DIY Network

Dust: Dusting Tips From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-142

A dusty room not only looks bad, but it can contribute to health problems, especially if you have allergies (figure A). Dead skin that sloughs from our bodies creates dust, and so do the dust mites that feed on the dead skin. Droppings from these microscopic bugs can make anyone sneeze and wheeze.

• Use a good quality lambs wool duster, dry, never wet, on the dusty surfaces and knickknacks in your home (figure B).

• Keep the clutter to a minimum.

Figure A

Figure B

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	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• Tea is an excellent way to clean wood surfaces; brew it, let it cool, dip a cloth in it and wipe over wood surfaces (figure C).

• Wrap a cloth or towel around a broom for an extended dust mop to get cobwebs out of the ceiling corners.

• Clean the coils on the refrigerator regularly with a coil cleaning brush available at home improvement stores. Dirty coils waste energy and reduce the efficiency of your refrigerator.

• Keep windows closed to reduce dust levels.

• If you dog stays inside, brush him regularly, outside (figure D). You'll reduce dust and spend some quality time with Fido.

• Change or clean air conditioning and heating filters as recommended by the manufacture. A clean filter will pull dust particles out of the air, reducing the dust load.

• Dusting is an easy starter chore for kids, and they can see instant results from their work.

• If dusting reveals scratches on wood surfaces, get out your crayons. Look for colors close to the color of the wood, rub them on the scratch, heat the area with a blow dryer on a high setting, while buffing the crayon into the wood (figure E). Good-bye scratches!