Self Help

Dusting is the first thing you should do when you start cleaning your house, because we clean top to bottom and this way you won’t knock dust or dirt onto freshly cleaned floors. Begin like a pro: work your way around the room, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise order, so you don’t waste time crisscrossing, and you don’t overlook something.

First, straighten and put away. Gather everything that goes into the bedroom, for example, into one basket, bag, or pile. After you’ve cleared the room, then carry those items to the appropriate room and put them away. (This prevents wasted steps as you put away each item and then come back for another.)

What should you use for dusting? Don’t use paper towels or relatively new cloth towels; they’ll leave lint and particles behind. Tear up old T-shirts and towels, or buy a package of cloth diapers. The best rags are old ones that have no lint left! Stop by a thrift store and look for old linen dish towels. Don’t worry about stains; you’re using these for cleaning rags, and they are some of the best.