October 31, 2021
Dust is no small problem, left to build it can create real problems in your home. Those tiny particles of dirt, pollen, and skin, create layers of nasty film that can make your home look dirty, dingy, and downright unkempt.
That isn’t the only problem with dust though. Dust can also cause health problems if left unattended, like allergies. According to a study, one in ten people is sensitive to dust mites. In some regions, this leads to 90% of reported allergic asthma cases.
In this article, we’ll share expert tips on how to get rid of dust in your home.
The Experts Agree
Experts agree that to tackle the issue of dust build up in your home, it’s important to have a routine to keep this unsightly, and potentially hazardous problem at bay.
Once a week, this is what the experts agree on when it comes to how often you should remove the dust in your home. Also, they agree that cleaning from the top down is the best way to dust.
To keep a home dust-free requires more than just wiping down surfaces like countertops, shelves, and electronics once a week. All the experts suggest that you should wash your linens and curtains frequently, clear out the clutter that could collect dust, and use your vacuum daily.
The list of top items to vacuum regularly are:
- Hardwood floors
- carpets
- baseboards
- furniture
- mattresses
When it comes to the tools of the trade, all the experts agree on a few items:
- Microfiber cloths over cotton ones
- Water or all-purpose cleaner to help pick up dust
- Microfiber dusting set for hard to reach places
- Microfiber mop or Swiffer mop set for floors
- A vacuum to finish the job
Microfiber seems to be the cloth of choice. This is because microfiber collects ten times more dirt than cotton cloths.
How to Get Rid of Dust
What is the best way to remove dust from your home? Have a plan. In this section, we’ll provide a weekly cleaning ritual you can use for dusting.
Ceiling Fans
Place a newspaper or a drop cloth under the fan. Using a damp paper towel, remove any grime from the casing. Use a soft-bristle brush with liquid soap to remove dust and grease from the fan blades.
Rinse off the blades with a damp paper towel. After that, use a microfiber cloth to remove any leftover dust.
Walls
In the corners of the room and at the top of the walls is where dust, dirt, and cobwebs like to hide. To remove debris from the ceiling and walls, use a top-down approach using your vacuum. You may want to use attachments for hard to reach areas.
Curtains and Blinds
How often do you wash your curtains? If your response is, people wash curtains? We’re talking to you. Curtains and blinds are hot-spots for dust. Make sure to use a vacuum on your curtains. Washing curtains a couple of times a month also will go a long way.
For blinds, use a vacuum with an attachment and make sure to get everywhere. Once you have vacuumed, go over your blinds with an item like the Swiffer 360 or use a microfiber cloth with water or all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the blinds.
Furniture and Shelves
For furniture like couches and chairs, use an attachment tool on your vacuum to remove dust, pet hair, and dander. Wipe down any other areas with a microfiber cloth with water or all-purpose cleaner.
For bookshelves, use a vacuum around books, and then wipe down the shelving with a microfiber cloth.
Baseboards
Start with an attachment tool on your vacuum to remove large areas of dust. If you haven’t dusted in a while this step is essential. After vacuuming, spray the baseboards with water or all-purpose cleaner and wipe them down with your microfiber cloth.
After you have gotten into the routine of dusting regularly, wiping the baseboards should be sufficient.
Vents
Remove any dust, dirt, or grime from vents using a soft brush attachment on your vacuum. Spray water or all-purpose cleaner and wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Rinse any removable filters in soapy water, then let air dry.
Area Rugs
Sometimes the old fashioned way is the best approach. If you can, take area rugs outside and beat them to remove dust, dirt, or any other debris. If moving the rug is not possible, vacuum the rug slowly. It’s preferable to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, if possible.
Carpets
Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to help remove the most dust, pet hair, and dander from the carpet. You can also use a carpet deodorizer to help with any odors associated with pets.
Clean carpets daily, if possible.
Hardwood Flooring
Vacuum hardwood flooring using an attachment to remove any large collections of dust on your floor. After that, use a damp microfiber mop or Swiffer mop to remove any leftover dust, pet hair, or dander.
Other Considerations
Changing bedding weekly, and vacuuming your mattresses are another aspect of your dusting routine. Twice a month you should dust toys. Wipe down electronics a few times each week. By adding these to your list of dusting rituals, you’ll keep dust at bay.
Call on the Professionals for Help in Houston
You may be looking at this list and saying to yourself, I don’t have enough time. We get it. That’s why we’re professionals. If you don’t have the time to figure out how to get rid of dust in your home, we’re here to help.
We do this for a living, and we’ll get it done right. If you feel like you could benefit from a professional cleaning service, give us a call today at (713) 900-8242.
If you’re in the Houston area, get a free quote today!