The Old-School Trick That Proves You've Been Dusting Wrong All Along And Had No Idea

Dusting is one of those chores you've probably been doing for a long, long time. Even kids can pick up a rag and help dust furniture, so it might even be one of the first chores you ever had. But turns out, there's a chance you've been dusting the wrong way all along. Many people use a dry cloth to wipe down their tables, bookcases, and dressers — when they really should be grabbing a damp cloth instead. It's a more effective cleaning method if you want to bring dusty areas in your home back to life.

Before learning why you should be turning to a damp cloth, it's a good idea to understand what exactly dust is made of. Dust is a combination of things like dirt, dead skin cells, bacteria, dust mites, hair, pollen, clothing fibers, pet dander, and more. No wonder people want to banish this gross mixture from their homes. However, if you use a dry cloth, it can just swirl the particles around opposed to actually trapping them for removal. For people with allergies, dust can cause respiratory issues, which is why the last thing you want is to make it airborne.

The best way to clean dust is by taking a microfiber cloth and getting it just a little bit wet. Squeeze it out until it's only slightly damp. You can use a cleaning solution, too, but it's not necessary. Wipe down your furniture as usual, and the damp cloth will collect dust instead of just moving it around. You don't want the surfaces that you dust to actually get wet, so make sure your cloth isn't leaving behind water drops. Use oval arm motions while dusting, and flip the rag after it accumulates enough dirt. As you properly remove the dust particles, you'll be giving your furniture the TLC it deserves. And by using this brilliant cleaning hack, you'll get your home more dust-free than using a traditional dry cloth. 

If you're tackling an entire room, it's recommended that you start from the top, like dusting high furniture, then end with the floors. In addition to vacuuming on a regular basis, you should dust the commonly used items in your home at least once a week, such as desks, tables, and chairs. Areas that don't get a lot of traffic, like a guest room, can be dusted bi-weekly instead. It's amazing the difference a damp cloth can make compared to a dry one. You'll wish you'd learned this old-school trick sooner!