PRACTICAL TIPS FOR GETTING RID OF DUST IN THE HOME

Dust can be a real problem in the home. It often seems impossible to get rid of, and no sooner is it wiped away than it reappears elsewhere.

Dust tends to settle mainly on furniture and floors, and the reality is that it’s impossible to get rid of it completely.

What’s more, there are many sources of dust, and we produce it ourselves without realizing it. Dust is actually made up of crumbs, hair, textile fibers and dead skin. It also inexorably enters the home when windows are open.

Fortunately, there are a few practical tips for effectively getting rid of dust.

Use the right equipment

To do a good job of cleaning, you need to know how to get rid of dirt. When it comes to dusting, the first step is to dust from top to bottom, to prevent dirt from falling back onto clean surfaces.

It’s also advisable to use a cloth made from a material that retains and attracts dust through electrostatic action. Microfiber in particular meets all these criteria. Next, make sure you dampen the cloth to trap the dust. By wiping furniture and knick-knacks with a damp cloth, you get rid of dust more effectively, preventing it from lifting up and further soiling the surrounding area.

To reach hard-to-reach areas such as the tops of cupboards or ceilings, use a soft feather duster with electrostatic action.

Cleaning floors properly

The best way to get rid of accumulated dust on the floor is to use a vacuum cleaner. By vacuuming, you avoid raising the dust you’ve previously cleaned.

If you can’t do without your broom, always wash your smooth floors with a special cleaner after dusting the furniture.

One tip is to rinse the floor with clear water and vegetable glycerine after the first mopping. This mixture will attract less dust and make the surface easier to clean. Be careful, however, not to use too much glycerine, as it can cause the floor to stick and become slippery. A few drops are more than enough to get rid of the dust.

Use carpets wisely

To avoid soiling the house with dust from your shoes, it’s a good idea to install doormats outside and inside the main entrance. Mats are useful for trapping as much dirt as possible, especially if you opt for a mat made from a material with an absorbent action.

Generally speaking, it’s not advisable to install carpets indoors, especially in the bedroom, as they harbor many allergens. So, if you still want them, make sure you opt for short-pile carpets and clean them regularly with detergent. And remember to always dust your carpets outside the house when you’re cleaning.

Think about anti-dust treatments for wooden furniture

Dust collects a lot on furniture, so much so that if it isn’t dusted every day, the house gives off a dirty feeling. To save yourself a long chore of dusting every day, you can invest in anti-dust treatments for wooden furniture. They work by preventing dust from attaching itself to the wood.

Turpentine, for example, can be used as a treatment. Simply mix it with equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil, then apply the mixture to the wood with a cloth.

Choose leather sofas

Sofas covered with upholstery fabric are all the rage these days. And yet, they are real dust collectors. For a more hygienic and, above all, less dusty interior, it’s best to opt for leather furniture, which doesn’t trap dust and is all the easier to clean on a daily basis.

Avoid overloading with knick-knacks

As well as being kitschy, knick-knacks attract dust. So it’s best to avoid accumulating them on cupboards and sideboards if you want to save time during your usual cleaning session.