Dusting can be such a chore at times. It can feel like no matter how much you’re dusting, it’s never enough.
Regardless, dusting is an essential part of keeping a house clean. Not only will it look cleaner, but it also improves the air quality. Dust can trigger allergic reactions when inhaled.
If you’re tired of the endless cycle of using the ol’ feather duster, we’ve got 14 dusting hacks for you. They’re smart, innovative, and might change your dusting routine forever.
Key Takeaways
- Use fuzzy socks or microfiber cloths for dusting floors and other surfaces.
- Clean TV screens and electronic devices with coffee filters.
- Dust ceiling fans by sliding a pillowcase over each blade.
- Lint rollers work well for quick dusting of upholstery, curtains, and lampshades.
Top Dusting Hacks You Need to Try
1. Another Use for Socks
Try this if you feel like the floor is too clean to vacuum, but it could use a quick sweep. We often have an old, fuzzy sock lying around that is missing its mate. Make new use of it by sliding it onto a floor squeegee or Swiffer Sweeper.
Fuzzy socks are usually made of a microfiber fabric, which is excellent for dust-collecting. Simply sweep your floors as you usually would, but know you’re saving money on expensive Swiffer pads — you’re welcome.
2. Coffee Filters for TV Screens
TV screens are tricky to clean since you must be careful about what you use. Luckily, if you’re a coffee-lover (who isn’t?), you’ll likely have just the dusting tool you need.
Coffee filters are excellent at cleaning TV screens, laptops, and phones. Wipe the entire screen with a fresh filter. It’s soft enough to not scratch, yet effective at grabbing dust.
3. Easiest Way to Dust Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans provide a nice breeze on hot days. Unfortunately, they might also provide you with significant unwanted dust. Cleaning them often requires a ladder and face mask to avoid inhaling the dust bunnies.
However, there’s an easy way to clean this area without being covered in dust bunnies. Use a pillowcase and slide it over one blade at a time.
Press the top of the pillowcase against the blade as you slide it towards you. Then watch all of the dust be collected in the pillowcase.
4. Endless Uses of Lint Rollers
Lint rollers are excellent at removing annoying hair from your clothes and furniture. However, they’re also extremely handy for quick dusting emergencies.
Perhaps you have guests coming over, and the couch is looking a tad dusty. Just whip out the lint roller and give it a go. You can also use a lint roller to remove dust from curtains and lampshades quickly.
5. Tongs for Blinds
Blinds are notorious for being difficult to clean. We typically use a feather duster for this task, but it can take forever. For this hack, all you need is a pair of tongs, two microfiber cloths, and elastic bands.
Wrap each cloth around the tongs and secure them with elastic bands. Simply grab onto each individual blind and slide the tong to either side. This hack can also work with a bit of cleaner applied to the clothes.
6. Bye-Bye Ceiling Dust and Spider Webs
When you look up and spot all the dust and spider webs hiding in the ceiling corners, try this hack.
Get out your broom — now, you can easily use it to remove dust from the ceiling, but we like to take it a little further.
Wrap a rag or small towel around the broom head and use it to wipe the corners of the ceiling. You can also dampen the towel slightly. This will attract dust, preventing it from falling onto you.
7. Dust in Tight Spaces? No Problem
Tight spaces can be nearly impossible to dust since no tools can fit. For these, we like to use a ruler. Simply attach a microfiber cloth to the ruler using an elastic band. We prefer that the ruler be thin and bendable, so it’s easy to fit.
8. Dusting Light Bulbs
Lightbulbs won’t light as well if covered in thick dust, but how should you clean them? You could use a feather duster, but we like to use a microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol.
Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the cloth and gently wipe the lightbulb.
Make sure the lights are turned off, and the bulbs are cool.
9. Dusting Fans
Cleaning a standing fan often requires you to take the entire thing apart to access the blades. However, this can be time-consuming and is, therefore, often avoided until the fan is looking rather dirty. Luckily, we’ve found an amazing hack that will instantly clean your fan.
All you need is canned compressed air — give the fan a good blast to remove dust and dirt from the blades. If you don’t have compressed air or are unsure where to get it, you can use the blower function on your vacuum. When you’re done, use vacuum the fallen dust and dirt around the fan.
10. Getting Between the Keys
Ever been hard at work tapping those keys on your keyboard when you realize how filthy it looks? But how do you get between the keys? If you’re a parent or a child at heart, you may have some slime lying around the house somewhere.
You might’ve seen the smart, slimy cleaning tool made specifically for cleaning keyboards and remote controls. However, you don’t need to purchase a product like this if you already have slime in the house. You can also make your own slime using borax, warm water, glue, and food coloring.
All you have to do is press the slime down on the keyboard, lift it slowly, and watch all the dirt and dust disappear. You can easily use this hack to clean your phone or remote control.
11. Cleaning a Dusty Candle
There are two easy ways to clean a dirty candle, depending on how dusty it is. For only slightly dusty candles, use an old pair of pantyhose. Simply slide the candle into the pantyhose and give it a roll — dust and dirt should fall right off.
If your candle is covered in more dust and dirt, dampen a microfiber cloth and use it to wipe the candle gently. Wipe in one direction; do not use back-and-forth motions as this can damage the wax.
Keep In Mind
12. Dusting a Bookshelf in No Time
If you’re a book-lover, you probably have a large collection at home. Bookshelves can attract a significant amount of dust over time. However, it can also be difficult to clean them properly.
To make the task easier, we found an incredible hack. You only need a damp and dry microfiber cloth, a hairdryer, an extendable tool like the Swiffer, and a sheet.
Start by placing the sheet on the floor around the bookshelf, which will catch dirt and dust. Take a chair or step stool to reach the top of the bookshelf. Then, use the extendable tool to sweep the top of the shelf.
Next, move down to the first row of books and use the hairdryer on a high-cold setting to blast dust away. Take your damp cloth and wipe around and behind the books to remove the fallen dust. If there’s dust on the books, use the dry cloth to wipe them and work your way down until you’re done.
Declutter The Home
13. Homemade Dusting Spray
After dusting different areas, it’s nice to add some much-needed shine. You can use overpriced commercial products or make your own and add a personal twist.
For this, you’ll need the following:
- One cup of water.
- ¼ cup of white vinegar.
- ⅕ tbsp of olive oil.
- 10 drops of citrus essential oil.
- Spray bottle.
Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle, close tightly, and give it a shake. Because we’re mixing oils and water, you must shake it before every use to mix the ingredients.
You can use any essential oil you like as this is only to add a pleasant scent. We prefer to use citrus, such as lemon, grapefruit, or orange because it “softens” the strong smell of vinegar.
Once you have your mixture, spray it on any surface and buff it using a microfiber cloth. This recipe is excellent for wooden floors and furniture as the olive oil adds a nice shine.
14. Cleaning Your Baseboards (And Keeping Them Clean)
Baseboards can be frustrating to clean as you need to bend down. This is not only tiring but also time-consuming. But what if you could quickly clean them and keep them clean for a while?
Before vacuuming your floors, take a broom and sweep the top of the baseboards. Next, use dryer sheets to wipe the top and sides. The dryer sheets will remove dust and dirt and prevent new dust from collecting.
FAQs
What Causes Excessive Dust In a House?
There are several causes of excessive dust in your house, including pollen, feathers, pet hair, human hair and skin, and dirt on the soles of your shoes. If you live in an area where pollution is a problem, it also creates dust.
What Collects the Most Dust?
Upholstery, drapes, and carpets collect the most dust. Particles get trapped in the fabric and start to build up. Regular vacuuming and cleaning are vital to keeping your home as dust-free as possible.
How Do You Dust Without Spreading Dust?
The easiest way to dust without spreading dust is to get a reliable vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. When using a duster, adopt the “S” pattern when cleaning surfaces, and always start at the top and work down.
Is It Better to Dust With a Wet or Dry Cloth?
It is better to dust with a wet cloth rather than a dry one. The dampness attracts dust, trapping it on the fabric’s surface instead of pushing it around like a dry cloth.
Do Air Purifiers Reduce Dust?
Air purifiers reduce dust by cleaning the air and pulling the dust through a filter where it gets trapped. Ionic air purifiers also zap particles with an electrical charge, making them fall to the floor to be vacuumed later.
