Dust affects every home the world over, however, eliminating it can be much more effective with the right tools. Feather dusters, for example, are one of the worst tools for helping to say ‘good riddance’ to dust, and often make the problem worse by simply spreading the dust from one area of your home, to another. Microfiber dusters, on the other hand, are great at successfully snaring dust without shifting it about the place; a damp, soft cloth works well, too. Vacuum cleaners with attachments for those hard to reach places in your home, are equally as effective, with cordless ones being the easiest to use when eliminating dust.
Now that you know which are the right tools to help you say ‘good riddance’ to dust, let’s look at how you can use them on some of the most commonly affected areas of your home:
- Your walls
A vacuum cleaner with attachments is probably the best tool for this job, and remember to work from top to bottom to avoid having to re-vacuum
- Baseboards
Spots of grime and dust on your baseboards can easily be eliminated with a damp cloth; for tougher marks and stains you may want to use a cleaning product, too.
- Ornaments and curio’s
Dust loves to gather on knick knacks and ornaments, and it can be tricky to get rid of without doing any damage. Probably the best way to dust these would be to use a clean paint or make up brush to get into the small nooks and crannies, and then wipe over carefully with a microfiber cloth.
- Electronic equipment
We all know how quickly dust builds up on our television sets, not to mention any other electronic devices that we may have around the home. Since most devices do not respond well to being sprayed with a wet product – not only does it leave smears, but it’s dangerous, too – using a microfiber cloth is the most effective and safe way of cleaning them.
- Cuddly toys
This simple tip will help draw out dust and dirt from cuddly toys: place the items into a large plastic bag and tip in a cup of baking soda. Once you’ve securely fastened the opening of the bag, shake it well and remove the toys one at a time; doing this outside avoids making a mess on your floors. Then, vacuum the toys to remove any remaining baking soda and dust.
- Behind refrigerators and stoves:
No matter how clean and tidy you are, there will always be a certain amount of dirt, dust and grime that accumulates behind kitchen appliances, and a mop with a long handle is one of the best tools for getting behind there and lifting off the dirt. If you can, you should move the appliance so that you can clean thoroughly behind it, but a mop and some hot, soapy water should be good enough if you’re unable to.
- Air vents:
If a vent can be removed and soaked in hot, soapy water, so much the better, but if this isn’t possible, you can use a damp microfiber cloth or if the dust appears to be loose, a vacuum with a soft brush attachment should do the trick.
- Ceiling fans:
To try and avoid spreading the dust from the ceiling fan, to the rest of your home, place a large piece of plastic sheeting or some newspaper underneath the fan before you begin cleaning it. You’ll doubtless need a step stool to reach the fan, and damp paper towels or a soft bristled brush soaked in a cleaning solution should suffice.
However, if this all sounds too much like hard work, why not try using a professional cleaning service who will have the experience and expertise to tackle dust throughout your home. Not only will this help to keep your home clean and tidy, but it could help prevent allergies, too