How to dust your home properly, top to bottom
To dust your home properly, use a dry or barely damp microfiber cloth that traps dust instead of pushing it around, and work top to bottom in each room: ceiling fixtures and door frames, then shelves and furniture, then baseboards, and the floor last. Dust before you vacuum. Polish wood furniture only every few months; in between, the microfiber cloth is enough.
A feather duster moves dust from one surface to the next. A microfiber cloth takes it away.
What do you need?
- Microfiber cloths, a stack of them, switched as they load up
- An extendable duster for high spots, so you're not standing on chairs
- A vacuum with a brush attachment and a crevice tool
- A long, thin radiator brush, if you have radiators
- A lint roller for lampshades and fabric
- Furniture polish for wood, used now and then
How do you dust a room, top to bottom?
- High first. Ceiling light fixtures (off and cool), the tops of door frames and window frames, the curtain rods, the tops of tall shelves and cabinets.
- Walls and decor. Picture frames and the tops of mirrors.
- Shelves and surfaces. Take things off a shelf, dust the shelf, dust each item, put it back.
- Furniture. Tables, dressers, the TV stand and the back of the TV, following the grain on wood.
- Lamps. A lint roller on fabric shades, a cloth on the base and the bulb.
- Low. Radiators, window sills, baseboards and the legs of furniture.
- Floor last. Vacuum, including under the furniture where dust collects.
Fold the cloth into quarters and turn it to a clean side as each side fills up.
How do you dust radiators?
Cast-iron radiators are part of a lot of Philadelphia rowhomes, and dust packs in between the sections. Wait until they're cool, lay a towel underneath, and work a long radiator brush down between the sections. Vacuum what falls, then wipe the outside with a damp cloth. Doing this before the heat comes on in the fall cuts down the burning-dust smell of the first cold morning.
How do you dust and polish wood furniture?
- Dust with microfiber, dry or very slightly damp, following the grain.
- Wipe marks with a cloth dampened with a drop of dish soap and water, then dry right away. Water left on wood can leave a ring.
- Polish only every few months. Use a polish made for your finish, a little on a cloth, not sprayed on the furniture, and buff it off. Too much polish builds into a film that grabs dust.
- Test first on a hidden spot for antiques or anything with a special finish.
For glass tops, use a glass cleaner sprayed on the cloth. For painted furniture, a damp cloth.
How do you dust a bedroom?
Bedrooms make their own dust: from bedding, clothes and skin.
- Wash the bedding weekly.
- Dust before you change the sheets, so dust doesn't land on clean linen.
- Vacuum under the bed with the crevice tool or a flat attachment.
- Dust the headboard, especially upholstered or carved ones.
- Don't forget the closet shelf and the tops of wardrobes.
How do you dust electronics?
Turn them off. Use a dry microfiber cloth on screens, gently. A soft brush or the vacuum's brush attachment gets dust out of vents and the backs of TVs and computers. Never spray liquid on electronics.
How often should you dust?
| What | How often |
|---|---|
| Surfaces you see: tables, shelves, the TV | Weekly |
| Bedroom furniture and the headboard | Weekly |
| Radiators, baseboards, window sills | Every two to four weeks |
| High spots: fixtures, door frames, cabinet tops | Every month or two |
| Polishing wood | Every few months |
Homes with pets, allergies or a lot of foot traffic may need more. For whole-home dust control, our post on how to reduce dust and allergens at home goes further, and our baseboard guide covers the low trim.
Want help keeping up?
Book Recurring House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online. If radiators or high spots are a priority, ask about them when you book and put them in your booking notes.
FAQ
What is the right way to dust? Use a dry or barely damp microfiber cloth that traps dust instead of pushing it around. Work top to bottom in each room, so dust falls onto what you haven't cleaned yet, and vacuum the floor last.
Should you dust or vacuum first? Dust first, then vacuum. Dusting knocks some dust down to the floor, and the vacuum picks it up.
How often should you dust? Dust the surfaces you see every week. Do the high and hidden spots, like the tops of door frames, ceiling fixtures and behind furniture, every month or two. Homes with pets or allergies may need more.
How often should you polish wood furniture? Only now and then, every few months at most. Regular dusting with a microfiber cloth is enough between polishes, and too much polish builds up into a sticky film that holds dust.
How do you dust cast-iron radiators? Wait until they're cool, lay a towel underneath, and work a long, thin radiator brush between the sections. Vacuum up what falls, then wipe the outside with a damp cloth.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
