Try Dusting Your Home Like This, and You’ll Never Use Another Method

One of the most effective ways to clean your home is to work from top to bottom (it’s how cleaning pros do it!). This ensures that whatever dirt or dust is lurking above falls down first, so you’re not forced to redo any of the hard work you’ve already done below. That’s why to kick off the first day of the Spring Cleaning Cure, Apartment Therapy’s free 10-day spring cleaning plan, you’ll be dusting your home — starting with the ceiling! 

Below, find out how to get started. And if you haven’t signed up yet for the Spring Cleaning Cure, you can do so right now by clicking this link. This guided program will help you tackle core areas in your home that need cleaning — all in under two weeks. 

Grab your preferred dusting tools (and a mask!) and get ready to say goodbye to dust in high-up places — starting with the ceiling, then moving on to other spots if you can. 

• A duster with an extendable handle can be helpful for hard-to-touch nooks.
• A microfiber cloth can be good for anything within reach.
• You may also need a step ladder — especially for a ceiling that has any moldings, exposed rafters, architectural details, etc. Just remember to be extra careful whenever you’re trying to access something that you can’t reach; it might be better to have someone with you for assistance.
• For anything that may need a more thorough cleaning, consider damp dusting. To do that, you’ll first want to dry dust and vacuum your surfaces before using a cloth that’s been dampened by an all-purpose cleaner to remove any remaining grime. 

• Ceiling or wall-mounted light fixtures
• Ceiling vents or ductwork
• Exposed rafters, ceiling molding, or other architectural details
• Ceiling fans (try the pillowcase trick!)
• Curtain rods
• The tops and sides of door frames and window frames
• The tops and sides of bookshelves
• The tops of furniture, like cabinets
• The tops and sides of wall-mounted radiators or air conditioning units
• The top and sides of a wall-mounted TV
• The tops of picture frames that hang on the wall

The best part about getting this task done is how quickly it’ll make you feel good and breathe better — even if you dust just one spot. 

What did you dust today? Share it with us in the community forum! 

• Sign up for email updates.
• Visit the Spring Cleaning Cure page and catch up on assignments.
• Download the Spring Cleaning Cure calendar.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall progress here.
• Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.