spray outdoors because the Endust overspray will make the floor slippery.
The electric air filtering machines need to have HEPA filters and cost about $200 or more or they don't work. Sears is the best place for them because long after the model has been discontinued, they still carry the replacement filters (thus avoiding a shipping charge). Occasionally, Sears has a 10 to 15% percent off of anything the the whole store. Buy your replacement filter at that time.
Brush the cats outdoors. Away from the house to keep it from blowing back in.
Make sure your vacuum isn't just blowing dust back on to the furniture. Change bag when needed! I say this because my daughter thought the bag was half empty, but when I showed her how to unzip the cloth holder and we spotted the "change bag when full up to here line," it was past that line.
My mother used to open the windows in the very early morning to freshen the air for 10 mins.
Some houses are naturally dusty. I knew someone once who complained that "5 mins. after I dust the dining room table, it's dusty again".
Is there some kind of a barrier you can lay down on the floor in the attic to minimize dust fall?
Is your furniture stuffing shredding itself all over the living room?
Lastly, are trees, landscaping or grasses near your house contributing to some of the mess?
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