Dust dust it’s a must…. But boy, it can be time-consuming.
Dusting is essential for providing your family a clean environment to live in and breathe in better.
Where does all this dust come from? If you have no pets, you shouldn’t have dust, right? If you don’t have a lot of decor, you shouldn’t have to dust? If you never open the windows, then it can’t be caused by pollen entering your home. Dust in a home is mainly caused by dead skin cells (YUCK), clothing, dirt, food debris, pets, and air vents. Here’s an article if you really want to know all the details on dust. 🫣
Routinely dusting your home is the key tool you can use to provide a healthier environment, but one may ask, how can I make dusting faster? We all know how long dusting can take, especially if it’s been a few weeks since you last dusted.
There are a few tricks you can do to help speed up dusting, control the level of dust between cleanings, and purify the air in your home.
There are a few tricks we have learned over the years of running a cleaning business that not only has saved us time but also our clients a cleaner home in between cleanings because dust doesn’t build up so fast or catch the eye when the sun hits the dresser just right (you know what I am talking about if you have dark furniture or pets.) A few of our main tricks we are pleased to share with you are:
- Used dryer sheets can be used to dust fan blades and blinds. Used dryer sheets are better than new sheets because they are much stronger to pick up and hold the dust. They also help the area you use to clean them with an amazing smell, and they naturally repel the dust longer for you as it does static on your clothes. Plus, they are very cost-effective as they have a dual purpose after doing their purpose for your laundry. Any brand of dryer sheet works well. Just pick a smell you prefer that is budget-friendly on your wallet.
- Microfibers to dust that are barely damp with a wood cleaner. Microfibers are amazing at picking up and holding onto the dust small and big on all your surfaces. Microfibers that are normally thinner and have been washed without any fabric softener work the best. Thinner ones are easier to get into the tight corners, shake off loose debris out of them and easier to control when dusting. We recommend no fabric softener to be used because it inhibits the ability for dust to cling to the microfiber easier and stick to it while dusting.
- Natural (no oil-based) wood cleaner is your best friend. A natural wood cleaner such as Method (our go-to wood cleaner) will be your friend when dusting. Why, you may ask, do we use a wood cleaner without oil when we should oil wood, correct; or wait, was that just something our grandmother told us to use to make our hands all slimy????
An oil wood cleaner’s primary purpose is to naturally protect and help add moisture back to a wood surface. However, nowadays, most of us don’t own genuine wood products. If we do, the ones we own have a polyurethane protector on them (it’s the stuff that helps them shine and appear glossy.) If you are using an oil-based wood cleaner on a sealed surface, then the wood itself can not be moisturized with the wood cleaner, thus making it useless. In that case, an oil wood cleaner can provide a thin, shiny level of film on the top that glistens in the sun.
Since it cannot sink into the furniture’s wood grain, it sits on the surface. It will act as a collector for dust to naturally cling to and show every time your fingers touch it.
Think of it this way: anything that adds shine (yes, how pretty it is initially after you use it as it glistens in the sun) will also make it more obvious that it needs dusting sooner rather than later. A natural wood cleaner helps repel the dust by leaving the surface without an inhibitor for the dust to cling to. It also helps not show fingerprints, tiny dust particles, and dirt or dog hair blowing in the air even though you just brushed the dog. Method wood cleaner goes a long way, so just one spray on a microfiber is all you need when dusting routinely.
- Using a Swiffer dust wand is a must in anyone’s dusting routine looking to help speed it up. Swiffer dust wands are amazing at helping to quickly dust blinds, doors, baseboards, and decor. They also can be reused if you are okay with throwing the pad in the washer; however, do not throw it in the dryer, or you can’t use it again because it will shrink. We have found that the name-brand duster pads work so much better than the off-brand ones do. If you want a duster pad that will stay as your rock and roll dusting and actually hold onto the dust, don’t skimp on the name-brand product here.
- Using tack cloths- what the heck is a tack cloth? A tack cloth is an essential dusting tool if you have dark decor or have recently done some renovating around the house. Tack cloths were initially used for woodworking projects because of their ability to cling small wood particles onto them, thus making them ready for staining or sealing. However, they work wonders at collecting that super small dust particle and helping the dark decor be actually dust-free because they leave nothing behind on the decor/surface you use them on. Tack cloths will make your hands a little tacky; however, nothing a little hand washing can’t take right off. You can purchase tack cloths at most home improvement stores or everyone’s favorite store right now, Amazon.
- Changing your air filter: routine changing of your home air filter is essential at helping pull the dust particles out of the air. If you have pets that tend to shed more, then changing them more often than every three months is a key tool for quickly collecting dust and hair. If the filter goes too long without changing, you will notice dust collecting faster on surfaces. When swapping the air filter out, an insider tip is to dust the air vent itself down with the used dryer sheets or duster wand.
- Vacuuming furniture: as simple as it sounds, vacuuming furniture is a key pet hair and dead skin collector. Furniture naturally will hold onto all the small debris and dust you are trying to control. A quick vacuuming of the furniture and pet beds monthly will help prevent dust and dander. You can also throw pillows in the dryer to kill all dust mites and remove the hair on them. Throw in a couple of used dryer sheets; it will help loosen the hair off the pillows and freshen them up in smell and fullness.
When it comes to dusting, these tips will help your dusting routine fly by and also maintain the level of dust in your home. Remember, dusting is a must; however, you know who to trust.
For more information on maintaining a clean home, without having to do it yourself, check out our residential cleaning services!
If you have a business you’d like us to bust the dust in, head over to our commercial cleaning services page.
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