Dust can seem to reappear within hours of cleaning, especially in homes with lots of fabrics, rugs and decorative objects, according to household cleaning advice highlighted this week. The key to slowing it down, the advice suggests, is a single change to a daily habit: stop dusting surfaces with a dry cloth.
Why dry dusting does not work
When a dry cloth is wiped across a piece of furniture, some dust gets trapped in the fabric, but another portion is lifted back into the air and settles on a different surface. Rather than removing dust effectively, dry dusting often just moves it from one spot to another.
The more practical solution, according to the advice, is a slightly damp microfibre cloth, which helps trap particles instead of scattering them again around the room. The cloth does not need to be wet. A small amount of moisture is enough to make it more effective at picking up dust.
Start from the top
The order in which a room is cleaned also matters. The advice recommends starting at the highest points in a room and working gradually down to the lowest. Shelves, bookcases and tall surfaces should be cleaned before furniture, with the floor left until last.
That way, anything dislodged from a higher surface that settles lower down gets picked up at the next stage, rather than requiring the same spots to be cleaned twice.
The part people often forget
Dust does not just settle on furniture. Fabrics, curtains, rugs, cushions and bedding also hold particles, so regular airing and washing of items that can be washed helps keep a room cleaner overall.
The same applies to a vacuum cleaner's filter. When it is not cleaned or replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions, the device can work less effectively.
The advice suggests that next time someone reaches for a duster, they simply change their approach: a slightly damp microfibre cloth and cleaning from top to bottom. It is described as a small change to a routine that can make dusting more effective and help a home stay looking clean for longer.
