How to Rid Your Entire Home of Dust

 

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the windows are open. It is all lovely, but letting in the fresh air unfortunately means an uptick in the housekeeper’s oldest enemy—dust. This is especially tough in the spring when allergens move through the air and into your house via dust particles. Suddenly, you’re sneezing and sniffling and wondering how to get rid of that pesky thin film that’s covering everything you see.

What’s worse? Most feather dusters don’t actually pick up dirt, they just push it around. You can spend six hours dusting your entire home from ceiling to floor and still see specks everywhere you look if you’re not using the right methods and supplies.

Follow the steps below to learn how to get rid of dust in your home. Your home will be sparkling and speck-free in no time

How Often Should You Dust Your Home?

To really get rid of dust for good (or at least for a while) you’ll need more than just a feather duster. Our recommendation to keep dust out of your home is to give it a good dusting/cleaning at least once per month for easy-to-reach areas, like your ceiling fan and upholstery. Tackle more difficult spots every three to six months, like high windows and ceilings, small items like picture frames, and shelves.

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Dusting Tools

• 1 Microfiber cloth
• 1 Bar mop towel or roll of paper towels
• 1 Lightweight canister vacuum with a round brush attachment

Materials

Cleaning Products

• 1 All-purpose cleaner
• 1 Glass cleaner

Instructions

How to Rid Your Home of Dust

 

Gather the Right Supplies

Typical feather dusters, and even some Swiffer dusting products, don’t actually pick up dust—they just move it from one spot to another. The solution? A microfiber cloth.

If you haven’t tried one yet, microfiber is the holy grail of dusting material. The durable fabric actually catches and picks up dust instead of just moving or spreading it. When the cloth gets dirty, you can throw it in the laundry through the washer and dryer or hand-wash, both methods work great. You can snag a pack of microfiber cloths online for just a few dollars, and they are totally effective, totally reusable, and totally worth it.

Tip

For ceiling fans and hard-to-reach light fixtures, use a flexible microfiber duster on a pole, as it is far safer to use than climbing on step stools and ladders.

Work from Ceiling to Floor

Now that you’re armed with your trusty microfiber, you might be tempted to dust the first thing you see at eye level. But, hold back.

First, grab your microfiber duster on a pole and pend the duster to wrap around the ceiling fan blades.This step is crucial, especially for those ceiling fans. Nothing kills a clean faster than turning on a dusty ceiling fan and watching the room fill with dust particles like a dirty snow storm.

Dampen your microfiber cloth, add one spray of your favorite all-purpose cleaner directly on the cloth, and gently wipe the high surfaces to clean them off.

Use a Canister Vacuum When Possible

Snag a lightweight vacuum with a strap and use it on shelves, on top of cabinets, in molding, and anywhere else you want an extra thorough dusting. You want to hold the vacuum in person before you buy it to make sure it’s light enough to lift with one hand. Use the dusting cup attachment with the vacuum to ensure you don’t scratch anything as they dust.

Ensure the vacuum has a HEPA filter. Vacuums kick back some of the dust they pick up, releasing back into the room you just cleaned. HEPA filters actually trap that dust (and, if you’ve got furry friends, they are fantastic at trapping pet dander), making your dusting job much more effective.

Tip

If the vacuum you like doesn’t have a HEPA filter included, you can purchase one for your vacuum. They are inexpensive and easily clip on to the outside of most canister vacuums.

Use Microfiber on Glass Surfaces As Well

Microfiber is your best bet for ridding any surface in your home of dust. There are even special microfiber towels made specifically for glass to ensure streak-free shine that really make glass cleaning so much easier. Opt for a microfiber cloth on glass or wood for the cleanest finish.

Go All the Way Down to Your Baseboards

Once you’ve moved from the light fixtures and ceiling fans down past the countertops and knick-knacks, you’ll finish up on your baseboards. If you haven’t dusted your baseboards before, (1) we won’t tell anyone, and (2) you won’t believe the difference it makes in making your home feel like it was professionally cleaned.

To get this done, start by vacuuming the surface with a round brush attachment (canister vacuums usually come with these, but if not, they are inexpensive and can easily be found in any hardware store or on Amazon).

Then, grab your microfiber cloth, spray it once or twice with your favorite all-purpose cleaner, and finish off with a quick wipe down. If your baseboards are neglected and scuffed, a Magic Eraser is a miracle worker at bringing old baseboards back to life.