How to clean dusty shelves
It pains me to admit it, but I am not one of those people who enjoys cleaning. Not one bit.
I like a clean and tidy house very much, yes, but getting to that point is my least favourite past time.
Between you and me, I don’t dust often enough and I live in an old house so you can imagine how dusty it gets. Very!
Whilst I agree, yes, there are more important things in life than having a dust-free home, I also know, not only does dust look unsightly, but it can cause allergies and other health issues too.
How to stop shelving units getting dusty
Keeping your home dust free is all about dust management; get that right and you’re going to be winning.
If you have a room with lots of open shelves then it’s best to keep the windows closed as much as possible, this stops dust and dirt blowing in from outside.
Air purifiers can be great for minimising dust – they suck in loose particles floating in the air before it gets a chance to land on your sexy shelves.
Read more here: How to make a shelf look good: decorating floating shelves
A big part of dust management is cleaning regularly; the more often you’re hoovering, wiping and clearing up, the less dust there will be to land on your surfaces and furniture. Think little and often so you don’t feel too overwhelmed.
Using the correct cleaning measures is going to help in the long run; I’ve been known to grab whatever is available at the time (even a sock before it’s going in the wash) and give the surface a quick wipe, however, this just unsettles the dust and moves it onto the ground. A microfibre cloth is best for wiping up dust, it gets trapped like a prisoner in-between the split fibres.
As much as we love our pets, I’m sure we don’t love the mess they bring with them. Keeping pets groomed will help manage dust in your home – stopping dirt, pet hair and god-knows-what getting all over the place.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good doormat, I have two from Oliver Bonas and I love them, it prevents dirt from your shoes entering your home and turning into dust on your shelves. They do require a bit of hoovering and my dog loves to rub her face on mine after she’s eaten, but that’s a complaint for another day.
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HEY! Glitter blue doormat – £22.50 Oliver Bonas
Floral scatter doormat – £29.50 Oliver Bonas
It might not ~seem~ as though sheets and towels get dusty, but they come into contact with our skin, which is always shedding, so changing these regularly will keep dust to a minimum. I know…it’s a bit gross when you think about it, right?!
How do you keep wood from getting dusty
Parker bobbin green acacia wood storage shelves – £445 Oliver Bonas
Microfibre cloths are perfect for wood surfaces, you can even use them cleaning-product-free.
To repel dust and prevent it landing on wooden surfaces, mix 2 litres of water with 1 teaspoon of fabric softener and wipe it over. The oil in the product will stop dust sticking.
What causes dust on shelves
It’s not just human hair and skin that causes dust, it can be anything from dirt outside, pets, fibres from fabric, wood particles – basically, anything that can flake off, even minuscule parts of plastic.
How to clean dusty shelves
Hoovering is a really effective way of cleaning dusty shelves; especially if you have a hand-held one, it sucks the dirt right up so it has nowhere else to go.
This article is turning into a bit of a microfibre cloth appreciation post, but it really is the best way to clean a dusty shelf. Avoid feather dusters as they will move the dust around and if you don’t have a microfibre cloth…then why not?! No, jokes aside, if you don’t have one then a damp cloth is the next best thing.
The lowdown in poppy – £289 Mustard Made
If you want to use furniture polish – because nothing gives that ‘I’ve just cleaned’ impression than the smell of furniture polish – then apply it to the cloth rather than the surface to save product and work more efficiently.
How to stop books getting dusty
Keeping books in a closed cupboard is going to keep them dust free and minimising the amount of open shelves means the dust has less places to settle, but I’m sure many of us love to have books on display so hoovering them and wiping them down regularly is the only way to keep them dust free, unfortunately.
Want more? Read the latest edit from me, Lindsey Isla, here