Five Ways to Level Out Dust
I don’t believe in that saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be better in some way. For example: Yes, you know how to dust the house. But is it fast? How effective is it? Or is it an annoying task that you put off until it gets to a dangerous point and then you have to do some serious work? Microfiber cloths and a good old feather duster will get the job done, but a few simple swaps and tricks can go a long way.
Use a pillowcase to wipe dust from a ceiling fan
This is what I consider a “classic hack”. It is tested, true and trustworthy . To easily use a pillowcase to wipe dust off a ceiling fan (which is probably one of the most important things to wipe), turn off the fan, then place the pillowcase over the blade. Firmly grasp the hole and pull it towards you. You’ll scrape all the dirt and grime off into the pillowcase instead of letting it fall to the ground where you’ll then have to vacuum it up. This way you can treat all the blades and then throw the pillowcase straight into the washing machine.
Use a brush to brush away dust
This tip comes from Clean Snob , a social media cleaning guru who suggests using the brush to clean small spaces, textured surfaces, and tricky areas like vents. The bristles are both strong and wavy, allowing them to penetrate cracks and tiny stains and then pull out dirt. Just use the same motions you would use if you were actually painting, moving the brush back and forth to remove debris.
Try tongs to remove dust from blinds.
Oh, you don’t want to stuff a rag or rag into every slate of your blinds, do you? Completely understandable. There’s a much easier way to dust them: take small kitchen tongs and attach a sock or microfiber cloth to each of the two ends with a rubber band. Then clamp the blinds, slide the tongs all the way, and repeat until the job is complete, occasionally dusting off or replacing socks or rags.
You can also attach dryer sheets to tongs or simply use dryer sheets for dusting. Like ready-made dusters on the market, they have a small electrostatic charge, so they pick up dust quickly and easily. The more you know!
Repel dust from the start
Usually, when you put off dusting for a while, the dust accumulates and creates a big mess. What if you could split up your dusting sessions without making a big mess? Try preparing a dust-repellent solution . Mix two cups of water, one cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of olive oil and two drops of dish soap, pour the mixture into a spray bottle, apply the mixture to dusty surfaces and wipe them. This will repel dust. But not forever—expect to get an extra week or two of dust-free life out of it.
Top tips for dealing with dust
In general, no matter what you wipe or how often, you need to work from top to bottom. Place the top corners of the ceiling in front of the fan, the fan in front of the tops of bookcases and furniture, and the bookcases and furniture in front of baseboards. The last thing you want is for dust to fall from above and land on what you’ve already cleaned, forcing you to clean it again. Working from top to bottom means all the dust will end up at floor level, so when you’re done, you can do one big vacuuming and finish the job.
Also, although a damp microfiber cloth will pick up a lot of dust from surfaces, you shouldn’t use it alone. You will end up having to change it or wash it too often as dust accumulates on it. Instead, use a duster like the Swiffer Duster Heavy Duty to pick up the largest dust particles before working with the damp rag.