10 tips for building a dirt-free house

I live with two charming but slightly psychopathic individuals who have appalling table manners, habitual halitosis and an annoying habit of shedding fine hair on almost every object they touch.

Since they’re both dogs, it’s difficult to blame them, but their presence has made me more conscious than ever before of the value of house cleaning.

This time of year, of course, is when many of us feel an urgent need to spring clean. For selfbuilders this isn’t really a priority until well into the second fix when dust-free surfaces are needed for final floor and wall coverings, skirting, coving and so on.

Beyond that, cleaning begins to merge with the ongoing chores of housekeeping. But occasionally, not long after this, an awkward realisation may dawn: beautiful as this house is, it’s actually quite difficult to keep clean.

At first sight, this may seem to be a problem of interior rather than house design or construction. Opting for a white or cream decor, for example, is unlikely to ensure a constantly spotless home.

But, as in most aspects of self build, careful consideration at the planning stage can eliminate or minimise many subsequent problems. Here, then, are 10 random suggestions for building in dirt-and grime-resistance to your new home.

1: Fit a mat well

Even the best mats don’t stop dirt filtering through to the floor below, producing stains and discolouration. So consider a mat well, a mat-sized depression into which to set your mat and which captures the dirt that filters through and makes it easy to vacuum away. It also keeps the mat securely in place. With a solid ground floor this involves creating temporary formwork before the top screed is laid. With a timber floor the mat can be secured either by a bought or bespoke frame or a sunken boxed section, ideally fitted with an aluminium tray to preventing any dampness reaching the timber.

2: Opt for underfloor heating

Manufacturers stress the low running costs (UFH typically requires temperatures of around 50ºC rather than the 60-80ºC common in radiator systems) and superior comfort levels to conventional radiator systems. What they mention less often is the fact that radiator systems distribute dust. The air they heat rises to the ceiling, cools and falls to be re-heated, creating a circular flow which ensures dust is spread throughout the room. UFH leaves the dust where it forms.

3: Add a boot room

Boot rooms are traditionally part of country house living, a form of entrance lobby where muddy boots and outdoor clothing can be deposited and cleaned instead of besmirching the rest of the house. Typically it includes a deep sink, a washable, hard-wearing floor, such as tile, stone or vinyl, and even a central drain into which mud and dirt can be swept. Anyone with a garden or a dog would benefit, but in an urban or suburban setting it’s more space efficient to combine a boot room with a utility room, housing a washing machine and tumble dryer as well as ample storage for general household items.

4: Install outside shelter

By which I mean an overhead cover directly outside entrances, particularly those facing gardens or other muddy approaches. Patio cover? Portico? Colonnade? Essentially it’s a pergola that keeps the rain off. It serves as an outside boot room with storage or hanging space for muddy boots and an outside tap for basic cleaning. It can also double as summer shading and rainproof space for a washing line.

5: Fit solid flooring

Carpeting may be warm and comfortable underfoot – a good reason to fit it in bedrooms – but it’s also a magnet for dust particles, dust mites and pet hair, stains easily and is expensive to clean. Tile, stone, vinyl, natural and engineered wood are easier to clean and maintain and are more suitable for underfloor heating.

6: Install a whole house ventilation and heat recovery system

Essentially this seals your house, extracting warm, moist air from the kitchen and bathroom and expelling it via a heat exchanger. This warms fresh air which is then distributed through a system of ducting and grilles. As a result, the internal air is constantly, though unobtrusively, refreshed, taking dust particles with it. Filters can also be fitted to the fresh air intake, removing dust and pollen.

7: Fit a central vacuum system

Instead of using a self-contained vacuum cleaner, which can re-distribute dust particles it fails to remove and has to be emptied by the user, the power unit and dust collection container are sited in a utility room or garage. They’re linked to the house through a network of internal ducting with outlets – typically one per storey – into which a hose and cleaning attachment are inserted.

8: Consider smooth-faced cabinets, wardrobes and storage units

Elaborate edging on kitchen units, cupboards and vanity units may look elegant but multiplies the space where dust and grime can collect. The same goes for complicated handles. Think about push-open door and drawer catches. And glass doors for units displaying books and ornaments, which otherwise make highly efficient dust traps.

9: Consider tiles, wood cladding or vinyl for the walls

Especially if you have young children or dogs. These materials are easier to keep clean than painted plaster and needn’t cover more than dado rail height.

10: Choose blinds or shutters over curtains

Dust and grime are usually obvious on shutters and blinds and relatively quick and easy to remove. The opposite applies to curtains.

March 2019