How to do the dusting

• Glass cleaner
• General purpose cleaner
• Furniture polish
• One polishing cloth
• Feather duster
• Whisk broom
• Spare vacuum bag
• Screwdriver and vacuum belt
• 10 cleaning cloths

• Small brush
• Scraper
• 2 plastic bags (with clips) – liners for your pocket

• Fan brush
• Cleaning tray
• 2 step ladder (if unable to reach at least 6 feet up)

• Start in one place and work your way around the room, never back-tracking.
• As you are dusting, think of ways to help prepare things for the vacuuming.

Here is an example of the way you might move through a typical floor plan while dusting:

Watch out!

As you are dusting, you will be moving a lot through the house. Be careful not to knock things over. Also, you will be touching lots of items, some of which are very delicate. This increases the chances of breaking them, so also focus on being careful!

• As you are cleaning around the room, carry a dry cleaning cloth over your shoulder so it’s easy to reach.
• As the cloth gets too damp for streakless cleaning, replace it with another dry cloth.
• Now use the damp cloth for cleaning fingerprints, spots on the floor, window sills, and baseboards.
• Once your damp towel becomes too damp to clean with, store it at the bottom of your apron pocket.

• In most situations, you will have the feather duster in one hand and your other hand will be free.
• Shift quickly to a heavier duty option if the feather duster will not adequately clean a surface.
• With proper technique, you should be able to quickly move the dust from all surfaces down to the floor.
• Use fast steady motions.
• At the edge of each surface, bring the duster to a dead stop. Don’t let the feathers and dust flip into the air.
• Tap the duster on your ankle to remove loose dirt and let it drop to the floor. The dust will be picked up when you vacuum.

• For a 2 story home, start on the top floor, then work your way to the bottom floor.
• Set your tray next to the door or entryway of the room you will be cleaning.

• If there are high places with cobwebs and ceiling fans, do these first.
• For cobwebs, knock them down using the ceiling fan brush. Be careful not to smear or rub cobweb into the ceiling or wall.
• For ceiling fans, dust using the ceiling fan brush. The blades should be dusted on the top, bottom, and sides.
• Carefully dust light fixtures.

• Spray cleaner directly on the cleaning cloth and wipe off fingerprints.
• Clean fingerprints on the door, doorknob, and area of the wall around the doorknob.
• Clean fingerprints on light switches.

• Picture glass usually only needs wet cleaning a few times a year. To test, run your clean finger lightly across the glass. If it’s grainy or sticky it’s time to use some glass cleaner. Spray glass cleaner on a cleaning cloth, wipe the glass dry and streakless.
• Dust the top of the picture by holding onto the picture frame and lightly wiping the top. It may only need a feather duster, so judge accordingly.
• Be careful, as many pictures and mirrors are hung on weak anchors. Be as gentle as possible!
• Leave the picture or mirror hanging as straight as possible.

• It is okay to spot clean some walls.
• If the paint has a dull, flat appearance, wiping a spot might smear it and make it worse.
• If the paint has a shine or glossy look, it is likely safe to do a quick spot clean.

• Clean above the end table first.
• Use wiping motions with the duster on the lamp.
• Dust the lampshade, bulb, and the base of the lamp.
• For the top of the end table, use the feather duster. Wipe it down for heavier dirt.
• For items on top of the end table, use both hands.
• For smaller items, use the feather duster to dust the item. Lift and clean underneath then set back down exactly in its place.
• Never slide items across the surface – this may leave scratch marks!
• Remember, for heavier dirt wipe as needed.
• For end tables on a hard floor, dust where the end table meets the floor. For carpeting, use the whisk broom. This helps when vacuuming as the hard to reach places will already be clean.

• Use a whisk broom to quickly move all crumbs and other dirt from the sofa to the floor.
• Start from the top and work down. Back to front.
• Use the small brush if needed to reach into cracks and crevices.
• Vacuum if needed using the small vacuum with the brush attachment.

• Gently dust using the feather duster.
• For large leaves, support the leaf with one hand, while carefully dusting with the other.
• Be sure to pick up any dried leaves as they may clog the vacuum.

• Dust the tops of the books if there’s room.
• Dust exposed edges with long motions.

• On carpets, pull chairs out and leave them out as you clean and dust them. This helps when vacuuming.
• On hard floors, leave the chairs pushed in. Since there are 2 steps to hard floors, it’s easier pulling the chairs out when vacuuming to get ready for mopping.
• Use the duster in one hand and polishing cloth in the other. Wipe the arms and top of the chair with the polishing cloth. Dust all slats under and between the legs of each chair. If needed, brush the seat with the whisk broom to remove loose debris.
• Spray some polish on your polishing cloth. Wipe in the direction of the grain of the wood.
• Use big sweeping motions to save time. Do not press hard.
• Turn cloth over to a dry side and make it shine!

• This might be an area where liquor bottles are stored.
• Move the bottles to the side, then spray with glass cleaner and wipe the vacated area. Make sure you take a mental picture before moving objects, so you can remember exactly where they go!
• As you place each bottle back in its original location, wipe them down with the damp cloth you just used.
• Now clean the other side.
• If you encounter debris or cigarette butts, empty them into your plastic liner in your apron. Do not walk around looking for a trash can!

• Spray some glass cleaner on a cloth.
• Wipe the top of the TV only without touching the screen.
• Do not clean the screen!
• Clean the base of the TV as you are dusting the table underneath.

• Chains on ceiling fans
• Hanging light fixtures including the bulbs
• Bulbs on table lamps
• Plants
• Back of the chairs
• Curved feet of tables and chairs
• Crossbeams underneath tables
• Tops of drawers and drawer handles
• Tops of books on shelves
• The bottom shelf on anything
• Areas around electric cords
• The handrails for stairs