You want the cloth to be damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture streaks behind on surfaces. Using this method will ensure that your home's surfaces and furniture are cleaned in a safe and green way.
Microfiber cloths lift and trap significantly more dust and dirt than traditional cleaning cloths, making everyday dusting faster and easier. For dusting furniture and other surfaces, use a dry microfiber towel and follow up with a damp one to remove even more dust.
A damp microfibre cloth is the best option as it attracts all the dust particles, removing them as you go, instead of simply shifting them around the room.
When dusting a room or an object, always start at the top and work your way down so you won't have dust resettle on a freshly cleaned area. Dust first, then vacuum a room to capture all that has fallen to the floor. Close windows and turn off fans while dusting to prevent the particles from scattering.
To stay on top of dust, aim to dust every room in your home at least once a week. Of course, this doesn't mean that you have to wipe every surface in your home in one day. Instead, come up with a cleaning schedule that works for you.
The science behind why damp dusting is more efficient than a dry cloth comes from the fact that a damp cloth introduces capillary force to the dust particles. In short, the damp cloth draws the particles in and lifts dust from the area instead of moving them around.
Start by dusting in the corners of the room (if you have a long-handled duster), and then work down to taller shelves, above door frames, and picture frames. Then work down to waist-height sufaces like tables. Work either clockwise - or anti-clockwise - around the room to ensure that you clean all surfaces.
For general dusting
All of the professionals we spoke with suggest dusting tabletops, counters, bookshelves and other smooth surfaces about one a week. They also all agree that the best tool for doing that is a microfiber cloth.
In order to keep your home's air quality top notch, you should be dusting at least every other week, if not weekly. Choose a time each week, like Wednesday after you pick the kids up from soccer practice, to dust your house, or dust a certain area each day.
Microfiber is one of the best dusting materials out there, and this pack of 12 cloths can tackle just about any cleaning need on any surface. You can use cleaning solution for extra power, but they often trap dust and dirt when dry dusting.
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
The Right Cloth for the Job: Don't use old t-shirts or other linty cloths which leave more stuff than they remove. Instead use a microfiber or electrostatic cloth which attracts dust like bees to honey. The microfibers trap the dust and the cloths can be washed and reused.
Tack cloth is a type of cheesecloth coated with beeswax that you can use to pick up fine dust particles left behind from sanding. It has a sticky quality that attracts dust that other methods may have missed. Just apply pressure and swipe to pick up any of the fine dust left behind.
A buildup of dust in your home is often the result of poor airflow. A combination of poor airflow and infrequent cleaning can lead dust and dust mites to settle comfortably into several areas in your home. “Dust mites live in mattresses, pillows, and upholstery,” Dr. Cajigal says.
Why Do Bedrooms Get So Dusty? If you find yourself dusting your bedrooms more than other areas of your house, you're not alone. That's because bedrooms tend to generate dust from skin cells, dust mites, and upholstery fibers from cozy fabrics in your bed, carpet, rugs, and furniture.
Microfiber Cloths
Professional cleaners know that microfiber is the way to go, and there's even science to back up this thinking.
Books and other paper goods attract dust, making bookshelves, especially ones that feature knickknacks, dust hotspots. But all those small items can be a burden to clean.
“Damp dusting” is also much easier than dry dusting and more effective because it catches more dust. Dampen your choice of cloth lightly with water. Ring it tightly until almost dry.
Both sweeping and vacuuming efficiently remove dirt and debris from the floor, but there are differences. Vacuuming picks up more dust than sweeping, but sweeping cleans up more quickly than vacuuming.
Dusting first is particularly important if it has been some time since you dusted. The duster will become filled with particles and large clumps of dust will drop to the floor. Once upon a time, cleaning experts recommended vacuuming first. Old-style vacuums would kick up so much dust that dusting was done last.