I take some time each week to review all the comments on our website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page. I do this for a few reasons; first off, I like to know what people are talking about in our community and how we can improve ourselves in terms of the content we deliver. Secondly, I like to see what people are interested in learning more about—what peoples’ pain points are so I can address them. Well, I’ve recently noticed a copious amount of requests for dusting tips and hacks! So, here are 10 quickies that will cut your cleaning time when it comes to dusting.

Dusting Ceiling Fans & Light Fixtures

To dust ceiling fans and light fixtures use a bendable duster. You shouldn’t need a ladder for this unless you have really high ceilings. You can bend the shaft to suit any light or fan configuration (including a ceiling fan, just bend it 90 degrees). When you’re done you can remove the microfiber cover and machine wash it. I got this one on Amazon and it cost me under 20 bucks.

Corners, Moldings & Door Frames

When it comes to dusting corners, moldings and door frames there are always spiderwebs and dust aplenty here. This area usually goes ignored, but here’s the laziest, easiest way to do it: Grab a mop pole and an old sock (or a microfiber cloth), place it over the end of the mop pole and use an elastic to secure it. You’ve now got an amazing high-duster!

How to Dust Walls

We get asked this one a lot. I personally don’t dust my walls, but if it’s something that needs to be done, there’s a simple way to clean and dust walls. Simply use a flat head mop and a microfiber cloth sprayed with a bit of water. No need to use an expensive product here! Simply work the tool up and down the wall using a ‘W’ pattern to save time and energy and to ensure you’re covering the entire space.

Don’t forget to check out Maker’s Clean line of premium products. From microfiber cloths to the Maker’s Mop, they have a great line of high-quality products that will help you take your cleaning game to the next level!

Bathroom Vents

These get super dusty as they run for a long time and suck up tons of dirt, moisture, and dust. The next time you’re cleaning them, use your vacuum with the brush attachment to loosen and suck up the caked on dirt and dust.

Dusting Baseboards

Check back to my earlier tip: Corners, Moldings & Door Frames. Using a mop pole with a cloth or old sock attached to it, lightly sprayed, means no more bending down, and no more tough work. This makes the job so much easier and also allows you to access hard-to-reach areas like behind furniture.

Delicate Items & Antiques

To clean and dust delicate ornaments, antique pieces, silk flowers or small delicate trinkets, lightly mist a small paintbrush or makeup brush and use that to do this detailed cleaning.

Pro Tip: Dust In the Right Direction

Dust is like snow: it falls from the top to the bottom. So, when dusting, start with the highest items and work your way down to the lowest. If you don’t, you’ll have to repeat your work. Another good thing to keep in mind is to work in a spiral formation – working clockwise tackle all four corners and moldings, then move down and dust all tops of frames (doors and art etc.), then lower again to dust all table tops and finally all baseboards. Then vacuum last. This way, no dust will fall on an already cleaned area.

Use Microfiber Cloths

I’ve been talking about microfiber cloths for years now. I can’t understand why you would dust with anything else—ultimately microfiber helps you spend less time cleaning! A microfiber cloth is electrostatically charged, meaning it very literally attracts dust. They’re also highly absorbent and they don’t leave lint or dust behind which means streak-free surfaces. In short, these tools save you time by helping you clean more efficiently. I love them so much I decided to make my own.

Clean Your Ducts & Replace Air Filters

These are a huge source of dust and allergens in your home, especially after any sort of home renovation. If you haven’t been replacing your air filters each season you’re asking for more dust in your home. As well, having your air ducts cleaned is the ultimate form of dusting. You can hire a professional who will come by and vacuum all of your vents out, removing all of the residual dust in your home.

Delicate Areas or Areas Where You Can’t See

Vacuum with a pantyhose covered dust brush for these areas. The nozzle can collect dust while using a dust brush, without running the risk of sucking up valuables or items you don’t want vacuumed up!

For more cleaning secrets check out our E-Book Bundle! It has 3 e-books (The Complete Guide to Essential Oils, My 3 Wave Cleaning System, 50 DIY Cleaning Recipes) and will get you started with all your cleaning needs!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on amazon.com.

Looking for a BETTER & EASIER Way to Clean Your Home?

Cleaning Expert Melissa Maker is here to help with her game-changing 3 Wave Cleaning System that will help you clean your house faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

Learn More About The 3 Wave Cleaning System

Melissa Maker is an entrepreneur, cleaning expert, founder of Toronto’s most popular boutique cleaning service, and star of the Clean My Space channel on YouTube (but she still hates to clean!). Every week, Melissa delivers new videos dishing expert advice on cleaning products, tools, DIY substitutes, and practical, timesaving solutions to everyday problems. Melissa has appeared on the Today Show, and has been featured in InStyle, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens.

26 COMMENTS

  1. “ Using a mop pole with a cloth or old sock attached to it…” I can’t even picture what this looks like as a duster. Anyone have an idea?

  2. I like your recommendation to start with higher items before working your way through to items at the bottom. My wife and I just moved into a new place and it seems like we have to dust a lot more frequently than we used to. We may consider finding a dust collection system or something like that.

  3. My sister in law taught me to clean up my kitchen first then do a main bathroom. When those two rooms are clean , then do what you can in the rest of the house. I always find if I leave my kitchen for last I’m either too worn out to finish it , or , someone inevididably comes over while its a big mess. This way my kitchen is always ready for “company” . We never sit in the living room anyway….

  4. Thank you very much for sharing this nice post. The next time you’re cleaning, use your vacuum with brush attachment to suck up the dust. Now, your vents won’t look like those of a mechanic’s shop.

  5. The worst place to clean in my house is a deep(two and a half feet deep), triangular shaped wall niche that is really high (the bottom of the niche is about ten feet up the wall). I can reach high places; and I can find cleaning tools that bend for things like ceiling fans. But I can’t reach the height and depth of this niche, even on a ladder. Help!

  6. Fake flowers dusty?

    Put them in a brown paper bag with a handful of uncooked rice and close up the bag. Shake for a minute and your flowers will be clean.

  7. Allergens from house dust mites are significant triggers for both sensitization of children to asthma and for causing asthma attacks. Given that allergen avoidance is key to the management of asthma, it is important to know what measures to take in reducing the burden of house dust mite allergen in your home environment if you have a child with asthma or want to prevent the condition from developing.

  8. With the proper techniques, tools and tips we can keep all that dust in check, and our house healthy and shiny..These are some great tips and will be very helpful with my cleaning!

  9. These tips were great and will be very helpful for my team of cleaners! I also like to make sure to to dust the headboards, foot-boards, and running boards of beds… Dust sure likes to gather on them. I’ve also found that when dusting a ceiling fan, a place that is often not thought of is the top of the fan(not the blades), but the top of the housing and motor area of the fan can hold a great deal of dust!

    Thanks!
    Anna

  10. Loved them all. Yes, the ducts are a major reason for abnormal dust. Vacumn also the return vents.
    Thanks for reminding me about the best duster…microf. cloths.

  11. Hi Mellissa. Thanks to you and your fabulous cleaning videos, I am not only saving money but find cleaning a whole lot easier and effective. One question I have is this…when dusting and cleaning a living room or dining area (where I have several small ornaments, vases, and other decorative pieces), do you suggest using the microfiber cloth damp (sprayed with your all purpose cleaner), or simply use the microfiber cloth alone. Thank you!

  12. Hi Melissa. I was wondering what you thought about Swiffer products. Are they as effective as microfiber towels? Thanks 🙂

  13. Hi Melissa! I didn’t see a space or a link to submit a general question so I’m assuming I can do that here!

    Question – what is the easiest way to clean marks, markers and sharpies off a wall that has flat paint?

    Serena

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here