The Iconic And Slept-On Cleaner You Should Be Using When Dusting

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Keeping your home tidy often means taking a duster to the surfaces of your bookshelf, coffee table, or dresser every few days or so. Also, ensuring humidity levels are 40% or below, regularly replacing HVAC parts like air filters, or installing air purifiers all play a part in keeping dust levels low. Why is all this necessary, you ask? Because your indoor air is constantly fighting a battle with dust mites and other airborne allergens that love to settle on your furniture and floor.

One day, your mantel is sparkling clean; the next it's covered in a thin layer of evidence proving that dust never sleeps. Dust consists of human and pet skin cells, pollen, dirt, textile fibers, and other particles brought in from the outdoors — even your AC may be kicking dust into your house. One way to arm yourself in the battle against dust is by purchasing a bottle of Pine-Sol. Yes, this old-school surface cleaner might sound like a thing of the past, but it still reigns supreme as one of the most effective ways to sanitize hard surfaces in your home.

Pine-Sol removes 99% of allergens, such as non-living dust mites and pet dander. It's affordable, leaves your home smelling great (if you don't mind the smell of pine), and is simple to use. Plus, a little goes a long way. You can buy a 40-ounce bottle of Pine-Sol at Home Depot for about $9 or a 20-ounce bottle from Walmart for about $5. In addition to the cleaner, all you need are a few rags and you're ready to go tackle dusty surfaces head-on.

The great thing about Pine-Sol is that you can use it on most hard surfaces in your home — from floors, countertops, and baseboards to dressers and appliances. Avoid marble, aluminum, and raw or damaged timber. To rid your home of dust, grab a microfiber cloth or clean rag, a bottle of Pine-Sol, and any of your best dusting tools. If using Pine-Sol's concentrated formula, you can dilute every cup in a ½ gallon of water and still get the disinfectant benefits. Create your water and Pine-Sol mix in the kitchen sink, a bucket, or a spray bottle.

Next, wet your cleaning rag with the solution and wipe down any dusty surfaces, moving from top to bottom and left to right. This method ensures that you're catching falling dust instead of chasing it around. It also ensures that you nip any dust build-up in the bud, especially in rooms that receive a lot of foot traffic or have doors or windows that are left open often.

When dusting, it helps to work on one section of the room at a time. For example, if you're working in the bedroom, start by dusting the dressers first, move onto your nightstands, and then tackle the baseboards (if they have visible dust). You can follow this up with vacuuming or mopping, if you wish. If you run out of rags, it's okay to use paper towels (except on wood surfaces) or repurpose old fabrics in your home such as t-shirts or bed linens. Old socks make for great dusting mitts. When you're done, you'll find that every surface looks polished, your rooms smell fresher, and your house looks brighter.