Dust-Proof Your Home

Any household cleaning tips would be remiss to not cover how to clear the dust in your home. Here's how to start cleaning dust from your home and where to look for it.1. Dust Mites

Toss throw pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and curtains in the dryer on the "air fluff" cycle for 15 minutes to banish dust. (To kill dust mites, wash and dry with heat — water at least 130 degrees; the "high" setting on most dryers.)

2. Dusting Tips

• Don’t use feather duster only spreads dust around.
• A clean paintbrush whisks dust from pleated lampshades, wood chairs, railings, and picture frames
• A blow-dryer on "cool" cleans books, knickknacks, and plants (real or not)
• Rubber gloves, dampened, sweep up pet hair from upholstery
• A clean white sock wipes closed mini blinds
• A slightly moist cloth attracts and traps dust; a dry one pushes it around. Plus, since dust particles are abrasive, dry rubbing can scratch furniture over time. A little water works fine, even on wood. The exception: Moisture and electronics don't mix (see chart below).
• Apply a small amount of polishing product to the cloth, then tackle the furniture. Spritz directly on surfaces, and you're likely to use too much, requiring extra buffing with a clean cloth (and buying polish more often). Fail to remove it all, and the smeary residue attracts more dust.
• Dust obeys gravity, so start by wiping the highest surfaces; let the dust settle, then work your way down.

Last, don't forget your upholstery — it's a major breeding ground for dust mites. How to deal: Use your vacuum's fabric attachment on all sides of the cushions as well as on the platform underneath. Sixty percent of household dust comes from outside — most significantly, from shoes. So have folks leave their footwear in the foyer or mudroom upon entering.

These are just a few household cleaning tips to capture and clear dust in your home. Do a scan with your eyes top to bottom and side to side and you'll find the other dusting hot spots.