Dusting is no-one's favourite chore, and it often feels like by the time you get the job done, you have to do it all over again!
Staying on top of the dusting is the best way to ensure that it doesn't take forever, but for your efforts to be worthwhile, there are a few dust-prone spots that you need to tackle.
Here are five places that should be on your dusting checklist which you may be forgetting about.
1. Skirting boards
Most of us are pretty good about vacuuming our floors and carpets but skirting boards might not be part of the regular cleaning routine. As they're not at eye level, it's easy to overlook them until they're covered in a layer of dust but clean skirting boards can make a real difference to the overall appearance of your home.
When vacuuming the floor, use the crevice nozzle to clean along the edges of skirting boards and get into all the corners. Alternatively, give skirting a quick once over with the bristles of the broom when you're sweeping hard floors.
If you’ve got time, wipe skirting boards down with a dampened microfibre cloth. We like the e-cloth general purpose cloths. This, in particular, is a great job for small helpers willing to join in the cleaning routine!
2. Blinds
Whatever type of blinds you have in your home, there is a knack to cleaning them. If you have pleated or roller blinds, lower them first and then pass a soft cloth over the surface of the fabric.
If you have slatted blinds, use a dampened microfibre cloth instead. Some people wear a pair of dampened cotton gloves as an alternative. Another trick is to wrap cloths around each arm of your kitchen tongs and secure them with elastic bands, then run them over each slat. Or, pop an old sock over your hand and run your open palm between the slats, if there's enough space.
If you've got the handheld vacuum out, you can also use this to give the blinds a once over on a low suction setting.
3. Curtains
Curtains are rarely on our list of things to clean, but it’s important we give them TLC when required. Dust can build up here all too quickly, which attracts dust mites and can exacerbate allergies.
To deal with heavy dust, it’s simply a case of taking them down and shaking them out; do this outside, as you don’t want all that dust let loose in your house. For everyday dust, you can use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Aim to vacuum weekly to keep on top of dust build-up. Make sure you reach and cover the top of the curtains; that’s where the majority of dust will settle.
For a deep clean, which should be done every few years, curtains can be taken to the dry cleaners or hand-washed if the care label allows. Just be gentle as you work with them, squeezing rather than wringing the water away. Only use the washing machine if the care instructions allow. Iron lengthways on the wrong side, and hang while still damp.
4. Lamp shades
It’s easy to forget about dusting your lamp shades until someone knocks one and and a fine shower of dust sprinkles down through the air! To avoid this, they all need cleaning once in a while, including the ones on the ceiling.
Brushing your lampshades with a lint roller should do the trick but avoid this method on paper shades.
You could also try an old pair of tights, cut off at the knee. Pop your arm into the foot and use it as a dust grabber.
5. Picture frames
A dampened microfibre cloth is all you need to remove dust from picture frames. To get dust out of the corners, use a tooth pick or stiff-bristled paintbrush. Clean the glass with your usual window cleaner or dampen a clean, soft cloth with a solution of white vinegar and warm water. Dry with a lint-free cloth or microfibre polishing cloth.
Pay particular attention to the tops of your frames as that’s where most of the dust will gather without notice. Get a view from above with a step ladder and wipe across the surface gently with your damp cloth. Support the frame as you clean and don’t put pressure on it; you don’t want to pull it down from the wall in the process!
The GHI's top 5 handheld vacuum cleaners
Pros
- Picked up 99% of dust
- Lifted all food crumbs laid
- 10-minute battery life was just enough for us to clean a small car
Cons
- Heavy
Score: 94/100
This handheld vacuum makes cleaning up after pets effortless; with its motorised pet tool it lifted all hair on test in just one sweep. It excelled with all other debris too, tackling everything from dust to crumbs with ease, no matter the floor type. Its short battery life didn’t impede our car cleaning either.
Pros
- LED lights make it easier to see dirt in awkward spots
- Great for small spillages
- Good 0.5-litre capacity
Cons
- Bulky so harder to reach into crevices
Score: 94/100
Food spillages are easily cleared with this trusty model; it scored full marks for lifting crumbs and debris on test. It struggled with embedded pet hair, but the bagged design makes emptying easy. Plus, the 20-minute battery (even on max power) takes the time pressure off car cleaning.
Black+Decker Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Scored full marks for car cleaning
- Lifts liquids as well as dry debris
- Easy to use
Cons
- Lack of trigger lock isn't ideal for longer jobs
Score: 94/100
This handheld’s low price tag and compact stature belies its powerful performance – it scored highly for every test we put it through, impressing when cleaning dust, pet hair, crumbs, cars and liquids. It’s easy to set up, but only has one power setting and you must press the on button continuously when cleaning.
Pros
- Best on test for car cleaning
- Effective upholstery tool, especially for lifting pet hair
- Comes with a wall-mountable charging base
Cons
- Max power runs the battery down in just over seven minutes (lasts for 15 on standard mode)
Score 92/100
Another stand-out from Shark, opt for this model if you have hard floors as it excelled cleaning laminate and floorboards. It also lifted the most dirt from our car thanks to its well-designed crevice tool and lightweight design. Skip if you’re after one for carpets, but if you’re tight on space it’s a savvy buy as you can mount it on the wall.
Dyson Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner
Pros
- Only dropped one mark across carpet, laminate and floorboard tests
- Connects to the Dyson app where there’s maintenance advice and troubleshooting
- Comes with lots of useful accessories
Cons
- Heavy for a handheld
- Have to hold the trigger continuously to use
Score: 89/100
Dyson’s new handheld is a powerful performer and delivered excellent results across the board. Dust pick-up was excellent, and most crumbs were removed in one sweep, making it a great option for quick spot cleans around the home. Its battery life isn’t the best though, lasting around 10 to 15 minutes on max mode, which probably isn’t long enough for a thorough car clean. Plus, with a five-hour recharge time, it won’t be ideal if it cuts out mid-tidy.
