How often do you dust your home? And I don’t mean doing light cleaning tasks such as vacuuming high-traffic areas of your floor or wiping down countertops—I’m talking about really clearing out all the various nooks and crannies where dust likes to settle.
Honestly, I could stand to dust my own house more frequently than I currently do. Because even if the floors and surfaces around your home are clean, that doesn’t mean there isn’t also dust and dirt lurking the areas we tend to overlook!
So today I thought we’d shine a light into those dark and dusty corners, particularly the spots you forget to dust during the course of everyday cleaning. I plan to break out my trusty microfiber cleaning cloths this week to clear the dust out of these neglected spots, and I encourage you to join me in this simple (but impactful) cleaning challenge! :-)
Not only is it an easy way to address a bit of cleaning that’s probably overdue, but it’s also a good time to clear out some of the pollen that may have made its way into your home so far this spring. (Just remember to wear a mask while doing so if you’re allergy-prone!)
9 Of The Most Common Spots You Forget To Dust
1. Light Fixtures
Light bulbs can be magnets for dust, and if the dust builds up enough, it can even dim the amount of light it emits. Help your bulbs shine brighter by wiping them down with a damp microfiber cloth. (Just make sure they are cool to the touch before attempting to clean them!)
For more elaborate light fixtures with intricate designs, you can clean out all the nooks and crannies with the help of a cotton swab. And to clean up dusty lampshades, use a lint roller!
2. Bookshelves
Bookshelves, as well as the books on them, are also notorious dust magnets. Compressed air makes a useful tool for dusting the top edges of books without having to rely on liquid cleaners that can cause damage.
Wipe down the shelves themselves with a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner. Another bookshelf hack: prevent dust from accumulating on the edges of each shelf by aligning the spines of your books flush with the shelf edge.
3. Houseplants
Houseplants with big, glossy leaves—regardless of whether they are of the live or faux variety—can collect dust that dulls their shine. Use a damp cloth to gently remove dust from each leaf to restore your plants to their former lush and glossy glory.
(And for faux plants specifically, a dab of mayonnaise on a clean cloth can restore shine to those fake leaves and help prevent dust from settling on them in the future!)
4. Doors
You only need a few minutes to clear the accumulated dust off the top of the doors and door frames around your home. Grab a step stool and your duster of choice, and you’ll be amazed (and maybe a little appalled) at just how much dust has been hiding up there!
5. The Top Of The Fridge
Don’t put that step stool away just yet, because it will also come in handy for cleaning another spot we often forget to dust: the top of the fridge. Use a microfiber cloth and (depending on how thick and/or greasy the dust is) an all-purpose cleaning spray to clear away the grime.
6. The Top Edge Of Shower Tiles
If you have a tiled shower enclosure with tiles that don’t go all the way up to the ceiling, then the top edge of those tiles has likely been collecting dust! Take a moment to wipe down the top edge of your shower tiles (and while you’re at it, use my powerful homemade shower cleaner to make short work of any soap scum on the surface of the tiles too!)
7. Ceiling Fans
Dusting your ceiling fans doesn’t have to include vacuuming the entire room afterward to clean up fallen dust. Keep those dust bunnies contained by trapping them inside a pillowcase as you wipe the top of each blade. (Get the full how-to for this tidier method for dusting ceiling fans here.)
8. The Corners Of High Ceilings
Unless it’s Halloween, having cobwebs in the upper corners of your home probably isn’t adding much to the decor. Use a broom or long-handled duster to dislodge them.
9. Window Blinds
Whether your window blinds are made of wood, vinyl, faux wood, aluminum, or fabric, or whether they hang horizontally or vertically, you can read up on the best way to clean them in my guide to cleaning blinds. You’ll be surprised by how useful things like clothespins and tongs can be when it comes to dusting blinds!
What areas of your home do you forget to dust?
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