One of the main problems I’ve encountered, after working in the cleaning business for more than ten years, is that people don’t understand the nuances and pitfalls of dusting. If you’re a professional at dusting or not, I’d like to offer some tricks and tips to consider when going about your daily cleaning routine.
Always Dry Dust
When you clean an area, remember that dust is a tiny slurry containing everything from your clothing, skin, and even your pet’s hair and many other things. When this thin layer gets wet, it changes into a streaky, smudge-like paste that is hard to remove, mainly when cleaning a baseboard or another surface that accumulates more dust. The mistake I frequently see is they spray their cloth before they wipe off the dust. However, this will make it much more challenging to clean up. Make sure you clean first, then dust.
Use the Right Tools
At Clean My Space, I am a fan of talking about PTTs. These are the tools that, tools, and methods that can be used to do the job correctly. Tools are essential when dusting involves dust, and we’ll discuss the available tools.
Sometimes I hear people talking about dusting using an old rag, the super fluffy duster, or even a simple cloth. The reality is that you require a microfiber cloth to accomplish this task. It is because microfibers excel at removing dust. It also contains an electrostatic charge, making the fabric a dust magnet.
Using a general-purpose microfiber cloth will get dusty in a way that has never been seen before. If you’re using ordinary clothes or rags, it will leave dust and lint. If you are using a disposable item, it was created to be recycled, so it will last a long time and be harmful to the planet. When selecting your cloth, ensure it’s a general-purpose microfiber terry weave. If you choose the wrong one, it could create a mess and could prolong the time you spend cleaning.
Vacuum Last
When I instruct people on how to keep their homes clean, I discuss the 3 Wave System. The first step is to tidy up, wash, and tackle the floors. This process is easy; however, it is highly efficient. If you vacuum first, dust particles will kick up and fall onto the floor as you clean and tidy.
I enjoy giving rooms a breath after cleaning so that I am sure the dust has gotten away and settled. The only reason it is sensible to first vacuum is in the case of a lot of pet hair around the house. In this situation, I would suggest doing the classic vacuum sandwich. Clean first, then vacuum, and then vacuum. The rule of thumb is always the same. Vacuum first!
The Feather Duster
Don’t get your cleaning advice from a TV actor or in a film. Actors typically employ feather dusters because they simply lightly dab them, trying to appear like an adorable housekeepers. In real life, this isn’t sufficient to properly dust the surfaces. While feather dusters can be effective in removing cobwebs from difficult areas, I must acknowledge that I’m not a massive fan of this tool and prefer microfiber fabric. Sometimes, the duster’s plume scatters dust and fails to take it properly. If you plan to use feather dusters, the best method is to shift between one end and the next using a quick stroke. After you finish the duster, apply a gentle tap to the sink or garbage, and you can reuse the duster again!
Remove, Dust, & Replace
I understand that it is tempting to sweep up areas of dust that you walk by throughout your working day. But the fact is, to rid yourself of all dust, you’ll have to take everything off the surface. After that, please give it a thorough clean, dust the objects removed, and place everything back. This is the same for everything, including shelves, cabinets, or even pictures on walls. If you clean off the dust, all the un-dusted places and crannies will begin to stand out like a sore thumb. If you can do it right the first time, you don’t need to do it again in the next couple of days. Use this strategy, and you’ll save time and money while doing it correctly.
Top to Bottom
When you’re cleaning, it is best to do it using gravity. Start at the top of a surface, and move towards the lowest point. If you dust something a waist-high high and then dust it above it, you will be destroying the purpose of dusting. Always clean from the top to the bottom. This is a fantastic way to reduce the time spent cleaning, giving you time or energy to focus on other tasks!
8 Side Folding Trick
If you look at professional cleaning services, you’ll find that they typically clean several surfaces using just one cloth. Do you think this is gross? Let me tell you why it’s not! Professionals employ a method whereby they fold their clothes into quarters and divide them into eight different cleaning surfaces. This will allow you to maximize the use of your cloth and leaves you with less mess from the used rags. Microfiber cloths can hold up to eight times its weight in water and even more in dust. That means one material can provide you with lots of miles if you fold it properly.
High Dusting
When we clean, we usually look at the areas visible areas, and this is usually anything visible from our eye level and a bit down. The part we tend to clean least is likely to be the hardest, high up, like ledges on doors or ceiling moldings and light fixtures corners, the top of cabinets, and so on. The problem is that dust will accumulate over time, and it could be blown around with a single blow of air or a fan. This can be a significant issue since it can negatively impact the quality of indoor air and the general sense of stuffiness. It is not something that should be completed daily, but every once at a time, it’s an excellent idea to take a look at the top and dust those spots that are usually not seen.