Home Remedies for Dusting
Dusting the household is a commonly dreaded chore that is required to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Not only is the dust you see decorating the mantle and collecting on your bookshelf harmful, but also the particles you cannot detect with the naked eye. To make the task easier to handle, consider using home remedies for dusting.
Why Dust?
The effects of dust are pretty strong – even within just a minute or two of coming in contact with a dusty room – a person with an allergy can experience sniffling and sneezing [1]. Other reasons why it is important to dust includes:
• Cleaner appearance of the home
• Removes dust mites
• Dust increases the chances of suffering a respiratory allergy
• Dust threatens the health of children
• Dust can contribute to asthma attacks
• Dust tarnishes the look of wooden furniture and floors
• Dust can worsen pre-existing health condition, such as hay fever
Causes of Dust
The indoor and outdoor causes of dust seem to never end as tiny bits and pieces of nearly anything can contribute to the problem. House dust is typically comprised of skin particles, human (and pet) hair, clothing fibers, insect parts, lint, bits of food, pollen, mold, fungi, particles of wood and fiber, and soil.
Dusting Home Remedies
It seems that no matter how much cleaning you do in the house, dust is one of those things that keep coming back with a vengeance. To get rid of dust bunnies and other unwanted particles, consider the following home remedies for dusting:
a) Umbrella:
An old umbrella can help make cleaning a chandelier or ceiling fan an easier task to accomplish. Open up the umbrella and hook the handle on the fixture so that it hangs upside down – catching any dust that you remove.
b) Toothpick:
To remove dust from hard-to-reach crevices, insert a toothpick dipped in rubbing alcohol and run it through affected objects. This works wonders for small telephone buttons and wall crevices.
c) Squirt Bottles:
To get dust out of tight spaces (such as the corners of picture frames), press down on an empty, clean squeeze bottle. The blast of air will blow out the dust you cannot reach [2].
d) Damp Rags:
To reduce the amount of dust you spread around when cleaning, use damp rags and clothes, which will attract the particles better.
e) Brush Your Pet:
If you routinely brush your pet, you can cut down on a common source of dust. Also, clean the paws of your pooch before they reenter your home – this is another way dust finds its way into your household.
f) Bring Out the Vacuum:
Turn the vacuum on a routine basis to pick up dust trapped in your carpeting and rugs. The best results come from vacuums outfitted with a special filter for dust removal.
g) Old Sock:
Slip on old socks to use as cleaning mitts so that you can reach tight corners and crevices without getting any grime on your fingers.
h) Rotate Bedding:
Rotate your bedding on a weekly basis to remove skin flakes and linen fibers that can contribute to a dust problem.
i) Weekly Washings:
Wash your sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis to remove accumulated dust.
j) Pillowcase:
To remove dust bunnies from the blades of ceiling fans, grab an old pillowcase and place over one of the blades. Slowly pull off the pillowcase and watch the dust disappear.
k) Open Windows and Door:
Providing air circulation through a house can lessen the effects of dust on the body.
l) Pantyhose:
Dust under and along a refrigerator by balling up a pair of pantyhose and attached to a coat hanger fastened by a rubber band. The nylon will attract the dust and diet. You can reuse the pantyhose by washing off before the next round of cleaning.
m) Give Your Cushions a Beating:
Upholstery fabric sheds its own fibers and collects dust. Every time you sit down, the dust scatters or shifts. Eliminate dust from furniture covered in leather or vinyl by beating the cushions outside with your hand or a broom handle.
n) Paintbrush:
To remove dust from delicate objects and tiny cracks, use a small paintbrush with a natural bristle. This remedy is effective in dusting porcelain and elaborately carved figurines.
o) Wash Your Curtains:
Dust often settles in the folds of curtains, which makes washing the fabric at least once a month beneficial to your health.
p) Oven Mitts:
Use old oven mitts to cover larger spaces (like floors and walls) when dusting.
q) Gloves:
Wear a pair of old fabric gloves soaked in window cleaner to wipe off dust from lighting fixtures.
r) Fabric Softener Sheet:
The electrical charges of televisions and computer screens attract dust on their own. An effective dust repellent for electrical appliances is found in a fabric softener sheet, which is made to reduce static cling and prevent future accumulation of dust. You can also wipe down blinds with a used dryer sheet to clean and repel dust.
s) Fabric Softener:
Add a small amount of fabric softener (from a bottle) to a dust cloth and wipe down your television screen to remove dust.
t) Baby Wipes:
There are some brands of baby wipes that can be washed and reused as a dust cloth or cleaning rag.
Resources
[1] http://www.webmd.com/allergies/dust-allergies
[2] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest; pg. 314.
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