Don't let dust build up into grime — use these tools and techniques to get every room clean
Monica Buck
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The Basic Tools
Microfiber cloths. Update and consolidate your tools: Most
dusting can be done quickly with a microfiber cloth and a vacuum.
"Feather dusters and rags often just blow dust and dirt around,"
says Tara Tan, director of house-keeping at the W Times Square
Hotel, in New York City. Made from a super-absorbent nylon weave,
microfiber cloths — even dry ones — eliminate most dust and dirt. Use
the largest one you can find: The Unger 16-inch-square microfiber
cloth ($5, 800-833-6100 for store locations) allows you to cover
more ground between washings. (The cloths can be washed up to 500
times.)
Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment. "Your most important
cleaning tool is your vacuum," says Cheryl Mendelson, author of Home Comforts (Scribner, $24, www.amazon.com), the modern bible of housekeeping.
Provided you don't have every Hummel figurine ever committed to
porcelain, a good vacuum can pick up dust from just about any
surface. (Test: Your vacuum is a keeper if it doesn't regurgitate
coffee grounds or cat litter.)
The Basic Rules
Dust high to low. Let dust that you've kicked up from the top of
an armoire or the crown molding, for example, have plenty of time
to settle before you attack the floor.
Dry to wet. Dust before you disinfect — especially in the bathroom. "Make sure you pick up hair and dirt, so
you aren't just pushing them around from surface to surface as you
clean," says Tan.
