DIY Network

Dust: Q & A and Making Dust Cloths From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-142

You may have heard the phrase "wait until the dust settles." And settle it does, on everything in the house. In fact, dust never really goes away, so don't make yourself crazy trying to get every speck. But, in reality, a cleaner home is a healthier home, so get ready to banish most of the dust bunnies with homemade dust cloths and cleaning recipes that cost pennies to make.

But first here are some cleaning questions from the audience:

Q: Are feather dusters effective at picking up dust?

A: No, they just toss dust up in the air.

Q: Are paper towels good for dusting?

A: No, paper towels are made of wood, which makes them abrasive to other wood surfaces.

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B

Dusting 101 -- Making Dust Cloths

1. First, launder washcloths or soft rags to ensure they are completely free of lint and dust.

2. Mix together a quart of warm water, 2 tablespoons turpentine and a good squirt of liquid dish soap. Stir, with a wooden craft stick, until slightly sudsy.

3. Drop the cloths into the mixture and stir; leave them to soak for several hours to overnight (figure A).

4. Wearing rubber gloves, wring out the cloths and let them air dry; since they have turpentine in them, they should never be dried in the dryer.

5. Store in a lidded can or jar (figure B). Use the cloths over and over until they are so dirty they won't pick up any more dust. Then launder separately, and dip them in a batch of freshly made dust cloth solution.

Tip:When dusting, always start from the top and work downward. Gravity carries dust down to lower surfaces.