Fixit: Cleaning the ducts won't do much to eliminate dust

Q We live in a 1960s rambler that is continually dusty. I would like to have our ducts cleaned to see if that will cut down on the dust, but my husband says duct cleaning is a scam and doesn't do any good. Other than dusting every other day (which I don't have time for), I'm not sure what to do. Is duct cleaning effective in removing dust from the house?

A No, not really. Preventing and capturing dust is, however. In most homes, regular duct cleaning isn't necessary. Often, you can do what's needed yourself. Vacuum-clean the registers and grilles. Remove them and clean inside as far as you can reach. Then, using a flashlight and mirror, examine what you can of the ducts. If you see an accumulation of debris, have the ducts cleaned. Duct-cleaning companies are listed in yellow-page directories. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis.

Consider having the ducts cleaned if you have:

• A newly constructed home.

• An existing house that has been remodeled or was under construction.

• Purchased a home and don't know if the ducts have ever been cleaned.

• Lived in your home for more than 10 years and have never had the ducts cleaned.

• Carpet. Carpeting sheds fiber and collects dust particles. Every time you walk on it, you knock particles into the air that circulate throughout the house. Synthetic carpets and pads deteriorate over time, becoming brittle and breaking into fine particles, which contributes considerably to dust. Replace old carpet and pads, or, when possible, remove them and use hard-surface flooring and area rugs.

• Pets. Furry pets shed hair and dander. Launder their sleeping areas frequently, and bathe and groom animals regularly.

• Vacuum cleaners. Cleaning with a vacuum can help control dust, but if you don't use one with a HEPA filter you'll simply spread around the dust. A central vacuum that discharges outdoors also works well.

• Filter. The standard filter on a forced-air furnace doesn't do much to capture household dust. Replace it with a higher-efficiency pleated filter.

Outdoor carpet removal Q We recently decided to get rid of the all-weather carpet on our screen porch, strip the concrete floor and paint it. The carpet came up easily, but the adhesive is a real challenge. We tried a power sander, but the adhesive only clogged the sandpaper. Can you suggest a way to get rid of this adhesive?