This Is the Best Way to Dust Your Home, According to Cleaning Experts

Even the cleanest homes, eventually, accumulate some dust. A mix of tiny particles such as skin cells, dirt, clothing fibers and textiles, and pollen, dust can be a visual nuisance on your home’s surfaces — not to mention negatively impacting your home’s air quality. So it goes without saying that adhering to a solid dusting routine is a pretty crucial component of your home’s well-being and the well-being of everyone who lives in it. 

The best way to dust, first and foremost, is to do it regularly. Next, it’s important to learn the most effective way to get the job done effectively on various surfaces throughout your home. Good news: We’ve got you covered. 

You don’t need a lot of tools to dust; you only need the right ones (and you probably already have them in your home). To start, Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, suggests grabbing a microfiber duster or cloth, a vacuum cleaner with a dust-brush attachment, and a gentle all-purpose cleaner. 

Before you start, remove any clutter or other items from the surfaces you intend to dust to ensure easy access. 

Use a microfiber cloth or duster for dry dusting surfaces like shelves, tabletops, and electronic devices. “Gently wipe to avoid scattering dust,” says Toner.

If you’re dusting walls or tall furniture, always begin dusting from the highest points in the room and then work your way down, which Toner says prevents dust from resettling on cleaned surfaces (read: more work for you).

Use a vacuum cleaner with a dust-brush attachment to remove debris from soft surfaces like upholstery, curtains, and lampshades. You can also use this attachment on spaces where dust may have accumulated, like your floor vents.

For surfaces that require more thorough cleaning, like your floor’s baseboards, Toner recommends lightly dampening a microfiber cloth with an all-purpose cleaner (but don’t soak it). 

Fans can easily accumulate dust particles (and then scatter them around the room). Toner suggests using an extendable microfiber duster or a vacuum cleaner with a long attachment to clean your individual fan blades, one by one. Will Cotter, COO of FreshSpace Cleaning, likes to gently dust the body of the fan (including any light fixtures) with a microfiber cloth, too. “If necessary, use a microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water or an all-purpose cleaner to tackle stubborn spots,” he says.

Use either a microfiber cloth or disposable dusting cloth along with a microfiber duster. Start at the top, and work your way down on both sides of the blinds. Then, shift your attention to those often-neglected windowsills, wiping away loose debris and giving them a refreshing wipe-down if needed. “For a deeper clean, you can even bring in the vacuum with a brush attachment,” says Cotter.

Always dust your walls from top to bottom, starting at the trim and working your way down to the baseboards. Toner recommends using a microfiber mop or a cloth wrapped around a broom’s head, paying extra attention to corners and molding.

Did you know dust-covered plant leaves can keep your greenery from properly growing? You can gently dust your plant leaves with a soft, damp cloth. “This not only removes dust, but also allows the plants to breathe better,” Toner says.