Nine Common Errors You Likely Commit When Dusting
If the tiny specks of grime, human skin cells, insects, plastic fragments, and other moderately unsavory components that compose your home's dust seem to amplify despite frequent cleaning, you might be committing one or more of these typical dusting slip-ups.
Employing the wrong equipment or methods, disregarding areas where dust gathers, and neglecting hidden high and low spots can undermine even the most diligent cleaning initiatives. The dust present in your home can transform into tumbleweed-like dust bunnies and wreak havoc on allergies and indoor air quality. In the following section, we consulted cleaning specialists about the most prevalent blunders.
- Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company
- Jena Touray of Boston-based cleaning service The Maids
Failure to Dust in the Correct Sequence
When you're cleaning any room, the optimal strategy is to start from the top and progress to the bottom. This enables the dirt dislodged from upper areas to settle on the floor, where it can be eliminated using the vacuum, advises Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company.
Jena Touray, of Boston-based cleaning service The Maids, agrees and starts from the left. "We recommend commencing at the left of the doorway," she says. "Cleaning from top to bottom and left to right ensures a meticulous job."
Utilization of Inappropriate Tools
To prevent dust from reaccumulating, you require appropriate tools. Mock recommends utilizing a clean microfiber cloth, lightly dampened with water from a spray bottle. The cloth should be damp sufficient to pick up dust without leaving behind moisture streaks. "A damp microfiber cloth scarcely leaves lint or dust behind unlike numerous other dusting cloths, thus considerably diminishing the likelihood of additional dust accumulating after cleaning," Mock maintains.
Adhere to the same application method for a dusting spray, suggests Touray. "In case you decide to utilize furniture polish or spray, we suggest spraying or applying the chemical directly to a cloth," she advises. "This prevention of overuse as well as simplified cleanup is advantageous."
Mock also suggests a dust mop with a synthetic or cotton covering for confined spaces. "Dust mops are capable of eliminating dust and debris from areas a vacuum cannot reach," she asserts (such as the gap beneath your bookshelf that's not extensive enough to accommodate your vacuum attachments). Another fundamental addition to your arsenal of dusting tools: a small paintbrush. "The bristles are highly effective for navigating intricate grooves," remarks Touray.
Employment of Incorrect Techniques
If your cloth is crumpled or wrinkled, you won't capture all the dust. "Folding your cloth neatly and keeping it flat will facilitate control and yield the best result," advises Touray. "Clear the surface and make horizontal sweeps."
Maintain a constant contact between the cloth and the surface as you glide it smoothly across each piece of furniture; then gently lift it before proceeding to the subsequent area. "Don't flick the cloth, or dust will merely be discharged back into the air before settling on the floor, rather than being trapped by your cloth," remarks Mock.
Concentration on Dust at Eye Level Only
Although the dust visible on your piano, bookshelves, and side tables might inspire you to start dusting, decreasing the overall quantity of dust in your house necessitates a careful examination of higher spaces as well. "Areas such as room corners, ceiling fans, cathedral ceilings, and tops of doorways accumulate a significant amount of dust because they are all areas that are challenging to reach and troublesome to address within your daily cleaning routine," remarks Mock. Investigate your doorframes, light switches, baseboards, and light fixtures for a thorough cleaning.
Omission of Small Spaces
Individually, small areas may not collect as much dust as larger pieces of furniture, but each particle that remains contributes to the overall accumulation in your home. "Utilize a damp, clean, soft paintbrush to eliminate dust from slatted doors or windows, telephone and keyboard keys, and any carved furniture," advises Mock. When dusting shelves or collections, clean each object and the area beneath it. Apply dryer sheets to dust screens, and tackle lampshades with a lint roller.
Neglect of Large Items
Address the dust that accumulates beneath furniture and large appliances. "Dust collects beneath, around, and behind most appliances," states Mock. "When feasible, relocating larger appliances from their positions to sweep the area clean is beneficial." The same holds true for the space beneath your bed, beneath your piano, and beneath your sofas.
Infrequent Dusting
Although you need not meticulously clean your dustcloth daily, establishing a consistent routine will allow you to maintain dust in check. "If you have a regular cleaning routine that encompasses vacuuming and wiping down surfaces, that goes a long way to prevent dust," suggests Mock. "Dryer sheets repel static, and they are highly effective at ensuring dust does not settle on window blinds and baseboards!"
Neglect of Window Maintenance
While you don’t need to thoroughly clean your windows on a daily basis, regularly addressing dust and grime will keep your windows shining and reduce the overall accumulation of dust in your home. "Employ a squeegee or microfiber cloth to clean your windows," counsels Mock. "Regular cleaning will keep your home looking fresh and dust-free."
Neglecting to clean window frames, blinds, and curtain rods commonly leads to dust accumulation, which subsequently circulates within your living space. As advised by Mock, a simple method to eliminate dust from Venetian blinds is to close the slats, dust, reverse the slant direction, and dust again. However, insufficiently insulated windows and doors can inadvertently let dirt and dust enter your dwelling. Mock suggests that leaky windows and doors are a major contributor to dust accumulation within the house. If you notice an excessive amount of dust, it's advisable to conduct a thorough inspection of all doors and windows in your home as an initial step.
Two more regular tasks that can help minimize dust accumulation are cleaning your bedding and replacing your air filters. According to Mock, altering furnace and air conditioning air filters every three to six months in a pet-free residence can lessen dust levels. For households with pets or people with allergies, changing filters every two months will make a significant difference.
An unanticipated dust eradicator: the process of cleaning your sheets and comforter. Bedding can frequently be a significant source of dust within the home, and by washing your bedding weekly, you can hinder this accumulation.
After recognizing the importance of starting from the top and working your way down when cleaning, Martha Stewart might suggest utilizing a clean microfiber cloth dampened with water to ensure a thorough clean, effectively minimizing dust accumulation. When it comes to cleaning challenging areas or small spaces, Jena Touray would likely recommend using a dust mop with a synthetic or cotton covering, or a small paintbrush with bristles capable of navigating intricate grooves.
