Dust on your hardware ...

If it is a regular issue, consider getting an electric air cleaner that ionized particles before fanning them past negatively charged plates. Sixty dollars USD usually.

I worry most about dust accumulating on my monitors, especially the folded-ribbon tweeters ADAM uses. I really don't know if dust has any sonic effects, but I throw a couple of towels over the speakers if I'm going to be away for more than a day, just in case.
 
I would not be comfortable vacuuming them. Although the woofers can be safely wiped (gently) with a cloth I haven't figured out any way to clean the tweeters.

I dust nearfield speakers using a (genuine) sable-hair artist's paint brush applied very gently along with a bulb "puffer" of the kind used to blow dust off camera lenses. Guitar speakers get done using short bursts froma can of air duster applied from about a foot away so the air isn't at sub-zero temperatures when it hits.

Though if a little dust does make a difference to the audio I'll admit I can't hear it.

Humidifiers are useful for dry climates and will help keep the dust down (water traps dust effectively). Followed by using a HEPA/CRI certified vacuum cleaner for the rooms --- cheap vacuum cleaners without good quality HEPA/CRI certified = may as well be using a leaf blower 
 
Air-Filters/Purifiers/Cleaners/Washers (lol, so many weird choices) will reduce dust but the issue is noise, noisy even at low fan speeds or quiet enough when new until it gets old (about 6 months to a year or so).  Good quality (quiet, reliable) are expensive and then there are options for permanent or replaceable filters.  I have central air (for winter and summer) it uses a HEPA filter, it needs to be changed at least every 6 months ($20) which is okay I guess.
 
When my system and other hardware is not in use for a while I turn everything off and cover it all with black leatherette.  Kinda feels like I'm tucking them all into bed, then say a brief bedtime story and kiss 'em all goodnight
 
Computer/hardware cleaning:
I clean once a week (exterior, and dust filter) and once a month or so cleaning (internal) good clothes and soft brushes will do fine especially since there should not be as much dust to begin with (with all of above suggestions)!
 
 

mettelus
Wife who LOVES to clean works best.

I would never say that to my wife or she would brand me of being a sexist pig My wife and I share the housework/chores and that IMO works best for us   our computers are clean as new
 
 

ston

Shambler
I use one of these, very gentle http://www.amazon.co.uk/P...RTER-KIT/dp/B0040DD8LG

I use exactly that too :-)

I used one of those similar, "dust magnet" brushes on my main MIDI controller yesterday.  I can't believe how well it works.  Problem solved 

No matter what you do there will be dust.  I used to work in a computer room with controlled and filtered air and there was still dust.  Printing was done in a separate environment controlled room to prevent paper dust from getting into the computer room.
 
 

I just happen to have some of those dust-magnet duster things here among the many mystery cleaning products my late wife left me. I'm going to give them a try. Maybe the toilet brush, too. No, not on the speakers.
 
It occurred to me that the process might be expedited by first loosening the dust by playing music very loudly. I'm thinking the 1812 Overture.

Swiffer dusters. I use a ton of them.

Cactus Music
The backwards vacuum is a bad idea, Vacuums are filthy, you just spreading more dust.

I can sort of see your point, but in practice it works very well.  Maybe because I use an Electrolux with HEPA bags.
I've always blown out the insides of my computers and they're very clean.  Of course, if I had a cleaner source I'd use it, but I don't see the need.
 
Blowing air is the only way to get dust out of tight places.
 

You need to keep on top of dust though, otherwise it starts multiplying...
 

Nearly all indoor dust is human skin cells.
 
I use cloth covers with print only on one side to reduce.
 
I use a small compressor/blower to de-dust computers and equipment, out of doors. Never on a way humid or cold day to avoid the compressor spitting water drops.
 
And I purchase rolls of furnace filter material to use on all vents from the furnace. Changing the return air most often.
 
I did have an electrostatic collector in the studio that I ran when not working.  It broke just before the move. Time to get another.
 
The dust brushes are useful.

drewfx1
I go by the philosophy that vintage dust makes stuff sound better. 

The only vintage gear in my studio is my restored 1963 AC15, everything else is modern digital gear.
The dust is small individual particles.
 
 
Even the dust is digital...