Dust
Dealing With Dust
Accumulations of dust detract from your home's beauty and can contribute
to health problems for many people. Dust enters your home unseen and settles
into carpets, furniture and draperies, as well as on tabletops and knickknacks.
The cleaning experts at Merry Maids offer some insights on ways to remove
dust in your home and to keep it at bay.
Start From The Outside In
The first step to controlling dust inside is to keep it outside! Eighty
percent of the dirt in your house walks in on people's feet. So place
walk-off mats outside and inside all entrances to your home. They're called
"walk-off" mats because they allow dirt to be walked off before it gets
inside and dispersed all throughout your home.
Go To The Mat
Walk-off mats for inside use are usually made of nylon or olefin, while
the outside mats are generally a synthetic turf. Both are backed with
rubber or vinyl. Purchase professional walk-off mats, which are commonly
used at the entrances of supermarkets and hospitals, at a janitorial supply
store. You can get them in a variety of colors. To do their job well,
they should be four strides long.
It's also important to keep your walk-off mats clean.
- Vacuum your mats regularly or shake them out outside.
- When necessary, hose mats down and scrub with an all-purpose cleaning solution.
- You may also clean them with upholstery shampoo or a wet/dry vacuum.
- Hang washed mats until completely dry. Moisture trapped under the
vinyl backing can damage your floor.
Seal of Approval
If you haven't done so already, seal any concrete or mortar joints to
stop them from bleeding off bits of sand and concrete dust onto surrounding
surfaces. Also, make sure your windows and doors seal tightly to block
out dust invasions. Many utility companies offer free energy inspection
services to determine if your home has cracks where air or dust could
be coming and going. Schedule such an inspection if it's available.
Tools For Tackling Dust
Vacuum:
One of the most effective dusting tools available is a good vacuum. A
vacuum traps and holds dust so it can be easily removed from your premises.
Use the vacuum dusting brush attachment for everything from hard floors
and furniture to lampshades and woodwork. Make sure the bags, filters,
gaskets, and seals are in good condition, so that your vacuum is truly
sucking up the dust and not just blowing it into the air as you vacuum.
Dust treatments:
These are basically oily or waxy compounds that are designed to attract
and hold dust. Whichever one you select, apply enough so your dust mop
or cloth feels moist, but not too wet. Most liquid dust treatments include
instructions on how much of the product to use to treat dust mops or cloths
of different sizes. After the initial treatment, lightly mist your mop
or dust cloth occasionally with treatment to keep it fresh and effective.
Dust mop:
Always apply one of the treatments noted above to your dust mop, then
wrap the dust mop in a plastic bag overnight so the oil can saturate the
fibers evenly before you use it. This step is important because most dust
mops have an absorbent pad that acts as a reservoir, to which you apply
the dust treatment. Dust mops are designed to release just the right amount
of oil from this reservoir to wick down into the strands. If you try to
hurry the process and spray the strands so you can use the mop immediately,
the strands become too wet and apply the oil to your floor.
No feather dusters!
And any old rag won't do, either. Feather dusters don't do much more
than spread the dirt around. If you're using one on certain surfaces,
it's time to consider other options. When hand-dusting, it's best to use
a treated or electrostatic dust cloth, or a lambswool duster. The idea
is to collect and hold the dust. A lambswool duster is better than a feather
one, but either can send dust back into the air if used too vigorously.
Techniques of the Pros
When you hand-dust, always use a gentle wiping motion. Be careful not
to flick dust off the surface and back into the air. Dust from top to
bottom, and be sure to switch sides when one side of your cloth or duster
gets covered. Also, if you shake out your dust cloth or mop, do it outside
(and make sure the wind doesn't blow the dust back on you!)
For assistance with general housecleaning or to schedule cleaning services,
rely on the professionals at Merry Maids.
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Ready for regular maid serivce? Let the professionals at
Merry Maids
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