When cleaning, should you dust or vacuum first? This is an age-old debate. As with the chicken versus the egg dilemma, not everyone understands which comes first.
Today, we’re going to provide the solution, and we’re also going to share some great cleaning suggestions to assist you.
Want a spotless home? Let us begin with today question: Is it better to dust or vacuum first?
What is dust?
Before we go into the “dust or vacuum first” debate, let’s define dust:
Dust is a collection of microscopic particles that accumulates in enclosed spaces. These particles can be composed of a variety of substances, including pollen from plants, hair, paper fibers, material fibers, and even skin cells.
If you’ve ever neglected your cleaning tasks for an extended period of time, you’ve definitely noticed a dust build-up in particular locations. The dust will accumulate on hardwood or tiled floors, exposed surfaces, and areas such as mirrors. Additionally, dust accumulates on carpets, rugs, and other soft furniture such as drapes.
Why is it necessary to dust on a regular basis?
Not only can dust make your house appear and feel messy, but it also has a negative effect on your health. According to research published in the Epidemiology Journal, exposure to indoor dust may cause mucosal irritation. In layman’s words, this implies that you may have congestion, increased mucus production, and sinus difficulties.
If you dust incorrectly or do not dust at all, you might jeopardize your health! Dusting can also be beneficial for removing pollen and pet dander. Excellent news for people who suffer from hayfever or pet allergies!
It’s critical to prioritize your health, which is why you should learn how to clean your house like an expert. We’ll examine whether you should dust or vacuum first while cleaning your house in this tutorial. Everything you need to know to get started is included here.
When cleaning, do you dust or vacuum first?
To begin, let’s address the subject at hand: When cleaning your home, should you dust or vacuum first? The correct response is that you should always dust first and then vacuum.
The rationale is straightforward. When you dust, some of the particles will wipe away onto your cloth or duster, but you will never obtain all of them. Rather than that, many of the particles with which you come into touch disperse into the air and subsequently settle. These dust particles will eventually settle on your flooring, sofa, or bed, as well as on other surfaces.
If you vacuum first and then dust, you’ll discover that you’re missing a significant amount of dust in your home. Dust particles will settle on your freshly cleaned carpet when you dust. This implies that you’ll have to vacuum your entire home again to get it properly clean. Nightmare. If you leave it alone, the dust will accumulate and may have an adverse effect on your health. Due to your failure to take the necessary actions to minimize the quantity of dust in your home, you’ll notice that your home will begin to look dusty again – more quickly than is typical.
Pro tips for dusting
Now that you know whether to vacuum or dust first, let’s move on to the appropriate approach to clean a house.
Are you interested in learning how to dust like a pro? Here are a few of our favorite tips:
Dust your home regularly
Let’s face it – dusting is tedious! Having said that, if you want to stay on top of your housekeeping, you must commit to this duty on a regular basis. Now, how frequently should you dust? Let us dissect it…
- Dusting lightly – Ensure that you perform some ‘light dusting’ every couple of weeks (or more often if your home is particularly dusty). This includes the fundamentals, such as dusting your surfaces, floors, and any other exposed areas. Why not take this a step further and have your home cleaned in 30 minutes?
- Heavy dusting – Once every several months, you should also perform some ‘heavy dusting.’ This requires cleaning difficult-to-reach areas where you would not normally look. For instance, you should clean any blinds in your home, dust the blades of fans, and concentrate on the tops of your furniture. You’ll be surprised at how many unclean areas you’re overlooking!
It’s a good idea to incorporate these areas into your house cleaning program to avoid forgetting. After all, they’re easily missed! Take our “how clean are you?” test to determine whether you’re missing any areas.
If you do not dust these difficult-to-reach locations, your home will remain dusty. Each time a door is opened or a gust of wind sweeps through, the dust from these regions is blown to more visible locations around your home.
Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth
Purchasing the proper cleaning supplies is critical when it comes to dust removal in your house. Due to the variety of items available, it may be difficult to determine which ones are best for you. The first step in this procedure is to get a few microfibre cloths for your household cleaning equipment. Believe it or not, these garments have the potential to be game changers.
Microfibre cloths, according to study conducted at the University of California Davis Medical Center, may lower the quantity of germs in an area by 99 percent. While compared to the 30% of germs eradicated when cleaning with conventional cotton towels, this is a significant difference.
TOP TIP: Looking for a quick way to clean? Put a sock on your hand and wipe your blinds clean simply with it. Dryer sheets are also excellent for this purpose!
Begin at the very top
The best approach to dust is to begin at the top and work your way down. While this may seem self-evident, it is one of the most time-consuming cleaning errors.
For instance, if you have dust-collecting wardrobes, there is the first place to start. Because dust particles disperse into the air and eventually fall to the ground, working your way down will help you collect as much as possible. Consider it!
TOP TIP: Dust up home plants with a hairdryer. Allow dust to settle on the floor before vacuuming.
Pro tips for vacuuming
Vacuuming is critical while learning how to clean your house like an expert. If you do this correctly, your home will appear better than ever. Even if you believe you’ve mastered the fundamentals, take a look at these easy techniques for vacuuming like a pro.
Clean your vacuum filter regularly
The majority of vacuum cleaners include a filter or, in some circumstances, a bag. How you clean your vacuum depends heavily on the brand. Naturally, you should consult the handbook for further information. Before you vacuum your home, take a time to inspect the filter and make certain it is as clean as possible.
Watch out for pet fur!
Are you the owner of a pet? If you are an animal lover, you must exercise particular caution when vacuuming. Pet hair might become entangled in the vacuum cleaner’s hose, rendering your cleaning efforts utterly futile. Stray hairs act as a barrier, preventing the machine from collecting dust from the floor. As a general rule, you should clean your vacuum periodically and remove any accumulated hair. Done!
TOP TIP: If you have dogs with lengthy hair, you may want to consider investing in a pet-friendly vacuum cleaner! This might make all the difference in this case.
Use a vacuuming system
How do you vacuum? Many individuals make the error of randomly moving the machine about the floor. Does this sound familiar? Rather of employing that strategy (and so omitting huge regions of floor! ), you require a system.
To summarize, you should begin vacuuming at one end of the carpet and work your way in a straight line. Repeat with a 90-degree turn. And repeat!
Don’t forget to vacuum baseboards when you’re cleaning. Surprisingly much dust may accumulate in the area between the skirting board and the carpet. For further vacuuming suggestions, check out our handy guide to carpet cleaning.
TOP TIP: Take a look at our list of unexpected spots you frequently overlook when cleaning – your house and health will thank you!
Clean hardwood floors
It is not only a matter of vacuuming. If you’re wondering how to clean a non-carpeted floor, you’ll see the difference.
Q&A
Does Vacuuming Produce Dust?
Generally, you should be able to vacuum without kicking up much dust. However, if the vacuum cleaner’s mouth is clogged, you may notice material moving while you clean. If such is the case, you must ensure that the machine is unblocked before proceeding.
How Frequently Should Your House Be Vacuumed?
That is situational! If you have dogs or long hair, you may find that vacuuming your house on a weekly basis is necessary. However, some individuals may get away with vacuuming every couple of weeks. When you see dust or general build-up on your floor or carpets, it’s time to break out the vacuum cleaner.
What is the Best Method for Dusting Furniture?
As previously said, microfiber towels are quite good in dusting furniture. Invest in a few to maximize your outcomes. There is evidence that these cleaning chemicals effectively eliminate the majority of germs from surfaces, which is an added benefit.
Is Opening Windows Effective at Reducing Dust?
Maintaining open windows will not resolve the issue. This simply means that other sorts of dust, as well as anything else that may enter your home through an open window, can enter. To learn how to successfully minimize dust, consult our guide.
What Is the Best Way to Dust-Proof My Home?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer for dustproofing your house, there are several things you may attempt. For instance, you may choose to use an air purifier, routinely wash clothes, and brush your dogs to remove extra hair. These basic and straightforward alterations may assist you in reducing the quantity of dust that accumulates in your home.
Can I dust with my vacuum cleaner?
If you’re in a hurry, you can combine both steps. Attach a brush attachment to your vacuum and go over your surfaces gently. If you’re going over textiles, you may want to lessen the suction. This method is ineffective for dusting tiny things like decorations, which must be cleaned manually using a dusting cloth.