How to Dust Furniture: Expert Tips for a Clean and Healthy Home
How to effectively dust furniture. What are the best tools for dusting. How often should you dust your home. What are the benefits of regular dusting. How can you prevent dust buildup in your home. What areas tend to collect the most dust. Are natural dusting methods effective.
The Fundamentals of Proper Furniture Dusting
Dusting furniture is an essential household chore that many people overcomplicate. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need an arsenal of specialized products to achieve a dust-free home. Experts recommend a simple yet effective approach using just two cloths and a little water.
Eli Rios, owner of ECR Antique Conservation & Restoration Inc., emphasizes that “The right way is the opposite of what people think. A damp cloth gets the dust off.” This method not only removes dust effectively but also prevents it from becoming airborne and resettling on surfaces.
How Often Should You Dust?
The frequency of dusting depends on your personal preferences and the specific needs of your home. Experts suggest dusting whenever you feel it’s necessary or when you notice dust accumulation on your furniture. For most households, a weekly dusting routine is sufficient to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Essential Tools for Dusting
- Soft, clean cloths (e.g., cheesecloth or old T-shirts)
- Water
- Paste wax (optional, for occasional use)
Avoid using feather dusters, as they tend to disperse dust into the air rather than removing it effectively. Philip C. Lowe, director of The Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, warns that feather dusters “just make the dust airborne again and it settles back on the furniture.”
Step-by-Step Guide to Dusting Furniture
- Dampen a soft cloth with water. Ensure it’s damp, not soaking wet.
- Gently wipe the furniture surface using back-and-forth motions.
- Pay extra attention to delicate areas like loose molding or raised veneer.
- Use a dry cloth to buff the surface, restoring its natural sheen.
Scott Chambers of Fine Woodworks advises, “You want a slightly damp cloth, not one you can wring water out of. When you’re done using it, there shouldn’t be little pools of water or droplets.”
The Truth About Furniture Oils and Sprays
Many people rely on furniture oils and aerosol sprays for dusting, but experts caution against their use. These products often contain substances that provide a temporary shine but can lead to long-term problems.
Over time, these oils and sprays can build up on furniture surfaces, obscuring the natural wood grain and making future refinishing difficult. In cases where the existing finish is damaged or worn, oils can penetrate the exposed wood, potentially darkening it.
The Benefits of Paste Wax
While oils and sprays are best avoided, paste wax can be beneficial when used sparingly. Experts recommend applying paste wax once or twice a year if the furniture’s finish starts to fade. Chambers explains, “The wax fills in any scratches or spaces in the wood’s finish. The resulting smoother surface reflects more light and gives the piece more shine.”
When using paste wax, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and be sure to remove all excess wax from recesses or carvings in the furniture. Chambers warns, “Too much wax is the biggest problem. You’ll be there forever rubbing and rubbing to get the wax off.”
Advanced Dusting Techniques for a Cleaner Home
While basic dusting is crucial, a comprehensive approach to dust management involves more than just wiping down surfaces. To truly minimize dust in your home, consider implementing these advanced techniques:
Top-Down Cleaning Strategy
When tackling dust throughout your home, always start from the highest points and work your way down. This prevents dust from falling onto already-cleaned surfaces, ensuring a more efficient cleaning process.
Regular Linen and Curtain Washing
Fabrics in your home, such as bedding, curtains, and throw pillows, can harbor significant amounts of dust. Washing these items regularly helps reduce overall dust levels in your living spaces.
Decluttering for Dust Prevention
The more items you have in your home, the more surfaces dust has to settle on. Regularly decluttering and minimizing unnecessary decorative items can significantly reduce dust accumulation.
Tackling Dust Magnets in Your Home
Certain areas and items in your home are particularly prone to collecting dust. Identifying and addressing these dust magnets can greatly improve your home’s overall cleanliness:
Electronics and Appliances
Electronic devices and appliances are notorious dust collectors. Regular dusting of TVs, computers, and other electronics not only improves their appearance but can also prevent overheating and extend their lifespan.
Bookshelves and Displayed Collections
Books and collectibles on open shelves are prime spots for dust accumulation. Consider using glass-front cabinets to display collections while minimizing dust exposure.
Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
Overhead fixtures often go overlooked during regular cleaning routines. Dusting ceiling fans and light fixtures periodically prevents dust from being distributed throughout the room when in use.
The Role of Air Quality in Dust Management
Maintaining good air quality is crucial in reducing dust levels in your home. Consider these strategies to improve indoor air and minimize dust:
Air Purifiers
High-quality air purifiers with HEPA filters can effectively remove dust particles from the air, reducing the amount that settles on surfaces.
Regular HVAC Maintenance
Keeping your heating and cooling systems well-maintained, including regular filter changes, can significantly reduce the amount of dust circulated through your home.
Humidity Control
Maintaining proper humidity levels (between 30-50%) can help prevent dust mites and reduce overall dust accumulation.
Natural and Eco-Friendly Dusting Solutions
For those seeking alternatives to commercial cleaning products, several natural and eco-friendly dusting methods can be equally effective:
Vinegar Solution
A mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar can be an effective, natural dusting spray. The acetic acid in vinegar helps break down dust and grime without leaving harmful residues.
Essential Oils
Adding a few drops of essential oils like lemon, tea tree, or lavender to your dusting cloth not only leaves a pleasant scent but can also provide antimicrobial benefits.
Microfiber Cloths
Reusable microfiber cloths are not only effective at trapping dust but also reduce waste compared to disposable dusting products.
Health Benefits of Regular Dusting
Maintaining a dust-free home is more than just an aesthetic concern; it can have significant health benefits:
Allergy Relief
Regular dusting reduces allergens in the home, potentially alleviating symptoms for those with dust allergies or asthma.
Improved Air Quality
By removing dust particles from surfaces, you’re also preventing them from becoming airborne and affecting your indoor air quality.
Respiratory Health
Less dust in your environment means fewer particles entering your lungs, which can contribute to better overall respiratory health.
In conclusion, effective dusting is a simple yet crucial aspect of home maintenance. By following these expert tips and incorporating regular dusting into your cleaning routine, you can enjoy a cleaner, healthier living space. Remember, consistency is key Γ’β¬β a little effort regularly can prevent major dust buildup and keep your home looking its best.
Life Skill #51: How to dust furniture
Degree of difficulty: So easy, in fact, you may have to restrain yourself from making the process more complicated.
Materials needed: Soft clean cloths, such as cheesecloth or old T-shirts, as many as needed. Paste wax, optional.
Dusting furniture for many of us means aerosol cans, bottles of oil and a perky feather duster or two. But furniture experts say all you really need are two cloths and a little water.
“The right way is the opposite of what people think,” says Eli Rios, proprietor of ECR Antique Conservation & Restoration Inc., of Long Island City, N.Y. “A damp cloth gets the dust off.”
How often should you dust? Whenever you feel like it or the furniture seems to need it, the experts say.
Use a soft cloth, cheesecloth or even an old T-shirt, Rios says.
Here’s how it’s done.
Dampen one cloth β and don’t go overboard on the water. “You want a slightly damp cloth, not one you can wring water out of,” says Scott Chambers of Fine Woodworks, a Chicago-based furniture and cabinet maker. “When you’re done using it, there shouldn’t be little pools of water or droplets. That’s why ‘damp’ means ‘damp’ and not wet.”
Philip C. Lowe, director and master craftsman at The Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, a school that teaches furniture making and repair in Beverly, Mass., says you can even use a little dish soap in the cleaning if you like. Just rinse off with a damp cloth.
Use gentle motions. Lowe likes to move back and forth across the surface. No need to scrub, he says, adding that you should be careful around loose molding, raised veneer or other delicate spots.
Finish by using a dry cloth to buff the surface. It will restore a sheen to the furniture, says Rios.
Skip the feather duster. “The problem with those is they just make the dust airborne again and it settles back on the furniture,” Lowe says.
Skip the furniture oils and aerosol sprays, say our experts, because they contain substances that give a temporary shine but can lead to buildup on the furniture that obscures the wood grain and makes refinishing difficult.
If the existing finish on a piece of furniture is damaged or worn off, oils can soak into the exposed wood and eventually darken it, Rios says.
Consider paste wax, though. The experts recommend using a paste wax once or twice a year if the finish starts to fade. The wax fills in any scratches or spaces in the wood’s finish, Chambers says, and the resulting smoother surface reflects more light and gives the piece more shine.
However, use wax sparingly while following the directions on the can, he adds, making sure to remove all paste from any recesses or carvings in the furniture.
“Too much wax is the biggest problem,” Chambers says. “You’ll be there forever rubbing and rubbing to get the wax off.”
How to Get Rid of Dust 2021 | The Strategist
Dust is a problem for multiple reasons: Tiny particles of skin, dirt, pollen, and dander can coat the surfaces of your furniture and walls (making things look dingy), and as gross as it sounds they can also fill your lungs, which is why dust is often the underlying cause of allergies. Consistent cleaning is essential if you want to rid your home of dust and mites. And the most efficient plan of attack is to clean from the top down to avoid contaminating the areas you just dusted.
But to really rid your home of dust you need to do more than just wipe down countertops, bookshelves, and electronics (notorious dust magnets). Youβll also want to avoid clutter, wash linens and curtains frequently, and vacuum your floors, carpets, furniture, and even your mattress on a regular basis. Here, we asked sixteen professional cleaners to weigh in on the most efficient ways to get rid of dust in the home, and the best tools for the job.
All of the professionals we spoke with suggest dusting tabletops, counters, bookshelves and other smooth surfaces about one a week. They also all agree that the best tool for doing that is a microfiber cloth. βMicrofiber, thanks to its microscopically tiny weave, holds ten times more dirt per square inch than its cotton counterparts, so you will collect more dust and keep it from redepositing as you clean the next surface,β says Melissa Homer, chief cleaning officer for MaidPro. The classic feather duster isnβt all that effective either. Jack Prenter, owner of Toronto cleaning company Chore Bliss, says dusters βdonβt attract and trap dust, they just displace it and move it around your home.β Microfiber cloths not only do a better job, they last longer because once youβre done dusting you just pop them in the laundry. Lauren Simonelli, the co-founder of eco-friendly cleaning product company ThreeMain, likes microfiber cloths but warns that they βtend to release more fibers when washed, so they arenβt quite as eco-friendly as those made of cotton.β As an alternative, she recommends ThreeMainβs Cotton Paperless Towels (which are, unfortunately, currently sold out).
ο»ΏNo matter what you choose to use, to make sure youβre working efficiently, you want to dust from the top down, say Prenter and Homer, since particles can fall to the floor and circulate in the air when youβre wiping them from door frames and shelves. A few spots that would be good to hit first are the tops of fan blades, blinds, paintings, door frames, and picture frames, says Kadi Dulude, owner of New Yorkβs Wizard of Homes cleaning service. Theyβre often the most neglected. The inside of your radiator and the filters of your AC unit are two other places she calls out as dust traps.
Though all of our experts agree that youβll pick up a good amount of dust with a dry microfiber cloth, several of them suggest dampening your microfiber cloths with water or spraying them with an all-purpose cleaner before use, to help them grip and remove dust better. Hereβs a biodegradable cleaner, which Dulude calls an βall-time favorite,β and which will disinfect surfaces as well as remove dirt and dust. Just donβt use it on items that canβt tolerate water, such as collectibles or art pieces, says Homer. Those should be βtickle-dusted with a fluffy microfiber duster over a surface you can wipe clean afterward.β
For those really high places, you might need something with a little more reach than a microfiber cloth. βFor walls and ceilings, itβs best to have a long-handled microfiber duster or a mop with a microfiber cloth attached,β says David Seville, CEO of Crewcare, a commercial cleaning company in Aukland, New Zealand. This set of microfiber dusters includes three different shapes and textures to use in different areas. They also come with an extendible pole to help you reach high ledges and corners, plus theyβre washable so you can use them over and over again. Gary Downing, owner of Happy Happy Cleaning in Pennsylvania, says he always carries a ball-shaped microfiber duster because it can squeeze through small areas, like in between the slats on your bannister, and it adjusts to the shape of narrow crevices where dust collects the most.
Blinds are among the hardest spots to dust in a home because thereβs so little surface area to them and dust tends to cake on them over time. βItβs really important to keep up with blind care or youβll end up with a very messy, hard-to-clean blind,β Dulude says. βIn some cases, it takes us so long to scrub it clean that it makes more sense for a client to buy new blinds.β Nelson suggests using a Swiffer duster to reach between each blind and remove dust. Dulude also likes weekly use of Swiffers and says reusable microfiber dusters (like the set we mentioned above) work well too. And Anna Harasim of Annaβs Cleaning Service NY says Swiffers are βa life saver at each cleaning. With one piece you can work with it over and over, and you donβt need to change it after each use. It wonβt damage anything and can be used on surfaces like glass, frames, toys, and collectibles.β
Corners, baseboards, and blind spots under furniture are a dust bunnyβs favorite place to hide. So youβll want to start with those hard-to-reach areas before addressing the center of your floor. βWe like to use the Swiffer MopΒ with a Swiffer microfiber dry cloths to clean under furniture,β says Dulude. Nelson and Downing agree that Swiffer cloths work well, but Nelson notes that you should try to avoid the scented ones. βThey are wonderful,β she says. βThey excel at attracting and picking up dust and allergens, but the scented ones contain synthetic fragrances, which are toxic in and of themselves.β Dulude also recommends using the mop to dry-dust walls and ceilings before you vacuum. βThough obviously, use a different microfiber cloth from what you used for floors,β she says.
Now that youβve collected all the dust from the edges and corners of your room you can move on to vacuuming, which is by far the preferred method of our experts over sweeping. βAlways vacuum your hard floors, never sweep,β says Homer. She explains that sweeping kicks as much dust back into the air as it does into your dustpan, while using a vacuum hose with a horsehair floor brush sucks everything up without scratching your hardwoods. βIt will protect even the most delicate floors, like fine wood and marble, but actually extract and remove dust.β
Prenter, Downing, and Marilee Nelson, an environmental consultant and co-founder of nontoxic cleaning formula Branch Basics, mention Shark vacuums. βThey are essentially cheaper clones of Dyson, with similar longevity, at a fraction of the price,β Prenter says. Nelson likes Shark vacuums because theyβre economical and designed with a completely sealed canister and a HEPA filter to trap and prevent dust from spraying back into the air. This upright Shark model converts to a handheld version, has a microfiber dusting brush for hardwoods, and comes with a built-in HEPA filter.
Harasim is also a fan of Shark Vacuums and says lately sheβs been loving this cordless one, especially if youβre a city dweller short of storage space. βThe container-type vacuum cleaners are the best β like Kenmore or Miele β but in New York, people donβt have the storage to keep that big vacuum cleaner with a lot of attachments,β she explains. This one saves on space without sacrificing the extras. Harasim says it comes with multiple attachments and two batteries, so one is always charging and ready to go, but the standout feature is the flexible arm that allows you to βfold it in half so you can vacuum under the bed, under the couch, or under the table without bending over,β she says. The top also comes off and turns into a handheld vacuum cleaner, which is great for getting dust off upholstered surfaces.
After youβve Swiffered and vacuumed, our experts recommend mopping to remove any remaining dust and prevent it from settling in. If you have a Swiffer for your hardwood floor, you could probably just throw on a Swiffer wet pad, but on tile floors, a traditional mop and pail with a cleaning agent would work, too. Summer Shadforth, a cleaning expert at Fantastic Cleaners Australia, suggests mopping the floors at least once a week, βas water is very effective in keeping dust at bay.β
βI always follow up any dusting with mopping my floors to ensure the remaining dust that stirred into the air or fell to the floor is also removed,β says Simonelli. She mixes her brandβs surface cleaner with water and cleans with this sponge mop, which she says is a nice eco-friendly option. βThe body is made with minimal plastic, and the sponge is made from cellulose, making it more sustainable than some of the other options available.β
Carpets are a little trickier than hardwood floors. For those, the experts we spoke to steered us toward heavy-duty canister vacuums with enough power to lift deeply embedded particles from your rugs and carpets, or to pet-specific options if youβre dealing with more hair and dander. Nelson suggested this Nilfisk commercial vacuum, which she says is abatement graded, meaning itβs been tested and proven to remove dust and mold. βThereβs nothing like it on the market, which accounts for the high price,β she says. If you suffer from bad allergies or if you feel your carpet needs some industrial-strength cleaning, you may want to try it. For your rugs, Bailey Carson, Head of Cleaning at Handy, says you need to shake your rugs out frequently: βIf you have thick rugs in your house, youβll want to take them outside once or twice a month and beat them with a broom for a deeper clean.β
Nelson also likes the more affordable Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor Canister Vacuum Cleaner. Itβs a favorite for cleaning carpets among experts, including Dulude and Don Ham, VP of strategic partnerships at Refresh Smart Home, and for vacuuming without recirculating dust. That one is basically sold out now, but this similar model β and favorite of Harasimβs β has the same wattage and six suction settings to work on a variety of surfaces, and itβs even cheaper.
With something less porous, like a leather couch, you could easily clean up crumbs and dust with a vacuum, or perhaps wipe it with some leather cleaner, and call it a day. Fabric furniture, however, as weβve written before, is more delicate. Here, a large lint roller could come in handy for picking up surface-level stuff in between sessions with the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum. βLintΒ rollersΒ are useful, but far less efficient than a vacuum or damp cloth, and therefore only recommended for caring for soft furnishing and clothing,β says Prenter. βYour couch, bedding, and lamp shades would all benefit from a quick sweep with aΒ lintΒ roller.β
Many allergists recommend a HEPA air purifier for removing airborne particles if you suffer from allergies. Homer says theyβre redundant if you have a home cooling or heating system that already includes filtration, but βa lovely solution if you donβt have central air or central heating.β She recommends Germ Guardian Air Purifiers, but suggests ensuring that the model youβre buying is actually big enough to handle the square footage of the space you plan to use it in.
Nelsonβs high-end choice for air filtration is this Austin Air model because itβs not made with plastic, so thereβs no chance of any chemical off-gassing into the air you are trying to purify. The Austin Air also gets top marks from Nelson because it picks up very fine particulates, is rated A for mold, which means itβs picking up the very small dust particles that have mold on them, and it also has a carbon filter that picks up chemical pollution as well.
For a stylish choice, thereβs this Blueair model. According to Simonelli, the brandβs βPure line gets the job done and has an automated setting to make running it easy, without being an eyesore.β The 411 auto adjusts its fan settings based on real-time conditions. Plus, the grey fabric on the outside also acts a pre-filter, and it can be swapped out for another color to best match your decor.
If canβt afford an plug-in air purifier, Nelson let us in on a budget but effective hack: She says you can create your own air purifier by pairing a HEPA filter (she recommends these from Filtrete), which are usually used in the return vent of household heating and cooling systems, with a simple box fan. βHold a 20×20 inch Filtrete filter against the back of the fan and turn the fan on. The suction from the fan will hold that filter in place without any tape or anything and youβve got a great filtration for dust right there,β says Nelson.
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How To Get Rid of Dust
The first step when it comes to dusting is knowing which tools you should and shouldn’t use. For instance, feather dusters are far from helpful, according to Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab: “This tool simply spreads dust from one surface to another.” Instead, you can more successfully capture dust with a soft cloth dampened with water, a microfiber duster, or an electrostatic duster. Now that you have your tools, here are targeted strategies for your home’s most hard-to-reach spots.
Walls
For ceiling-to-floor cleaning, a vacuum with multiple attachments is the most efficient tool. Work from the top down to capture the most dust without making a mess.
Baseboards
You can tackle dingy spots using a wet cloth. Lightly spray it with water or an all-purpose cleaning solution, like Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner Trigger ($7, amazon.com) and run it over baseboards to whisk debris away in a flash.
Curio cabinets
To get at dust trapped in tiny nooks and intricate carvings, use a clean natural-bristle paint or makeup brush, then wipe with a microfiber cloth ($5 for 3, amazon.com).
Electronics
Computers, TVs, DVD players, stereos, and printers are notorious dust magnets. Always unplug the equipment before cleaning. A gentle swipe with a microfiber cloth usually does the job, while a soft, long-handled brush ($3, amazon.com) will collect dust from crevices. Be sure to vacuum dust from around cords and vents because, along with pet hair, it can clog machines or outlets.
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Soft toys
Put beanbag critters, teddy bears, or fabric dolls into a large plastic bag with a cup of baking soda. Secure the top, then take the items outside and shake well. The baking soda and static will draw out the soil and dust. Remove items one at a time, shake off the clumps of baking soda, and vacuum the rest using a brush attachment.
Behind appliances
Over time, crumbs, grease, and other debris accumulate behind your stove and refrigerator, providing a food source for insects and other pests. If possible, move the appliance out from the wall and unplug. Use a long-handled, slightly damp sponge mop ($12, amazon.com) to lift dust from the back of the appliance, then wipe floor and walls with hot soapy water.
Vents
Remove heavy dust from ceiling, floor, or appliance vents with a soft-brush vacuum attachment or electrostatic mop ($16, amazon.com), then dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe the surface. Rinse removable, washable air-conditioning filters well in hot soapy water and air-dry before reinstalling.
Ceiling fans
Place newspaper or a drop cloth under the ceiling fan. Turn off the power source, then get on a step stool. Use damp paper towels to wipe greasy dust from the casing and a soft-bristle brush dampened with a mild cleanser, like Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap ($2, amazon.com) to loosen the dust on the blades, then rinse with a damp paper towel.
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How to Dust – Castle Keepers
As Iβve mentioned before, regular dusting is essential to both prolong the life of your furniture and to remove allergens. You want a cloth with fuzz or nap because dust adheres best to these. A clean, washable cloth of soft cotton, like a well-worn dish towel, a piece of flannel, cheesecloth, or chamois are all excellent choices for dusting. Microfiber is also a good choice. No matter what you choose, make sure the cloth contains nothing to abrade or scratch furniture surfaces such as buttons, zippers, snaps, thick seams, thick buttonholes, or in the case of microfiber, nothing embedded in the fibers from a previous job. Itβs best to keep clothes explicitly dedicated to dusting and not used for anything else. Donβt use materials that lint. Always follow the manufacturerβs instructions when dusting lacquered furniture as lacquered wood scratches easily.
Damp Dusting
We at Castle Keepers find dusting with a plain, slightly damp microfiber cloth mush superior to dusting with oils or sprays. βDamp dustingβ is also much easier than dry dusting and more effective because it catches more dust. Dampen your choice of cloth lightly with water then ring tightly until almost dry. NEVER GET WOOD WET. The cloth should only be slightly damp enough to pick up the dust and keep it in the cloth but not wet enough to leave streaks of dissolved dirt.
If the furniture you want to clean has a rough surface, old paint, or splinters, try brushing with a soft artistβs brush to avoid any danger that a dusting cloth will snag. Do not use a stiff-bristled brush.
If you prefer to use a βdusting aid,β a little goes a long way
Dusting AidΒ
If you prefer to use a βdusting aid,β a little goes a long way. Use just a drop of lemon oil or mineral oil on a dust cloth. Because oils leave a film, do not use oilcloths on the glass, china, etc., that may be dulled or smeared. Never use a treated or oiled cloth on paintings or other works of art or their frames. If you overdo it, oily films can also attract dust and hold it on furniture surfaces. Pick a dusting aid and stick with it β using a dusting oil over a silicone-based spray, or vice versa can leave streaks that take forever to buff out.
When dusting, use gentle, oval motions along the grain of the wood, with slight downward pressure to wipe off the dust. Turn or fold the cloth over as soon as the used portion of its surface shows an accumulation of dirt. Keep an ample supply of cloths on hand to change as soon as you no longer have a clean part of the cloth to use. Use only a fresh cloth to dust especially valuable, cherished, or antique items. Lift, do not slide, objects such as lamps and knickknacks to dust under and around them. Avoid soiling upholstered surfaces adjoining wood furniture. Use a soft brush to get the dust off clawed furniture, and out of grooves, curlicues, scrolling, carvings, and cracks. Wash soiled dust cloths or other washable dusting tools after each use.
Some people swear by real ostrich feather dusters, but we havenβt had much luck with them. Damp dusting with a soft cloth or microfiber is much more efficient. Also, if a feather should break while you are dusting the sharp edge of the quill might scratch wood surfaces.
Caution
Never use a damp cloth on gilding or gold leaf on picture frames or furniture. These items should only be cleaned by a professional.
Mistake that could be ruining furniture
Dusting is one of those household chores that feels like it’s never ending.
So, when it comes to actually doing it, we’re all guilty of grabbing the closest rag or cloth to give a shelf or piece of furniture like a hallway table a quick dust.
While you might not notice any damage when you wipe down your coffee table with a dry rag, you could be doing some harm to your pieces in the long run, and it’s not a great way to clean either.
There’s a common mistake people make when dusting and it could be ruining your furniture. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Using a dry rag to dust your coffee table is a lot like washing your face with sandpaper β it won’t deliver nice results.
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Dry dusting will actually scratch the surface of your furniture, which can ruin the finish and leave pieces looking worse for wear as the years go on. As a general rule, only use a dry rag on a surface that is already wet β like if you’re cleaning up a spill or buffing it after using a cleaning product.
Using a dry cloth is counterproductive because it can just push dirt around. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The other reason using a dry cloth or rag isn’t great is because it can just spread the dust around, which defeats the purpose of doing it β even using a microfibre cloth.
It’s counterproductive because the dirt either ends up on the ground or is pushed back into the air and will land back on the surface you’re trying to clean. Any little disturbance will send the dust on the surface flying and if you can’t trap it you’re just going to move it around.
The best way to dust your furniture
You probably have the tools you need to do an effective dust in your home already. The best thing to use is a damp microfibre cloth and wipe it over the surface you’re dusting. You’ll be able to catch the dust and not spread it around using this method.
RELATED: 6 of the best cleaning tips to add to your routine now
Another option is giving your cloth or rag a spray with dusting polish, which will help achieve a better result and no damage to your furniture.
If you’re looking for a foolproof method, getting an electrostatic duster will do a great job of trapping the dust. It uses static to attract dust and dirt particles, which means it will do a better job cleaning.
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How to Reduce Dust in Your Home: 7 Solutions
Feel like your furnitureβs constantly dusty even when youβve just cleaned? Try these easy methods to reduce dust in your home.
If you have allergy sufferers in your family, youβve probably wondered how to reduce dust in your home. According to one furniture spray maker, the average house collects 40 lbs. of dust in one year. Forty pounds! But where does it all come from?
We often hear that dust is mostly dead skin, but thatβs not true. According to people who study such things, household dust is a mixture of animal dander, carpet fluff, clothing fibers, and dirt tracked indoors. While no amount of cleaning will completely remove the dust in your house, these seven proven ways will help.
7 Solutions to Reduce Dust in Your House
Usually, the fix for most household problems is going to the source. When it comes to reducing dust in the home, you really canβt address the cause without plastic-wrapping every surface. (This guy did, and I think we can all agree heβs nuts.) Short of buying a truckload of plastic wrap, the best solution is to keep out as much dust as possible and regularly get rid of the rest. Hereβs how.
1. Make A New Rule
In some parts of the country, itβs considered good manners to remove your shoes when you enter someone elseβs home, but there are always people who balk at the thought of a No Shoe Policy. If they realized that up to 80 percent of the household dust enters on the bottom of peoplesβ shoes, theyβd probably rethink their reluctance. (Related: How to Keep Your Carpets Clean.)
This doesnβt mean youβve got to put up with a growing pile of shoes at the doors. A boot tray near your entrance lets family members know where their shoes belong. Plus, it will collect any drips or mud so that mess doesnβt get onto your floor. You can even keep a small basket of slippers handy, so no one has to deal with cold feet.
2. Stop Dirt at the Doors
Sturdy mats inside and outside of every entrance to your home give people a place to wipe their feet before entering. That practice alone will significantly cut down on the amount of dust tracked indoors even if people take their shoes off inside. Shake the mats outside or clean them with a hand-vac every couple of days, and youβll notice a definite reduction of dust. And when youβre cleaning them, be sure to vacuum or rinse both sides since dust seeps through carpeting and mats to reach the floor below.
Weatherstripping around your doors can help deduce household dust by blocking dirt blown in through gaps. This is a particularly helpful step if you live in a dry or rural area or if a drought has left your lawn parched and bare. Make sure your windows are properly closed and seal tight when theyβre shut, too, and use caulk to fill any gaps around the frames.
3. Donβt Blow Dust Around
Most manufacturers advise changing your HVAC filter every three months, but changing it more often will significantly reduce dust in your home. Use inexpensive, disposable filters and replace them every 30 days. Itβs not a bad idea to set a recurring reminder on your phone or calendar so you donβt forget. Sweep or vacuum the area around your furnace, too. And if you have an outdoor condenser unit, you should also give it a good cleaning in Spring and Autumn. Hereβs a YouTube video showing how.
4. Clean the Air Ducts
When was the last time you pulled the vent cover off of your floor register and took a peek? If youβve got kids or pets, chances are youβll find quite a few things down in the vents. So, keep the vents and ducts clean, and youβll see less dust floating around. It takes roughly five minutes per vent to clean them the first time and under a minute every time after that. Hereβs my guide about how to clean your air ducts to get you started. Donβt forget to wash those dusty floor register and wall vent covers, too!
5. Control Dust Mites in Your Bed
Weβve all seen the commercials about dead skin flakes, dander, and dust mites building up in a mattress over time. They build up in bedding and pillows, too. Reduce this by vacuuming your mattress seasonally and laundering your bedding regularly. (Hereβs my guide on how to clean your mattress and even remove stains .)
Hereβs how often to wash bedding:
- Weekly: sheets and pillowcases.
- Monthly: Mattress covers, duvet covers, and uncovered comforters.
- Seasonally: Duvet inserts, bed skirts, bedspreads, and pillows. (Related: How to Wash Pillows)
6. Vacuum the Right Way
How often you should vacuum depends on how many people live in your home. The general rule is to vacuum each room wall-to-wall once a week, then go over high-traffic areas every other day. But thereβs more to it than just pushing the vacuum back and forth. Work in slow, overlapping strokes. Most people vacuum too fast, so the machine doesnβt have a chance to suck up all the dirt. And once youβve cleaned wall to wall, turn at a right angle, then vacuum the room wall to wall again. Youβll get up much more dust when you vacuum your floors the right way.
7. Use the Right Equipment to Clean Dust
Feather dusters are cute and retro, but they do a horrible job of removing dust. Even if you follow recommendations to stroke the surfaces with the feathers instead of βticklingβ them, the dust will fall out of the feathers as you walk through the room. Your vacuumβs soft-bristled dusting attachment can do a fantastic job cleaning drapes or curtains, mini-blinds, and baseboards.
For everything else, including hard surfaces like tabletops or shelves, switch to a damp microfiber cloth, use a microfiber cloth. Remember, damp cloths get rid of dust better than dry ones. When a cloth is lightly wet, it holds onto dirt well instead of just moving it around. Be sure to rinse it frequently and switch to a fresh cloth if the one youβre working with still looks dirty after a rinse.
More Tips to Get Rid of Dust
Use the Dryer Sheet Trick
Some hard surfaces act like dust magnets even when surrounding furniture stays relatively dust-free. Rubberwood, in particular, does this. After wiping with a damp cloth, run a dryer sheet across the top of tables and shelves β the anti-static coating helps keep them dust-free longer.
Humidify to Reduce Dust
The drier your homeβs indoor air, the more dust youβll see. Thatβs because dry air leads to dry skin, and dry skin sheds flakes. Parched indoor air also leaches moisture from your furnishings and can make paint begin to crack and flake, too. If you have a whole-home humidifier, keep it in good working condition and use it continually during cold spells. Cool mist room diffusers add humidity, too, and can supplement a whole-home humidifier if needed. Humidifiers and diffusers can help control static electricity in your home, too.
Minimize Clutter
It makes sense, doesnβt it: the less stuff you have sitting around collecting dust, the less dust youβll see in your home. So, to get your homeβs dust problem under control, first deal with the clutter issues. Keep countertops clear of things you donβt use daily. Give away or donate things youβre tired of or which no longer fit you or your tastes. Hang up clothes youβre not wearing and keep your closet floors clear, so theyβre easy to vacuum. Ditto for the floor beneath your bed β itβs a horrible dust-magnet. (Need more guidance? Here are The Golden Rules of Decluttering.)
Tumble the Dust Out
Soft furnishings collect a lot of dust. As mentioned above, laundering or vacuuming them routinely helps keep them clean. But so can a tumble through your dryer β and it works well on fabrics you canβt wash, like silk. Just remove any curtain rings, zippers, or other hardware, then insert the item into your dryer. Choose a no-heat or fluff setting and let the piece tumble for a few minutes. The tumbling action will release dust from the fabric while the dryer vent removes it from your house. So easy!
Replace Your Old Carpets
Modern homebuyers prefer hard flooring for an excellent reason: itβs cleaner. Over time, carpets trap dirt beneath the pad that even the very best vacuum canβt completely remove. Shampooing or steam cleaning your carpet properly helps, but doing it too often causes your carpet to wear out faster. Then it adds carpet fiber fragments and adhesives to the dust flying around in your home. If you can afford it, replace your carpets with hard flooring. It is so much easier to keep clean.
Groom Pets Outdoors
Our furry friends donβt just add love and companionship to our lives. Dogs and cats create an extraordinary amount of dust by shedding dead skin flakes and also hair. Regular grooming helps keep this under control, especially if you brush them outdoors where any dandruff or other fluff will stay out of your home. If you canβt do it outside, brush them on top of an old towel spread on the floor of your bathroom. Gather up the towel when youβre done and shake it outside, even out of a window if you can, then launder it.
Clean Your Air on Cleaning Day
Ironically, cleaning your house sends a lot of dust flying around in your homeβs air. Rather than letting it settle back down on your furniture and floors, put your homeβs HVAC to work. No matter the time of year, you can do this by simply turning on your systemβs fan while you clean. Let it run about 15 minutes longer once youβre done. The fan will βsweepβ the air through your homeβs filter, which will remove any dust you disturbed while cleaning. Be sure to shut it off, and your furniture will stay dust-free for longer.
How to Dust Like a Professional House Cleaner-House Cleaning and Stain Removal Tips
It’s a beautiful day and the sun is finally shining in the Pacific Northwest.
The birds are chirping and, as I look across my room out the window I notice not only the birds at the feeder but- my dirty windows and all the cobwebs in my home.
I look closer and see a light layer of dust on the table by the window. Now I am getting a little bothered…..
Even though I am the owner of a house cleaning company, the sun has pointed out once again that I cannot totally eliminate dust and dirt from my home.
At least I know how to get the job done quickly.
How’s that, you say?
Well, because I’m Mrs Clean and I have taught many a house cleaner how to dust.
Dusting isn’t hard itself; it’s all about the process and making sure that you don’t go throwing dust all around. So, let’s get busy dusting and I’ll show you too, so you can dust just like a professional house cleaner too!
What is Dust Anyway?
It’s not a pretty picture at all.
I used to think dust was just harmless lint floating on the breeze. Well lint is part of it, but there are other things that make up dust; namely dead skin cells, insects and insect feces. No wonder people are allergic to dust!
- Lint
- Dirt
- Shed skin cells
- Dead dust mites and dust mite feces
- Pollen
- Smoke or pollution
Do You Have Dust Allergies?
Before starting: Use a small face mask to cover your nose and mask if you are sensitive to dust. Dusting even what looks to be a very clean house will stir up a whole bunch of dust and it’s better not to breathe it.
Longer term: Once you get the dust under control you can help keep the dust at bay by using a HEPA Air Filter. A HEPA filter reduces free floating dust in the air, not only making the air cleaner, but reducing build up so you won’t have to dust as often.
Every so often you take the filter out to the front porch or to the bathtub and literally hose out the removable filter.
1. Put All Clutter Away
It used to take me hours to dust and I just dreaded it. Then I learned a valuable lesson: put clutter away before dusting.
Sounds like common sense, but I know that when I was younger my focus was on just getting the job done and over. Now I focus on efficiency and quality. So, before you get started:
- Pick up everything on the floor and other surfaces.
- Put everything in its place in the room you are dusting.
- If you get sidetracked easily: use a basket to place items that belong in other rooms so you are not running all over the house. You can put the items away later.
Having less clutter in the room to clean and dust will make the job faster and easier. The result is a great looking room that is both clean and clutter free!
2. Pick Up and Shake Rugs, Runners and Pillows
Now that you have the area picked up, grab any throw rugs or hallway runners and take them outside. You’ll need to shake these out before moving ahead with dusting.
Smaller rugs and runners
- Pick up a rug and take it outside.
- Move away from the front door and walkway and shake it out. It is best to shake your rug on a grassy area so you don’t track the dust and debris that you are shaking out back into the house.
- If you have a fence, lay the rug over the fence to air out and keep it out of your way OR if it is a washable rug, throw it directly in the washing machine.
- Do this with all rugs in the room you are dusting.
Large area rugs
- Large rugs are too hard to move outside, so instead just vacuum the rug.
- Roll it up and move it out of the room.
Couch and Pillows
Some people forget this step, but if you want to do a thorough job and cut down on future dust build up, you’ll want to remove all the dust you can from your couch and pillows.
- Take pillows outside and fluff and shake to get the dust out.
- If the pillows are washable, go ahead and throw them in the wash; if not, find a place to store them temporarily while you finish the rest of the couch.
- Now remove all couch cushions and do a thorough job of vacuuming-you will be amazed at all the “stuff” you will find!
- Vacuum each cushion and replace.
3. Assemble Your Dusting Tools
We have learned what cleaning tools work best for dusting and we have learned what to avoid.
Tools to Use:
- Static high duster: Static high dusters to remove cobwebs, dust walls and corners, chandeliers and ceiling fans.
- Damp cleaning cloths for most surfaces: Damp clean cotton cloths are fairly inexpensive and very effective for areas that have heavy dust.
- Microfiber cleaning cloths: Microfiber cleaning cloths can benefit dusting glossy or areas of high shine (like mirrors) because they don’t shed lint like cotton cloths tend to do.
- Swiffer duster: For uneven surfaces or surfaces that you don’t want to use any furniture polish or glass cleaner on, Swiffer dusters are efficient at removing dust. They are fluffy and are lightly treated to attract dust. They are also flexible enough to get to those tight places.
- Vacuum: We use vacuums with HEPA filters. This makes it so that 90+% of dust is trapped in the machine. Your vacuum exhaust is cleaner meaning that virtually no dust will be exhausted back into the air.
Tools to Avoid:
- Feather dusters: Some people use feather dusters, but they just move dust around and don’t pick it up, so you’re just moving the problem to another area.
Extra Efficient Cleaning Tip
- Magic eraser: When you are dusting doors or windowsills (or any trim for that matter) you will undoubtedly run across fingerprint and black marks. Even if you do a perfect job at dusting, these black marks and fingerprints will really detract and draw your eye. Just have a magic eraser handy and after you have dusted, go over the marks with a magic eraser and voila, they’re gone!
Now that you have your dusting tools, lets get busy and get the job done!
4. Dusting Guidelines
- Dust systematically. Make a plan and follow a specific route through your home to be sure that you dust everything.
- Start at the top and work your way down. This means get the high corners and cobwebs first, then hit the top of the picture frames, dust the picture, then down the wall and dust the baseboards last.
- Move in one direction only and make your way around the room. Either right to left or left to right. The objective is to be efficient and only touch something once rather than zigzagging about.
- Clean your dusting cloth regularly or get a new clean one if the old one gets dirty. I like to have a stack ready before I start…it makes it much easier to grab and keep going.
- Do a once over: Look for those places in the room that you might not notice or clean regularly.
5. Step-by-Step How to Dust
It is totally optional to turn on some music, but it really gets me moving when I dust. With music, it doesn’t seem so much like a chore and it keeps me focused and in “the zone”. Oh what the heck… Crank it up!!
Now let’s take care of that nasty dust:
- Start at the top of the ceiling: Use a Swiffer duster or your vacuum wand (with brush attachment) and work your way around the room and get rid of spiderwebs, cobwebs and dust at a high level such as tops of cabinets.
- Dust light fixtures and the light bulbs. Make sure the light bulbs aren’t or hot when you dust them. If you really want to do a thorough cleaning, remove the globes and place them in a sink to wash later. Dust the light bulbs.
- Move down the wall: Now it is time to dust the top of bookcases, your picture frames, light switches and window frames. The tops of all these items can be easily missed and they are definitely dust collectors.
- Dust the doors: Clean and dust the doors making sure to dust the top of the molding. You may want to clean off any fingerprints or black marks. Use a magic eraser to remove marks quickly and easily.
- Vacuum the drapes: Drapes are dust magnets! Use your drapery attachment and go over your drapes thoroughly. I try to do both sides top to bottom.
- Dust mini-blinds: If you have blinds, now is the time to remove dust so it doesn’t build up.
- Dust all of the furnishings. Use a good quality furniture polish to shine and remove fingerprints. Dust all tables and chairs with the dusting cloth. Don’t forget to dust the legs of the furniture too.
- Wipe down the entire flat surface, then the items. I like to remove all items on a table, dust the surface then clean each item and replace. Resist the urge to “scootch” items to one side and dust one side at a time. It is not efficient and will just move dust around.
- Don’t forget the TV and stereo equipment: These items attract dust and can be damaged by buildup. Clean the top of the TV, back, front and sides.
- Dust behind things: The back of the TV and book cases are usually caked with dust. I like to use a static duster to clean up this heavy build up
- Clean the base boards and trim. I like to use the brush attachment of the vacuum. It will do a great job unlike the vacuum wand that leaves a black mark behind. You can also use a cloth, but it is more labor intensive.
- Last step: Vacuum the carpets completely. This means going back and forth to cover the carpet in all directions. This helps pull out the dust and debris that has fallen down from the walls and furniture back out of the carpet. When it comes to vacuuming the carpet, you need a high quality cleaning machine that has a good filtration system.
6. Replace Rugs, Runners and Pillows
- Wash and replace rugs
- Wash and replace pillows
- Wash and replace light fixtures
7. Congratulations!
Now that you’ve dusted following the steps, you should notice that your room is much cleaner and will stay that way much longer. After following this routine a few times, it will become easy and you will cut your time down while knowing that you are doing a much more thorough job.
With the right process and the right tools, dusting is a breeze. Now open the windows let in some fresh air and pat yourself on the back for the great dusting job you’ve done. We can worry about cleaning those dirty windows tomorrow.
How to properly dust off?
You live in a city and there is only enough cleaning for a couple of days? Find out if you are doing everything right.
- Do not use a feather duster to collect dust. Such devices do not remove dust, but spread it in all directions. Particles settle on surfaces again after a while. If you are the owner of a large number of figurines, dishes or other kind of collections consisting of small items, then of course, using a broomstick is convenient.In this case, it is better to buy an electrostatic rotating brush that keeps dust on the villi. The broom should be rinsed after each harvest.
- When cleaning dust, do not forget about fans and extractors. They always accumulate a lot of dust, which then gets into the air. Use a soft attachment brush to vacuum all vents and remember to rinse the air conditioner filters. Always pay attention and vacuum: the back of the refrigerator, the vents of the TV and the system unit.
- Do not wipe dust with a dry cloth. You won’t get the result. Dampen a microfiber cloth with water and squeeze well to keep it slightly damp, or use a dust remover.
- Do not spray polish directly onto furniture. Because of this, a film may appear on it, which after a while will attract even more dust. In addition, it will take longer to wipe the surfaces. Instead, sprinkle the cleaner on a cloth and wipe across the furniture rather than along the surface.If you have already done this, rub the surface of the furniture with a clean, dry cloth.
- Clean the vacuum cleaner filters in time. The filter is designed to trap dust particles, but if it is not cleaned or changed for a long time, it ceases to be useful and can serve as a source of dust spread. Do this as often as recommended by the manufacturer of the vacuum cleaner model.
- Vacuum or dust first? The filter is designed to trap dust particles, but if it is not cleaned or changed for a long time, it ceases to be useful and can serve as a source of dust spread.Do this as often as recommended by the manufacturer of the vacuum cleaner model. Dust tends to settle, so you need to start from the highest surfaces, gradually moving down. You can vacuum the floors at the end of cleaning (modern models of vacuum cleaners catch particles of house dust, so do not be afraid that it will settle on the shelves again).
For more cleaning tips, see the special project “Talking to the truth”
How to properly dust off
It would seem that it could be easier than dusting.But even in such a matter there are subtleties that you should know. It is not enough just to brush off the dust. She will spin in the air for a while, and then return to her place.
Therefore, the advertised brushes are meaningless for cleaning dust. First, you need to vacuum the furniture with a soft, long-bristled brush as you paint on the furniture. Then wipe with a damp cloth along the pattern and collect moisture with a rubberized cloth, then there will be no dirty water, which means that dirt and stains will be removed.
But if there is not much dust, then dry cleaning with microfiber can be used. General cleaning with it makes your work easier at times.
It is necessary to wipe the furniture with a microfiber napkin on dry, then the fibers absorb the dust and shaking it out you will get rid of the dirt. It should be remembered that it is not recommended to wash the napkin itself after use, since in this case it loses its dust-attracting impregnation. It is better to simply knock it out of the dust on the street or balcony.
You need to wipe off the dust in the following sequence.
First of all, dust should be removed from the ceiling. To do this, you can use a broom wrapped in a rag. Next, you need to carefully sweep all the corners. Typically, these are the places where the most dust is stored. Do not forget about the dust that is stored on the shades of the chandeliers. It is better to remove it manually. Then you need to wipe the windowsills and cabinets. In addition to the fact that the cabinets need to be wiped from above, one should not forget about the shelves that are inside. Careful attention should be paid to armrests on armchairs, reliefs on furniture and ends of interior doors.It is also imperative to look through all the electrical appliances available in the house, since the energy background created by these devices attracts dust particles like a magnet. At the end of the process, you should pay attention to the lowest surfaces: coffee tables, chairs and bedside tables. Don’t forget about skirting boards when you wipe down the flooring of your home.
To prevent dust from settling on furniture, use special anti-dust polishes again, which remove static stress and prevent it from settling on the surface.
This dry dust cleaning method is suitable for professionals, any cleaning company can apply this method to outsource office space.
90,000 Wet and Dry Cleaning: How to Wipe Dust to Get Less Dust | She is. Women’s Magazine
Depositphotos / Wavebreakmedia
Household dust is a huge microcosm where the smallest particles from the surface of furniture, walls, home textiles, skin flakes, hairs coexist. The only king among this garbage is the dust mite, which is sure to settle where there is dust.Waste from his life is able to provoke attacks of allergies, and even asthma. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of dust in the room not only because it is ugly, but also so that you are not tormented by constant attacks.
Which is more efficient – wet or dry cleaning?
There is wet and dry cleaning. Which of these is the best way? Dry cleaning is the same as simply transferring dust from one place to another. It’s a waste of time, but if you need to quickly dust off several shelves, it’s better to do it with a woolen cloth or microfiber.These materials have the property of attracting dust to themselves.
Wet cleaning is more effective. For her, you can use microfiber napkins, flannel, and as tools to get dust in hard-to-reach places, mops with replaceable nozzles. The first time everything is wet processed, the second time it is wiped dry. You can add lemon juice or a little fabric softener to the water
How to clean so that there is no dust
Housewives with experience know that just walking with a cloth on horizontal surfaces does not mean anything.There are many places in the apartment, including hard-to-reach ones, where there will be enough of it so that in a few hours it will be in a new place. This must be taken into account when cleaning and follow simple rules.
Cleaning should always start from the top. With a mop or broom wrapped in a damp cloth, you should first walk over the surface, collecting dust. Be sure to wipe the chandeliers from dust: it is best to do this with a damp cloth, but very carefully.
There is always a lot of dust on the top of the cabinets.You do not need to sweep it out of there with a broom, as it will scatter around the apartment. It is best to walk over the surface with a damp cloth or mop. Then, from top to bottom, clean all the shelves and their contents from dust, including the inside. Finally, you can treat the surfaces with an antistatic agent so that the dust “repels” from the furniture.
Upholstered furniture and mattresses also collect a lot of dust. You can do the following: cover the furniture with a damp sheet and walk over it with a beater. All dust that will be knocked out will remain on the sheet and on the surface of the sofa or mattress.It remains only to collect it with a vacuum cleaner. This treatment is done every 1.2 months. An alternative to such cleaning is upholstered furniture covers. Such capes will protect furniture from dust and stains, and it is easy to take care of them – washed and done!
If there are many books in the house, it is best to keep them on closed shelves, and do regular revisions anyway. For regular cleaning, it is enough to walk with a vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle with a long nap on the books, and wipe the dust from the shelves with a cloth. General cleaning is scheduled every two months.The books are pulled out, the shelves and books are wiped well (first with a damp and then with a dry cloth). Only then can they be put back.
Houseplants must enrich the air with oxygen, but in practice they can also accumulate a layer of dust. If you do not wipe the leaves, plants may die. You can do this with a damp sponge or take it to the bathroom and pour it straight from the shower.
Indoor plant chlorophytum is a natural air purifier. It absorbs, like a sponge, all the dirt from the air.Several flowerpots are enough for one room.
Where is the most dust in the house?
Home textiles and soft toys are a real dust collector. Bed linen, rugs and bedspreads should be washed every 7-10 days. The same goes for curtains and curtains. During normal cleaning they can be vacuumed and washed every 2-3 months. Heavy curtains collect a lot of dust, so it is better to replace such material with something light.
If there are blinds on the windows, then every time you need to pay attention to them.To do this, the blinds should be placed in such a position that the plates become one whole and then wipe them with a damp sponge, and then with a dry cloth. It is better to remove heavily soiled blinds, rinse in soapy water, rinse with running water and allow to dry.
Dust likes to settle on computers, televisions, as they attract it to themselves during operation. Do not forget to pay attention to household appliances and electrical appliances during cleaning. There are many places in the apartment that attract dust like a magnet.As a rule, a person can easily do without them. If you rid the room of all unnecessary things, then after a while you will notice that the room has really become cleaner. What objects are we talking about:
- disorder – if things are out of place;
- a variety of carpets, tablecloths and curtains;
- all sorts of knickknacks on the shelves.
Dust likes to settle on computers, televisions, as they attract it to themselves during operation. Do not forget to pay attention to household appliances and electrical appliances during cleaning.
Buy a steam mop, it cleans any surface with high quality, and steam treatment also serves as a disinfection.
Helpful Hints
Being a good hostess is easy if you understand where dirt and dust often appear in the room. This will help you keep order so that in the future there will be extra time that can be spent more profitably than endless cleaning. Advice from experienced housewives will help you with this:
- The dust brush actually only raises the dust, and does not remove it;
- if there are pets in the house, make it a rule to regularly comb their wool;
- fans, hoods and air conditioner filter must be cleaned regularly;
- apply aerosols to a rag, and wipe furniture only across surfaces;
- the most garbage rooms in the house are the hallway and the kitchen, more often sweep the floor there;
- give up cleaning floors with a broom;
- you need to vacuum at the very end of cleaning;
- Clean and change the filter of the vacuum cleaner more often.
Another useful gadget that can help reduce the amount of dust in a room is an air purifier. This device is especially relevant if allergy sufferers live in the house.
In fact, it is not purely where they clean every day, but where someone else’s work is respected! Encourage your husband and children to clean up after themselves, keep the house tidy, and help you clean.
How to wipe dust. How to properly dust off. Algorithm for cleaning dust after repair
It is necessary to remove dust in the house not just for the sake of beauty, as it might seem at first glance.It really needs to be done for health reasons. Dust can be a serious problem if left untreated. It can enter the lungs and settle in them, causing allergies or respiratory diseases. It is in the dust that harmful microbes, small mites, live. Therefore, it is so important to collect dust from all surfaces in time.
Today, dust can be removed in two ways: by dry and wet cleaning. In the first case, we are talking about using a special broom, with the help of which dust is brushed from furniture to the floor.That is, it simply moves, and is not removed, after which it will have to be removed from the floor. While this method is much simpler than wet cleaning, it has its drawbacks. First of all, it is not suitable for people with allergies. In addition, it cannot be called useful in other cases, because the dust is in the air and remains in it for a long time. Another disadvantage of such cleaning is that it must be carried out more often than wet.
If this option is preferable, then the dust must always be brushed off in one direction, otherwise it will simply settle in the places from which it was recently removed.
Some housewives are thinking about what is best to do first – to vacuum or remove dust. In this case, you need to take into account the model of the vacuum cleaner, because the equipment equipped with special filters copes with dust well, but other models can blow up to 25% of the dust back. Therefore, in the latter case, you will have to vacuum first. And then you need to wipe the surfaces in the house with a damp cloth.
Use a natural cloth to wipe off dust.For example, wool can literally attract dust, but it will have to be changed more often. Dust collection wipes are also on sale today. They are usually made from microfiber. Sometimes they are impregnated with special agents, which then cover the furniture and repel dust.
The rag or napkin should be moistened completely, after which it should be squeezed well. Sometimes housewives use available tools to make cleaning more efficient. So, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to the water.It will not only give freshness to the room, but also help in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. Hot water should not be used if cleaning of painted surfaces is to be done (the paint fades from it). It is better to wipe polished furniture with a dry cloth only.
A separate conversation – things that collect a lot of dust. These include clothing, stuffed animals, books, and even upholstered furniture. Therefore, it is worthwhile to figure out how to eliminate some of them. Books are best kept behind glass, clothes in cupboards. But upholstered furniture will have to be vacuumed daily.It is recommended to wash toys, pillows from time to time. Carpets need to be knocked out on the street and ventilated weekly. If you put an air ionizer in the house, it will protect your health from the troubles that dust carries with it.
The need for regular cleaning is obvious, but how many times should you use it? It is advisable to dust off 2 times a week. And once you can do with wiping the surfaces, but a more thorough cleaning will include cleaning upholstered furniture, replacing bed linen, knocking out carpets.
Do you have to remove dust from all horizontal surfaces in your house every day? Does it seem like the dust will never go away? Of course, there is no magic tool that will remove dust once and for all, but it is quite possible to reduce its amount. We will tell you where dust comes from, why it accumulates quickly and how to deal with it correctly.
It is impossible to get rid of dust completely: even in an empty house without tenants and with closed windows, a thick layer of dust accumulates over time.Why is this happening? To answer this question, you need to know what the dust in the apartment consists of.
What is dust
Dust
are fine solid particles ranging in size from 0.01 to 10 microns. First of all, it is necessary to separate coarse and (or fine) dust. Coarse dust is what annoys us so much. A layer of gray “fluff” that accumulates in the corners, on the bookshelves and under the sofa.
In fact, the greatest danger for us is fine dust, which we do not even see.It is found in large quantities in the polluted city air and enters our body, damaging the walls of blood vessels and harming our health.
A significant portion of the dust usually consists of the smallest particles of dead skin and tissue fibers. Other dust contributors range from human hair and pet hair to soil particles, pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and other minor sources. Also, in some homes, dust contains waste products of cockroaches, termites, ants or other insects.Especially a lot of dust is after repair.
In addition to domestic sources of dust, there are natural sources – for example, scientists recognize the Sahara Desert as the largest source of dust. Also, volcanic ash, fires, meteorites and comets, seas and oceans are to blame for the formation of dust. Even hundreds of thousands of kilometers do not scare such dust: it will overcome all obstacles to get into your apartment.
You cannot remove large sources of dust from your life, such as clothes, furniture, carpets and, in fact, human skin.However, you can use good house cleaning methods. Then the amount of dust will be significantly reduced.
Always dust off from top to bottom
– otherwise, dirt from surfaces that are above the rest will settle on already cleaned furniture.
Carpets should be vacuumed and shaken out every week. Carpets – World Class Dust Collectors
, and when you step on them, they “throw” dust back into the air.
Furniture is also worth taking care of.For example, sofa cushions, like carpets, create, collect and spew dust into the air when you sit on them. Sofas, beds, armchairs can be vacuumed or knocked out with a thick damp cloth. Also note the curtains
: They need to be washed and steamed regularly.
Dust mites live in almost every home because they enjoy a warm, humid environment. They multiply in bedding and other places where epidermal particles can be high, and contribute their waste products to the general level of dust.In most cases, this is not a problem: just wash your bed linen regularly and take care of your upholstered furniture.
Take inventory of the apartment
. Perhaps something should be thrown out altogether, and something just replaced. Instead of feather pillows, take padding polyester ones, get rid of unnecessary decorative items and unnecessary clothes, old upholstered furniture. Don’t forget stuffed animals too: they are a great home for dust mites. Throwing them in the trash is not at all necessary; it is enough to wash them at a high temperature or put them in the freezer for several hours.
Why is there a lot of dust in the apartment?
The answer is simple: dust is very fond of disorder. Clutter demoralizes even the most desperate housewives, forcing them to spend a lot of time and effort cleaning. Store various knick-knacks and things that you rarely use in a cupboard behind glass or in a drawer. Spend 5 minutes a day to put everything in its place – the dust will simply have nowhere to come from.
Our wardrobe also affects the total amount of dust. Just imagine how much dust we bring from the street along with our clothes! Pay close attention to washing and organizing wardrobe space.It is better to pack seasonal items in vacuum bags.
The worst accumulation of dust is where it is quite difficult to clean up.
, – under the bed, sofa, behind the refrigerator or closet, in the corners of the closet, etc. When wet cleaning, it is recommended to pay the utmost attention to these areas. Fortunately, mops and vacuum cleaners are now being produced with a wide variety of attachments that can penetrate hard-to-reach places.
The most inaccessible places are at the top of the cabinets – to wipe them from dust, you always need to stand on a chair and stool.How to remove dust in this case? If you are not really worried about the aesthetic appearance of the room, you can put old newspapers or large-format paper on the “roof” of the cabinet – when dust settles on it, you can roll it up and throw it away. There is no need to deal with a thick layer of dust on the surface of the cabinet itself.
Another tip: If you need to remove dust from embossed surfaces such as picture frames, lampshades and other decorative items, use an ordinary brush.
Damp cloth
The is all you need to pick up dust from hard, smooth surfaces.Dust sticks to fabric, rather than flying and spreading through the air. The main thing is not to use an overly wet cloth: a large amount of water, combined with dust, forms dirt and can ruin the finish of your beautiful furniture. Cotton or microfiber rags absorb water better and remove dirt.
When cleaning, it is better not to use a broom or a broom – they only raise dust into the air and carry it throughout the apartment.
It is widely believed that indoor plants help to purify the air and partially eliminate dust
.We have already said that the role of green assistants is somewhat exaggerated. Of course, plants have a positive effect on the microclimate, but wet cleaning in combination with climatic technology will wipe the nose of any ficus π
How to wipe the furniture so that dust does not settle?
A bit of physics:
As you know, microparticles have a small electrical charge and are attracted to a surface charged with the opposite charge. To prevent this from happening, antistatic agents are used: they reduce the ability of objects to accumulate static electricity, and dust simply does not settle on furniture and household appliances.
The modern market is flooded with a wide variety of cleaning products with varying degrees of effectiveness. To choose the right product, you need to know what it is for. Before use, you must read the instructions – otherwise, instead of cleanliness in the house, you risk observing an ugly dense plaque on horizontal surfaces.
- To prevent dust from settling on furniture for a long time, use polish
(or anti-dust). It contains antistatic agents for furniture from dust.And also polish gives shine to furniture elements. Thus, the dust does not settle on the armrests or the table, but simply “slides” off them. Nevertheless, anti-dust for furniture is not a panacea: you still have to do wet cleaning, but at least not so often. - There are special antistatic agents for TVs and computer monitors
, which remove dust and dirt. It is best to choose an antistatic agent that can be used with the equipment turned on and that does not need further processing with a napkin or rag. - Some sprays
eliminate static electricity and kill dust mites. They should be used no more than once every six months. Basically, they are used to process walls, carpets and textiles. - With hard surfaces everything is clear, but how to wipe the upholstered furniture? Special impregnation
spreads over the entire surface of a piece of furniture, as if forming a protective film that prevents dust from entering. However, the furniture will have to be cleaned so that the impregnation does not turn into a thick coating. - If you prefer folk remedies, vinegar will help you
. In a glass of cool water, add 50β75 ml of vinegar, two teaspoons of olive oil and a couple of drops of any essential oil. Then pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle and treat the furniture with it. This method also destroys unpleasant odors.
The main thing when choosing household chemicals is to carefully select the composition of the product. Avoid names of toxic substances on the packaging – these include chlorine, ammonium, phosphates, triclosan.Also remember that many cleaning products are irritating to the skin and respiratory tract, so it is worth equipping yourself with rubber gloves and a face mask.
Even the most thorough cleaning will not remove 100% of the dust from your home. Do you want even the finest dust to disappear? Trust smart technology. with high-quality filters will definitely help in the difficult fight against dust, and, having the function of inactivating microorganisms, will protect you and your family not only from dust, but also from various viruses, allergens and harmful bacteria.
An air purifier must have a built-in HEPA filter – it is able to retain the finest dust.
A room without fresh air is much more dusty than a constantly ventilated room. In addition, in a stuffy room it is simply hard to breathe and go about your business. To exclude the possibility of street dust getting into your house when ventilating and, you can install – a compact supply ventilation system with built-in filters for air purification.
Dusty furniture should be regularly wiped down with a piece of clean cloth, which can be moistened with various cleaning agents for best results. If you do not have professional commercial dust protection products at hand, it is quite possible to use folk remedies. This can be table vinegar in combination with other improvised ingredients. And so that the dust does not settle and does not accumulate longer, special impregnations and an air humidifier will be useful.
1 Required Tools
Various aerosols with anti-static effect in the fight against dust are complemented by the usual tools found in every home. Napkins and rags should be made entirely of cotton for best results.
This material easily absorbs moisture and does not scratch varnished surfaces. To clean hard-to-reach places, use a mop with special attachments for different types of surfaces. Such a mop is compact enough and polishes the surface a little, thereby preventing the settling of dust particles.
Use a vacuum cleaner or broom to clean corrugated surfaces. The tools should be well cleaned after use.
Vacuum cleaner is a versatile thing when cleaning, especially if there are different attachments.
2 Anti-dust products
Among the most effective means for combating dust on furniture at home are:
- polishes;
- wipes impregnated with a cleaning compound;
- intensive sprays;
- table vinegar;
- humidifier.
Lacquered furniture polish contains components that degrease the surface, act as antiseptics and antistatic agents.The furniture processed by it acquires shine, and dirt particles less adhere to its surface, as if slipping. This tool can also handle televisions, computers and other household appliances. Electrified appliances strongly attract dust, and after using polish they will stay clean longer.
There are many different types of wet wipes sold in stores that can remove dust even from connected computers and TVs. Special impregnations for upholstered furniture have also proven their effectiveness.
You can also use intensive sprays for cleaning, helping to get rid of both static adhesion of dust and mites and various allergens. They are used only a couple of times a year, but the activity of the composition is sufficient to protect surfaces for such a long time. Wall carpets, textiles and paintings are treated with such means.
In the absence of commercially available formulations, you can use a folk remedy containing table vinegar.
His recipe:
- in a glass of water, dilute 4-5 tablespoons of 9% vinegar;
- add 2 teaspoons of olive oil and a few drops of ether;
- thoroughly.
Mix
The solution should be poured into a container with a spray bottle and sprayed over furniture. This will not get rid of dust at all, but will significantly reduce the rate of its settling on the surface, facilitate cleaning and help get rid of harmful microorganisms.
In the fight against dust, you can use a modern humidifier, which, sprinkling dirt particles, nails them to surfaces. Dust will stop swirling in the air, but streaks will be noticeable when cleaning. You can remove plaque and polish the surface with a cloth moistened with water and a well-wrung out microfiber cloth.
Household cleaning is one of the types of activities that you need to do regularly. Already a few hours after putting things in order, the perfectly washed surface is covered with a dust layer, and everything has to be started again. To do cleaning less often, you need to do it in the correct sequence and take measures to reduce the amount of dust in the house – to seal windows and doors, wash shoes and clothes in time, use modern air purification technologies.
1 How to get rid of dust
All methods of getting rid of dust at home can be divided into 2 categories.Some are aimed at cleaning the premises, while others are aimed at preventing its reappearance.
A competent combination of methods from both categories will give the best results.
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1.1 Removal of existing contaminants
To prevent further dust formation, you first need to get rid of the existing one. It makes sense to regularly carry out general cleaning.
With daily cleaning up, as a rule, housewives wipe only the surfaces visible to the eye, while dirt accumulates in hard-to-reach places for months.On tall cabinets, behind the TV, under the sofa, whole balls of dust are formed, which is gradually distributed throughout the house and flies in the air.
When dust is absent in hard-to-reach places, it accumulates on visible surfaces much more slowly.
A number of important rules for general cleaning:
- 1. You need to start cleaning with the upper parts of the interior (ceiling lamps, baguettes), then move on to the countertops, window sills, interior parts of the cabinets and finish by washing the floors and vacuuming carpets or carpet.
- 2. It is imperative to carry out wet cleaning, wiping the dirty areas with a wet cloth. Using dry will not work, because the dust will rise up and scatter in the air, and then spread throughout the apartment. In addition, a dry cloth can leave damage and scratches on the surface of the furniture.
- 3. Do not overlook the ceilings, they also collect dust. If tensioning structures are installed, then they are allowed to gently wipe with a damp cloth.Likewise, you can remove dust from ceilings that are tiled or painted with washable paints and varnishes.
- 4. It is advisable to wash all shoes that are exposed openly (stored without boxes or any other packaging). Especially a lot of dirt and sand is brought into the apartment on the soles of street shoes or boots. But even on fluffy house slippers, dirt accumulates over time, so they need to be washed periodically.
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1.2 Dust Prevention
Scientists have proven that most of the dust particles in the house are particles of the skin and clothing of people living in the room, as well as fragments of the hair of pets.
Therefore, it is impossible to completely get rid of the appearance of dust, but it is still possible to reduce its amount. There are several ways to do this:
- 1. Remove all unnecessary items (so-called “dust collectors”) from your home environment: vases, figurines, souvenirs. To pack the services displayed in the sideboards in boxes and put them in the closet.Instead of carpets, you can make high-quality heat and sound insulation in the house. If this is not possible, then rugs and carpets must be regularly knocked out (outside the apartment), cleaned with suitable detergents or taken to dry cleaning.
- 2. Use the right materials when decorating a new apartment. Instead of carpet, it is better to choose linoleum – there are no lint on it, and dirt is removed much easier. When pasting walls with wallpaper, it is better to give preference to vinyl, which form less dust than paper.If funds allow, it is worth ordering stretch ceilings in all rooms. They do not form dust and do not accumulate in large quantities.
- 3. Store books at home in a closet with tightly closed doors so that dust from paper volumes does not enter the atmosphere of the rest of the apartment.
- 4. Store clothes only in covers. Regular washing of things is mandatory – a large amount of dirty and not washed for a long time also contributes to the dustiness of the entire room.
- 5.Do not allow dust particles to enter through windows. In summer, gauze soaked in water can be hung on open vents and balcony doors, which will retain some of the contamination. But this folk remedy is not very effective. On a hot afternoon, the gauze will have to be moistened with water every few minutes. A simpler and more effective way (but also more expensive) is to equip the house with an air conditioner or a split system and not open the doors at all if there is smog on the street. To prevent dust from entering through closed windows, you need to regularly treat the seals with a silicone emulsion, and also pay attention to the areas of the frame and window sill connection – in these places, through gaps are often formed, which must be eliminated.
- 6. Check the entrance doors for leaks. There is usually a lot more dirt in the stairwell than inside the apartment. To check the door for leaks, it is enough to bring a sheet of paper to it at different levels (top, bottom and side, or slowly draw along the entire perimeter).
The slightest draft will make the leaf move. This area can be treated with a sealant or a piece of tape can be glued to close the through gap. But it will be more effective to install high-quality seals around the entire perimeter of the door – this method will not only protect the house from dust and drafts, but also increase the sound insulation of the home. - 7. Keep your shoes clean. A large amount of dirt is brought from the street with it, especially in autumn and winter. It is necessary to wash every pair of shoes in a timely manner. To fight dirt, you need to put a rug at the front door – both inside and outside the apartment – and teach all guests and household members to wipe the soles. In a private house, it is usually customary to leave outdoor shoes outside the threshold of the heated part of the room. If there is an opportunity to change shoes without going into the house, then it is worth introducing this tradition.
- 8.Do not have pets. Of course, few people will give up their beloved cat just for the reason that its fur flies throughout the house or toilet filler spreads throughout all rooms. But before you get yourself a pet, you need to take into account that it can become a source of not only positive emotions, but also another type of pollution, as well as allergens.
- 9. Use modern technologies. In addition to air conditioners and split systems, home appliance stores offer a variety of air purifiers and humidifiers.These devices reduce the amount of dust flying around the apartment in suspension. Modern washing vacuum cleaners with an aquafilter are also able to purify the air in the room, and they do this during the cleaning process, combining two useful properties. Such models are especially recommended for people prone to allergies.
- 10. Regularly replace disposable filters in the air conditioner and timely clean and rinse reusable filters in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- 11.Treat furniture with an antistatic polish such as Pronto or Cinderella. This will give the surfaces a shine, eliminate micro-damage and reduce the amount of dust deposited on them .
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2 Cleaning during and after repair
Renovation often becomes a source of permanent dirt and dust that not only collects in the house, but also spreads around the entrance. After the end of global alterations, cleaning sometimes lasts up to several weeks.
To reduce the amount of dust that accumulates during repairs, you need:
- 1. Remove or seal all household appliances before starting work. If a large amount of construction dust gets inside a TV, computer or music center, such complex and expensive devices can fail forever.
- 2. If possible, close or remove all furniture tightly. The same rule applies to temporarily unused interior doors.
- 3. It is advisable to carry out all work on sawing wood, ceramics, metal outside the apartment, for example, in the garage. If there is no suitable room, then a balcony or loggia should be used for these purposes. At the same time, they should be closed both from the side of the apartment (so that dust does not get inside the house) and from the side of the street (otherwise, neighbors will start complaining about dirt flying into their windows).
To facilitate the task of putting things in order after repairs, the following techniques will help:
- 1.First of all, you need to free the room from large pieces of debris. All large waste remaining after the repair cannot be thrown into the garbage chute – there are special containers for this.
- 2. Then you should sweep the floors in all rooms where repairs were made. In order not to raise a large amount of dust into the air, it is necessary to periodically moisten the broom.
- 3. After removing most of the rubbish, it is advisable to change clothes. These items, as well as those in which repairs were carried out, must be washed and sealed before starting the next work of this kind.
- 4. Wipe with a damp cloth all surfaces that can be washed (washable wallpaper, stretch ceilings, cabinet doors). Construction dust is harder to clean than conventional dust and leaves white streaks. Therefore, for high-quality cleaning, you need 2 rags – wet and dry. The second is designed to fight divorce. It is important to ensure that grains of sand and debris do not fall under it – they can leave deep scratches and damage on the surface to be washed.
- 5.Clean stubborn dirt with special compounds, taking into account the type of stained surface. For example, alkyd paint stains can be easily removed with a solvent. But its use is undesirable on painted and varnished surfaces. Aggressive agents can damage them, so you need to follow the instructions on the packaging with the composition.
Cleaning after renovation of the apartment must be done with gloves, because during the work process there are a large number of sharp objects (pieces of ceramic tiles, glass shards, metal shavings) and there is a danger of injury.
3 Folk remedies
Manufacturers have invented many special formulations to ensure long-term dust removal.
But there are several folk remedies that are used by modern housewives:
- 1. Vinegar. To give the furniture a shine, it is wiped with a cloth dipped in water and vinegar. The solution should not be concentrated – just add a few drops of the product to 0.5 l of water so as not to damage the painted or varnished surfaces.
- 2. Soap shavings. To remove stubborn dirt and give linoleum or laminate shine, add 30-50 g of crushed soap or a few drops of dishwashing detergent to a bucket of water for cleaning the floors.
- 3. Soda. The solution of the product washes away many stubborn dirt, but it is also used for daily cleaning of rooms. If you add 3-4 teaspoons of baking soda to a bucket of water, then with this composition you can not only wash the floors, but also wipe the shelves – the dust will not settle on the treated surfaces for much longer.
- 4. Wet cloth. This popular method is used to remove dust from the upholstery of sofas and armchairs. A clean cloth of a suitable size is moistened in clean water, wrung out well, spread on dirty furniture and knocked on it with a stick or carpet beater. After removing the cloth, you will find that a large amount of wet dust has adhered to it. The fabric can be washed and reused if necessary.
You cannot remove large sources of dust from your life, such as clothes, furniture, carpets and, in fact, human skin.However, you can use good house cleaning methods. Then the amount of dust will be significantly reduced.
Always dust off from top to bottom
– otherwise, dirt from surfaces that are above the rest will settle on already cleaned furniture.
Carpets should be vacuumed and shaken out every week. Carpets – World Class Dust Collectors
, and when you step on them, they “throw” dust back into the air.
Furniture is also worth taking care of.For example, sofa cushions, like carpets, create, collect and spew dust into the air when you sit on them. Sofas, beds, armchairs can be vacuumed or knocked out with a thick damp cloth. Also note the curtains
: They need to be washed and steamed regularly.
Dust mites live in almost every home because they enjoy a warm, humid environment. They multiply in bedding and other places where epidermal particles can be high, and contribute their waste products to the general level of dust.In most cases, this is not a problem: just wash your bed linen regularly and take care of your upholstered furniture.
Take inventory of the apartment
. Perhaps something should be thrown out altogether, and something just replaced. Instead of feather pillows, take padding polyester ones, get rid of unnecessary decorative items and unnecessary clothes, old upholstered furniture. Don’t forget stuffed animals too: they are a great home for dust mites. Throwing them in the trash is not at all necessary; it is enough to wash them at a high temperature or put them in the freezer for several hours.
Why is there a lot of dust in the apartment?
The answer is simple: dust is very fond of disorder. Clutter demoralizes even the most desperate housewives, forcing them to spend a lot of time and effort cleaning. Store various knick-knacks and things that you rarely use in a cupboard behind glass or in a drawer. Spend 5 minutes a day to put everything in its place – the dust will simply have nowhere to come from.
Our wardrobe also affects the total amount of dust. Just imagine how much dust we bring from the street along with our clothes! Pay close attention to washing and organizing wardrobe space.It is better to pack seasonal items in vacuum bags.
The worst accumulation of dust is where it is quite difficult to clean up.
, – under the bed, sofa, behind the refrigerator or closet, in the corners of the closet, etc. When wet cleaning, it is recommended to pay the utmost attention to these areas. Fortunately, mops and vacuum cleaners are now being produced with a wide variety of attachments that can penetrate hard-to-reach places.
The most inaccessible places are at the top of the cabinets – to wipe them from dust, you always need to stand on a chair and stool.How to remove dust in this case? If you are not really worried about the aesthetic appearance of the room, you can put old newspapers or large-format paper on the “roof” of the cabinet – when dust settles on it, you can roll it up and throw it away. There is no need to deal with a thick layer of dust on the surface of the cabinet itself.
Another tip: If you need to remove dust from embossed surfaces such as picture frames, lampshades and other decorative items, use an ordinary brush.
Each apartment, house or office building has furniture that differs from each other in quality, technical characteristics, materials from which it is made, etc.
From time to time it is necessary to clean furniture, as dust, dirt accumulates on it, greasy stains appear, which can sometimes be quite difficult to get rid of.
In order not to spoil the surfaces of furniture during cleaning, you should know what products can be used and how to properly wash it. In this article, we’ll talk about popular ways to care for polished and other furniture at home.
Cleaning wooden furniture
Do you need to clean wood furniture? What are the most common ways? First of all, it should be noted that wooden furniture needs constant maintenance.Wood is one of the most demanded materials for furniture production.
Wooden furniture samples must be cleaned every day (dusting), once a week to carry out a general cleaning to remove difficult dirt. In this case, you should use a special soft brush and exclusively natural cleaning agents.
The most common recipes for caring for wood furniture include the following techniques.
- Baby soap should be added to 500 ml of water, stir.With this compound, you can start cleaning dirty areas with a regular cloth. After cleaning, you will need to wipe the furniture with a dry cloth.
- A mixture of water and lemon essential oil is applied to a sponge and the surface of the furniture is cleaned. Essential oil is an excellent component for polishing furniture. In addition to its excellent cleaning properties, lemon essential oil has a pleasant scent that will remain on furniture for some time.
- Mix 50 ml of olive oil with 100 ml of vinegar.The prepared solution is poured into a spray bottle, gently sprayed over the furniture and wiped with a cloth. After this procedure, the polished furniture will look like new.
- Add 50 ml of lemon juice to 50 ml of water. It is an excellent preparation for the care of furniture, which does not leave streaks. First, you need to clean the furniture with a cloth soaked in this solution, and then wipe it with a dry sponge or cloth.
- Add 10 ml of ammonia to 60 ml of water, wipe the surface of the furniture with the solution.This tool is able to cope with the most difficult dirt.
- Vaseline is one of the most popular ways to deal with white stains on furniture after hot dishes. They need to treat the problem area and leave it overnight, and polish it in the morning.
Folk remedies for cleaning polished furniture
You can clean polished furniture at home with the help of available tools.
Some of the most famous folk methods are the following products.
- Potatoes
. You need to take 1 potato tuber, peel it and cut it in half. Any dirt on the furniture should be wiped off with raw potatoes and then wiped dry with a dry cloth.
Polished furniture does not need to be cleaned with a damp cloth, as the polish wears off and the former shine disappears. Lacquered furniture must not be cleaned with soapy water, as this can damage the surface.
- Burdock oil
.To wash furniture with them, it is necessary to apply this product on a cotton swab, wrap it with a cotton cloth so that the oil can drain onto the surface of the furniture. With this cloth, you need to wipe the furniture, and clean the remaining oil with a dry cloth, polish with flannel. - Flour and vegetable oil
. You can perfectly clean the furniture with this composition. - Salt and vegetable oil
. If stubborn stains from the iron or any other hot product remain on the furniture, then wipe them with a cloth moistened with oil and salt.You can apply salt and oil to the stain and wait a few hours, then remove this mixture and wipe the stain with a rag. - Vinegar
. This product is ideal for cleaning heavily soiled furniture. - Sauerkraut brine
. It is applied to stains and wiped off with a rag.
Of course, these are not all known methods of cleaning polished furniture with improvised means, but the most basic and popular.
Upholstered furniture cleaning
With regard to upholstered furniture, its care will depend on the type of fabric used in its production.
In other cases, you will need to use sponges and brushes for good cleaning.
Sofas should be vacuumed every week before wet cleaning.
Brush corners and seams monthly. More dust accumulates in these places.
A brush is also required when cleaning furniture with long hair. It is recommended to use natural cleaning products that will not have a negative effect.
If there are wax marks on the furniture, they can be cleaned without damaging the furniture surface.To do this, you need to warm up the knife in boiling water and clean the dried wax with the blunt side. Next, wipe the place where there was a trace of wax with a gasoline rag.
If you have stained, for example, the table with ink, then cleaning such stains at home will be as easy as shelling pears. To do this, you need to take a heated beer and pour it over the stain, wait until everything is dry, smear the stain with wax and polish it.
In addition, a wide range of products are available in various stores that are ideal for cleaning polished furniture at home.
To keep your furniture clean, there are a few simple rules to follow .
- Regular care of furniture is a guarantee of its cleanliness and beauty.
- Avoiding household chemicals when caring for furniture at home will help avoid allergies.
- The use of soft fabrics, sponges during furniture care will help prevent scratches and damage.
- A soft brush will help you to clean furniture with a high quality, which has carvings.
- Avoid alcohol, cologne and acetone when cleaning furniture, as they will dull the surface.
In the event that polished furniture has faded over time, changed color, you must adhere to the following tips :
- wipe the dust, clean the furniture surface with warm water and wipe with a dry soft cloth;
- the next step is to prepare a special solution consisting of linseed oil and turpentine, as well as table vinegar;
- mix all the components, moisten a cotton swab in the resulting solution and treat the furniture surface with it;
- Furniture should be cleaned quickly enough so that its surface does not heat up.In this case, the oil reacts with other components, oxidizes and returns the furniture to its former shine and beauty.
By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to keep all the furniture in your home in perfect order and look as good as new. And it costs a lot, because buying new furniture because of the formation of old stains, which can be easily dealt with, will be simply unreasonable.
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Every housewife knows that while cleaning there is nothing worse than dusting furniture.It accumulates extremely quickly on surfaces and settles even after thorough cleaning of the entire room. It is impossible to completely get rid of dust, because it is endless, but if you use useful tips and tricks, you can significantly reduce its amount in the apartment and keep the house clean without effort.
According to statistics, even a well-tidied room accumulates about 12 thousand dust particles for every square centimeter in two weeks. In order to reduce its amount, it is necessary to adhere to simple but effective cleaning rules:
- Wet cleaning should be done regularly.This is the most proven way to deal with dust, which tends to pick up when using a dry brush or cloth. Thanks to wet cleaning, the dust content on the surface is significantly reduced, and the use of special products helps to avoid the spread of dust mites and bacteria. Regular dust removal using this method helps not only to clean the apartment efficiently, but to reduce the risk of diseases, as well as strengthen the immune system.
- The correct cleaning equipment should be in the arsenal of every housewife.Today, many useful tools and types of fabrics have been invented that effectively fight dust on a wide variety of surfaces and significantly speed up the cleaning process, for example, microfiber. In addition, some products have an antistatic effect, due to which the dust settles more slowly. Therefore, even before starting cleaning, you should think about the best way to dust the furniture.
- Cleaning of the premises should take place according to a certain scheme, which allows not only to save time, but also to clean the premises more efficiently.The main rule is to clean from top to bottom, otherwise the dust raised by the brush will settle again and again.
- It is necessary to pay attention to hard-to-reach corners: plinths, top surfaces of cabinets and mezzanines, window sills and doors. It is in these places that a huge amount of dust accumulates, which is often forgotten during cleaning.
- Home textiles should be washed as often as possible. It is the fabric in the premises that is the main source of dust. Therefore, it is extremely important to regularly wash bedding, change bedspreads, and clean upholstered furniture.Plus, if you do not remove textiles for a long time, dust mites can start, which will be difficult to get rid of later. Removable covers for furniture, which are convenient to machine wash without the help of specialists, will help you in cleaning.
Important! Regular and high-quality cleaning is especially important if you have respiratory problems, as well as asthma or allergies. A large amount of dust on furniture significantly impairs the quality of life with such ailments.
How to remove dust from furniture: basic accessories
In order to effectively cope with dust in the room, you just need to choose the right tool, because the quality of cleaning and the time spent on it largely depend on this.These are fairly simple gadgets that can be found in every home.
Rags and wet wipes
The simplest and most effective tools for cleaning a room from dust. When choosing a cloth for cleaning, special attention should be paid to the material. So, it is advisable to prefer natural cotton or microfiber. They not only absorb water better than others, but also do not leave scratches on glossy and smooth surfaces.
Mop
A mop is in every home, and it is perhaps the best tool not only for cleaning floors, but also for removing dust in hard-to-reach places.The material from which the mop is made can be different.
Important! It is advisable to purchase a mop-brush with removable nozzles to remove dirt from all types of surfaces.
Vacuum cleaner
This is one of the best devices for combating various types of dust. The best option is a small washing vacuum cleaner with different attachments. The vacuum cleaner does an excellent job of removing dust indoors and saves a lot of time.
Important! It is extremely important to change filters or clean the capacity of the device in time, otherwise, its work will be of lower quality.
Air humidifier
Such a device does not directly remove dust in the house, but due to the weight of small particles, it reduces its amount in the air. When moistened, fine dirt settles on surfaces where it is easiest to clean. Plus, the amount of dust streaks during cleaning is significantly reduced.
Various brushes, like “sultans”
A great tool for shaking off fine dirt from hard-to-reach surfaces.However, the dirt does not go anywhere, so further wet cleaning is necessary.
In order to maximize cleaning efficiency, it is recommended to use various means to reduce the amount of dust in the future.
Useful cleaning products
As you know, dust accumulates very quickly – within a couple of hours after cleaning, microparticles again settle on the surfaces. To avoid this, it is important to know the best way to wipe dust from furniture so that it accumulates less:
- Furniture polish is an excellent product with degreasing, antistatic and antiseptic properties.After treating the surface of the furniture with a similar tool, small debris begins to slide off, as a result of which it settles several times less.
Important! The polish adds extra shine to lacquered and glossy furniture surfaces.
- Among the folk methods, the most widespread are means based on table vinegar. Mix half a glass of water, 2 teaspoons of 9% vinegar and add a couple of drops of any essential oil for fragrance. It is best to pour the product into a spray bottle and spray over furniture.
Algorithm for cleaning premises
In order for cleaning to be as effective as possible, it is recommended to adhere to a certain scheme that will allow you to clean even the largest room in the shortest possible time:
- First remove dust from the ceiling with a broom or brush wrapped in a cloth.
- Wipe down every shade on the chandelier, where a huge amount of hard-to-reach fine dirt usually accumulates. Plus, it can save you some money on electricity – a clean lamp shines much brighter.
- Wipe windowsills and cabinets from top to bottom. Don’t forget the shelves and mezzanines, where dust sometimes accumulates for years.
- Remove plaque from doors and windowsill with a damp cloth or sweep down with a brush.
- Sweep out every corner of the room where the most dirt tends to accumulate. Revenge follows towards the center of the room.
- Remove any fine dirt that has been swept out, preferably with a vacuum cleaner. Only after that, you can proceed to wet cleaning of the rest of the furniture and lowered surfaces – chairs, tables, etc.p.
- At the end of cleaning, treat all surfaces with special products. This way, dust will accumulate much less.
Cleaning the premises after the completion of the repair is considered a difficult and necessary occupation, rather than the trivial cleaning of the premises.
The final and obligatory stage of most repair and construction works is dust removal of walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces.
Why do you need to dedust the walls
Therefore, in most construction and repair work, it is recommended to use a respirator to protect the respiratory tract.
Dedusting must be carried out not only after the completion of work, but also before applying the decor, be it wallpaper, tiles, paint or flooring.
Only a specialized team with the appropriate skills and equipment is able to quickly and fully cope with such a task. However, some of the useful work can be done with your own hands.
How to remove dust from walls after renovation: practical options
Important! An effective way to deal with dust is to take preliminary measures, which makes it possible to prevent or reduce the amount of dust formation.
In order to remove dust from walls and other surfaces, after completion of work, you can use the following options:
- Vacuum cleaner.
- Dry broom.
- Dry rags.
- Brush.
- Wet cleaning.
- Construction vacuum cleaner.
The dust removal tools will be different in each case. It depends on the reason for the formation of dust, the surface where it has settled and its amount. But it is generally accepted that damp building dust is much easier to clean.However, the degree of moisture should be moderate so that dirty streaks do not form on surfaces as a result.
It follows that it is easier to collect humidified dust, but moisture should not turn the dust layer into a mud substance.
When cleaning dry, you should carefully select the means and tools. In this case, the main goal will be to avoid the formation of a dust cloud, which may occur when trying to clean, and then settle again at the end.
Dedusting very high walls after renovation
In case you need to put things in order in a room with high walls, then one of the best options in this case would be a brush with a long handle. Alternatively, you can use a mop, using a dry or damp cloth as needed.
In order to facilitate the task of dedusting high walls, it is advisable to make a thorough preliminary preparation. This means that the walls must be tightly covered and the underlay must be dampened to facilitate dust collection.
As already mentioned, correct preliminary and preventive measures play a decisive role in the control of building dust.
Before starting work, do the following:
- Move as much as possible out of the working area.
- Cover the surfaces with foil, including windows and doorways.
- Cover furniture and other objects that cannot be moved.
During Works:
- Use a respirator.
- Use dust collectors.
- Regularly humidify the air.
It should be understood that a full cleaning can only be done by a team with the right equipment and cleaning agents. When cleaning on your own, some percentage of the dust will remain, and will continue to bother you for a while.
Obviously, the dedusting operation is a necessary process that, one way or another, must be performed. In each case, the actions may be different, but their goal is the same.
Useful video
90,000 How to wipe surfaces to reduce dust settling?
Every housewife struggles with dust, and this problem keeps coming back. Microscopic particles, even after general cleaning, settle on furniture and various interior items. But it is possible to reduce the amount of dust if you regularly use a rag and vacuum cleaner, as well as follow the advice from experts.In this article, we will take a closer look at how to wipe surfaces so that less dust settles.
Folk remedies for dust
Housewives use various folk remedies, passing on their experience to others. Let’s consider in detail which ones can be used against dust.
Homemade antistatic agent
If you wish, you can buy an antistatic agent at any store that sells household goods. But if you want to do without chemicals, you can use the following recipe:
- should be prepared for 0.1 l of water 10 drops of eucalyptus oil, 2 tablespoons of olive and 30 ml of vinegar;
- All of the above ingredients should be mixed and poured into a spray bottle.
Spread the antistatic agent over the furniture and wipe with a soft cloth. Then wipe the surface dry. Your home will not only get rid of dust, but also get a fresh and pleasant scent.
The main thing is that eucalyptus oil helps to kill bacteria, so this homemade antistatic agent can be safely used in a children’s room.
Alcohol
A great solution is to use rubbing alcohol, especially if you need to remove dust from the bulbs.It is enough to soak cotton wool in alcohol and wipe the glass. After that, there will be less dust, but just do not turn on the bulbs right away, wait until they are completely dry.
Salt
If dust is to be removed from light-colored surfaces, saline is a proven product. To create it, you need to take 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of warm water, which is previously passed through a filter. The salt must be completely dissolved. After wiping with saline, you will need to take another dry cloth and wipe everything dry.
Important! Saline solution should not be used on dark furniture, as white streaks will remain visible.
Lemon
A lemon solution is an excellent choice. Take a lemon and cut it into cubes, fill it with 30 ml of sunflower oil and leave to infuse for 7 days. Fill the contents with 200 ml of hot water. And then pass everything through cheesecloth. Now the cloth should be moistened in such a solution and you can start wiping various surfaces.
Glycerin
If you want to work on decorated and polished surfaces, pay attention to glycerin. If it is diluted with water, in this case, it is enough to fulfill the proportion of 1 to 10, then you get a solution for removing dust. It should be applied to a cloth and you can start working. This tool is great for cleaning books from dust.
Soda
If you are unsure of how to remove dust from carpets and the length of the pile may vary, look at baking soda. In one liter of water, you need to dilute 500 grams of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 5 clove inflorescences. Initially, the solution should be applied to the carpet, then wait 2 hours, then the product will be thoroughly saturated with the prepared mixture. Next, you need to thoroughly vacuum the carpet.
Bay leaf
A solution prepared on the basis of bay leaves will also help get rid of dust on the carpet. To prepare it, take 1 pinch of cinnamon and 5 bay leaves for 1 liter of water . The solution is poured into a container with a spray bottle, after which it is ready for spraying. It should be applied to the carpet and left for 10-15 minutes. Finish the cleaning process with a vacuum cleaner.
Vinegar essence
This product is often used to remove dust. It can be used to rinse cloths that are used to remove dust deposits. Just add a few drops of vinegar essence to a bowl of water. Such treatment is an excellent prevention of the appearance of a dust mite.
Soap
If it is necessary to remove dust from stretch ceilings, then the best remedy is a soap solution.It is quite simple to prepare it yourself, and then you need to take a soft brush, dip it in soapy water and wipe the surface gently.
Old sock
This method may make some laugh, but the method is proven.A terry sock, worn on the hand like a glove, allows you to remove dusty deposits quite easily and quickly. Ideal for wiping tables, cupboards, curtain rods, blinds and chandeliers.
Special formulations
Dust formation is a continuous process that cannot be stopped, but you can at least slow it down with the help of some special compounds. Use a wool cloth to wipe the surface.It perfectly attracts dust particles to itself. Repulsive products can help prevent dust from settling at home.
It is imperative to carry out dry cleaning before wet. Initially, it is recommended to wipe the ceiling, upper corners, chandeliers and shades. Move from top to bottom, then you don’t have to dust off the furniture several times.
For furniture
The polish is perfect for processing cabinet furniture.The composition can be presented as a paste, cream or spray. Each option will allow you to achieve your goal: so that less dust settles on furniture. Polishes usually have the following elements in their composition:
- Antistatic agent that excellently repels dust;
- silicone allows you to improve the strength of the wood, as well as enhance its color;
- wax provides shine, and also masks small scratches and cracks;
- active substances make it easy to clean furniture from dirt and dust;
- oils prevent wood cracking.
Polished furniture needs careful maintenance. Use a polish that is fairly easy to work with.
If you use an aerosol, it should be sprayed, if a paste or cream – squeeze out a little and rub thoroughly until a shine appears on the surface of the wood. Such processing will protect furniture from dust settling for a long time.
Anti-static sprays will help eliminate static electricity, so dust will no longer settle on furniture. The effect depends on the duration of the antistatic agent. After this treatment, you will forget about fingerprints and the appearance of spots. The packaging usually indicates the duration of the antistatic spray.
The following sprays are often used to clean furniture:
- Norvin;
- “Mebelux”;
- Chirton;
- Stanhome.
Important! After using the spray, there is no need to additionally rub the furniture with a napkin.
Please note that some sprays may be hazardous to your health. So, some contain aggressive components or cause allergic reactions. Some sprays can only be used once every six months.
If we talk about upholstered furniture, then you should purchase a special impregnation. Typically, such compounds help protect furniture from dust, dirt, and also repel water. Impregnants are often aerosols because they are easy to spray. After application, a special protective layer is formed, so dirt clings less to the surface. Quite often, impregnations are used to treat carpets, clothing and curtains. You should pay attention to funds from the following brands:
- Stain Guard;
- Avel;
- Tarrago;
- Astrohim.
Another solution is a fabric softener. It can also be safely used to wipe dust off furniture, as it has antistatic properties. You need to take a damp cloth, drip a little air conditioner on it and you can rub the furniture, including the shelves, until it shines.A pleasant smell in the room will be a bonus.
It is recommended to process furniture in the following order:
- shelves, interiors and cabinet surfaces;
- embossed pieces of furniture, armrests of chairs, table tops and fittings;
- chairs and ottomans, coffee tables and bedside tables.
Important! Shelves with books deserve special attention. It is necessary to dust off not only the shelves, but also to regularly clean the books with a vacuum cleaner.
For household appliances
To prevent dust from appearing on household appliances and electrical appliances for a long time, antistatic agents should be used.With their help, you can remove a fairly impressive layer of dust, as well as remove fingerprints and other types of dirt. Even special anti-static wipes are on sale.
For other surfaces
The above listed products can be used for other surfaces, but not always. If we consider a stretch glossy ceiling, then it is necessary to start from how dirty it is.A slight layer of dust can be easily removed using chamois or microfiber. A vacuum cleaner with a soft nozzle is used for heavy dirt, but they must not touch the ceiling so as not to damage it. Work at a distance of 20β30 mm.
For cleaning a stretch ceiling, you can use products that are intended for glass and mirrors. In the end, you can take a polish, but the actions are soft and easy, since the stretch ceiling can be easily damaged.
How to properly wipe dust?
To quickly and easily remove dust, while preventing its rapid reappearance, should adhere to the following simple recommendations from professionals:
- cannot be cleaned with a wet cloth in the apartment, it is better to take a damp cloth made of wool, which will completely remove dust;
- the smallest particles can be collected with dry electrified wool;
- it is possible to remove dust with high quality with the help of special store napkins;
- it is better to abandon the broom at once , since all the dust particles rise into the air, later they settle again on the furniture;
- vacuum cleaner acts as a faithful assistant when removing dust in an apartment or house, even a building one, it can be taken to clean hard and soft elements of furniture, floors and walls, carpets and curtains;
- washing vacuum cleaner – the best solution for dust removal;
- If you decide to carry out a general cleaning, then initially should be wiped off the ceiling from dust, you can use a mop wrapped in a damp cloth made of wool.
Wipe off dust π₯ the better to rub and remove from furniture
Without exception, dust lives in every house, apartment or room.During the cleaning, we pay little attention to it, but in vain. Many housewives, interested in wiping off the dust, are faced with such a problem that the dust simply scatters around the room. After that, they wonder how to wipe the dust so that it shrinks less? And it is with this question that we will help you figure it out today.
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How to properly dust off?
It is necessary to remove dust in the following sequence:
- The first thing to do to remove dust is to start from the ceiling.To do this, you can use a broom first, after wrapping it with a rag.
- Next, carefully sweep each corner. As a rule, these places contain the largest amount of dust.
- Don’t forget about the dust on your chandelier shades. It is best to remove it manually.
- Then you need to wipe the window sills and cabinets. It is necessary to wipe the cabinets from top to bottom, while do not forget about the shelves that are located inside your cabinet.
- Take a close look at the armrests on the armchairs, also at the reliefs on the furniture, the ends of the interior doors.
- It is imperative that you look at all electrical appliances in your house, because the energy background that is created by these electrical appliances attracts dust elements to itself in the same way as a magnet attracts metal to itself.
- At the end of the process, pay attention to the most lowered surfaces, such as: coffee tables, chairs, and also bedside tables.
- Don’t forget the skirting boards when you wipe the flooring of your house.
- To prevent dust from settling on furniture, use special anti-dust polishes. They relieve static stress and thereby prevent dust from settling on the surface. This completes the wiping.
Are you wondering why you even have to deal with the problem of quickly accumulating dirt in your home? Then another review on our website βWhere does dust come from?β Will definitely be useful to you!
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Rules for cleaning dust in the house
It is very important not only to know how to wipe the dust so that it shrinks less, but also to organize the entire cleaning process correctly.To do this, adhere to the following rules. This approach will allow you not only to get a really high-quality result, but also to save your energy and time.
Rule one. Do wet cleaning of your apartment more often
If you have the opportunity to wash the floors in the hallway – wash as often as possible! Thus, dirt as well as dust will not be transferred to other rooms. And our rating of the best home cleaning products will help you choose effective detergents not only for floors, but also for cleaning any other surfaces in your home.
Walk with a rag and on bedside tables, shelves, dressers, as well as household appliances. A particularly large amount of dust collects on TV screens and monitors.
Do you think that you are doing everything right, but the dust still appears more and more often? Or maybe you just do not quite understand what the main essence of the process is? Then read the article “Wet cleaning”, and you will have no more questions about putting things in order in the house!
Rule two. Do not sweep floors with a broom
The broom kicks all the dust into the air, better – use a vacuum cleaner.At the end of cleaning, wipe the floors with a rag or a steam cleaner.
Rule three. Knock Out Dust
Special attention for cleanliness in the house should be paid not only to how to properly wipe the dust so that it shrinks less, but also to care for bedding and textile decor of your apartment. It’s easy to do:
- Change bedding often.
- Also knock out your blankets from dust – at least once every 1-3 months. This is best done on the street or on the balcony.
- This rule also applies to clothing, especially woolen clothing. In winter, it must be frozen from time to time. Take it to the balcony so that mites and other microorganisms that live in wool, as well as in down filler, do not accumulate for a long time.
Rule four. Style and comb your hair in the bathroom
Once you have done your hair, immediately remove the remnants of your beautiful hair. Also brush your pets regularly, if any, and collect their fur.
Rule five. Do not dust off with a brush
A colored broom is a favorite accessory of absolutely all movie housekeepers, but in fact, they are useless, because they do not collect dust, but only carry it around the apartment. If you want to spend even less time caring for your home, take advantage of our master class on how to quickly clean your home.
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What dust should be used?
When asked how to wipe the dust so that it less sits on furniture, floors, things, each of us would immediately answer that with a rag.But not everything is so simple, as in any business, dust collection also has its own characteristics. 96% of all housewives hate dusting. But this is because they do not know that up to 5 kg of dust is collected in an average room in six months, and 80% of all immunity resources are spent on fighting this dust.
A large number of technical innovations are called upon to ease our lot with you. But as before, the most effective is the good old rag.
Vacuum cleaner is housewives’ best friend
Everything would be very simple if such household appliances could completely solve the issue of collecting dust.But the problem with a vacuum cleaner is that it cannot collect all the dust, and far from everywhere. In addition, very small dust will calmly pass through the vacuum cleaner and settle on the floor again.
Vacuum cleaners with a wet cleaning function are designed to solve this problem, but they are large in size, and their price is not aimed at the average buyer. In addition, the moist environment that remains after harvesting is an ideal place for harmful bacteria to multiply.
And if you still don’t have such a useful technique, be sure to get one! A detailed review is already ready for you, which will help you figure out which vacuum cleaner is better – with a bag or a container.
Electric brushes
There are many different reviews about electric brushes – both positively enthusiastic and extremely negative, associated with the uselessness of this device. Given this ambiguity, they are also in our homes, but their effectiveness in the fight against dust is still a controversial issue. The following disadvantages can be distinguished:
- This brush can not be removed in all places, you have to constantly carry an extension cord with you.
- In addition, some parts of this brush will have to be regularly repaired or replaced.
In general, at some point everything will become very complicated and will require additional costs.
Cloth
This is an indisputable option, familiar to everyone to solve a problem than to wipe off the dust so that it shrinks less.
There can be various uses here:
- It can be made from old gauze, T-shirt or shirt.It is used once per cleaning and thrown away without any regret, and also does not require large additional financial costs.
- For those who love modern materials, there are microfiber cloths or cloths made of micro-split microfiber. They are suitable for multiple use.
- There are high-end ultra-efficient cloths that can be used on any surface, but their cost is high. It is worth paying tribute – this modern cloth will help you clean up your apartment completely and completely, from washing dishes, as well as tiles, and ending with cleaning a down jacket.And more than once. An ordinary rag can hardly help a down jacket, but it is not a pity to throw it out later.
Keep in mind that regular cleaning and more thorough cleaning are two big differences. Even in the cleanest house, at least once every six months, everything must be carefully checked and cleaned. Follow our tips from the article on the link, and general cleaning will be very simple and quick for you!
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How to wipe the furniture so that dust does not accumulate and shrink?
When choosing the right product, you need to know what kind of surface it is intended for.Before using the product, we recommend that you read the instructions, otherwise – instead of the desired dust repelling effect, parts of the decor will be covered with a thick and dense coating. So, how to wipe the furniture so that the dust does not settle?
Furniture polish
In their composition, you can find components that have degreasing properties – antistatic, antiseptics. Upon completion of processing, the surface of the furniture does not stick, and that is why the dust does not settle on it, but simply slides off it.
An additional plus of any similar product is the glossing of varnished and sanded surfaces.
Polished furniture is a separate topic of conversation. Dust collects on it faster. Therefore, if you have one in your house, and you are tired of fighting with dust on it, use the practical advice of experienced housewives on how to clean polished furniture at home. A noticeable result is guaranteed to you!
Antistatic agent used for TVs, computers
A special type of preparation containing components that repel dust and dirt, even from electrified surfaces.We recommend giving preference to products that can be used on switched on electrical equipment and that do not need further processing with a napkin.
Intensive general spray
Multicomponent formulations are capable of eliminating static, as well as killing ticks and reducing the activity of various allergens. They are so active that they can be used no more than once every six months. They are mainly used to process textiles, as well as walls and carpets.
Impregnation for upholstered furniture
Professional product that is simply sprayed on the surface of the object, thereby covering it with an invisible protective film. Its only drawback is that the product will have to be cleaned at least once every six months so that the drug does not turn into a dense plaque.
Vinegar-based folk remedy
One of the most effective ways to wipe off dust so that it shrinks less is a simple folk recipe:
- In a glass of cool water, mix 50-75 ml of 9% vinegar, 2 tsp.l. olive oil and a few drops of any ether.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray over furniture.
Disinfecting properties of vinegar can not only help you get rid of dust longer, but also make preventive cleaning from harmful microorganisms.
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Helpful Hints:
- Those housewives who believe that just the use of polish with an antistatic effect will be enough to maintain order at home are strongly mistaken.Nobody canceled regular cleaning and it must be carried out with strict adherence to specific rules.
- It is necessary to move from top to bottom, otherwise – the dust that you removed from the top in the last turn will settle on the already processed furniture.
- Textiles should be washed regularly. If they are not particularly noticeable by the presence of dirt, shake them out and knock them out.
- Carpets and other similar floor coverings must be knocked out and cleaned at least 2-3 times a year.It is generally better to remove them for the summer season.
- It is necessary to sweep or vacuum the premises at least once every 2-3 days, and even if there are no carpets and rugs.
- Books must be stored in closed shelves. If they are fenced off with glass doors, the elements must be tightly ground to each other, without cracks, as well as gaps.
- It is possible to spray and wipe the surfaces with special products only after a full, standard cleaning.If you neglect this rule, then the dust will not go anywhere. Its particles will stick to each other and form a dense coating of dirt.
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How to properly wipe the dust? – Cleaning Company KhlopotNet
Even if the apartment is in complete order, dust can spoil the beauty of the interior and the mood of its owner, and it also negatively affects the well-being of a person and his pets, as it is a source of harmful substances, bacteria, dust mites. This is one of the factors in the development of allergies, asthma and other pathological conditions of the respiratory system.
Sometimes regular wet cleaning of an apartment is not enough, as it accumulates in inconspicuous places: bedding, clothes and upholstered furniture.
Also, on some surfaces, dust forms so quickly that it distracts from other and equally important tasks. This moment is very annoying for many housewives.
However, there are ways to wipe the dust so that it does not settle for a very long time.
How to prevent the appearance of dust?
To forget about her for a long time will help getting rid of things that strongly attract her:
- furniture with fabric upholstery;
- carpets;
- curtains and curtains.
Books, souvenirs and dishes should be stored in shelves behind glass, and it is advisable to choose chandeliers without unnecessary complex elements and pendants.
Soft toys, woolen items, bedding can be used as a dust magnet. Vacuum them regularly, and brush your hair only in the bathroom. If possible, wash pillows and blankets every six months, or ventilate them as often as possible.
Store clothes in wardrobes in covers.
Make sure your pets are always clean and well-combed.
Daily ventilation and special humidifiers will help maintain a comfortable microclimate in the room.
How to clean the dust?
For hard surfaces, be it furniture or household appliances, a wool rag is suitable, which is electrified, so the dust itself adheres to it. Be sure to moisturize it before use.
The second option is microfiber napkins that do not leave streaks and perfectly collect dust.
Wet Wipes – Ideal for cleaning your computer and keyboard.
Soft sponges – for plant leaves.
Fabric gloves are good for wiping hard-to-reach places, chandeliers and tricky items.
Remove hair and lint from clothing with a sticky roller.
Dry rags, brooms and brooms are not suitable for this purpose, as they pick up particles and spread clouds of dust throughout the room. All the same, the dirt will settle later in other places.
Dust repellent
Polishes and antistatic agents that relieve static electricity are very helpful.It is not necessary to buy special tools, you can use home tricks. For example:
1. Adding 2-3 drops of essential oil to water for cleaning and washing rags (lavender or pink).
2. Using a solution of water and a small amount of fabric softener or hair conditioner for the same purpose.
3. Salting water for cleaning furniture surfaces.
Also, in some cases, the use of a small amount of citric acid, vinegar, hairspray (only without glitter) will allow you to change the charge.
Where to start and how to finish wet cleaning?
Each time, start from top to bottom:
- Wipe the surface of the ceiling, with a wet broom or mop with a wound damp cloth, go around the corners, walls.
- Vacuum furniture and floor.
- Wipe furniture, shelves, paintings, doors, window sills, household appliances and utensils along with all small items with wet wipes. Do not forget about armrests, bedside tables, chairs and tables, a computer and a keyboard, cornices and baseboards, hard-to-reach places.