1 Important place you probably forget to dust

I recently decided to have my bedroom repainted. After about a decade of giving the walls the same paint color we chose when we moved into our house, it was definitely time for a new coat of paint. I started cleaning, decluttering, and moving furniture to the center of the room to get the space ready before the painters arrived. I didn’t know what mistake I had made in dusting and vacuuming the practice would derail the entire paint preparation process.

The place with the most dust

Under my bed. When I pulled my bed away from the wall to clear space for the painters, I noticed large amounts of dust on the carpet and a boat full of dust bunnies clinging to the wall. The wall, carpet and wooden headboard were completely covered in a thick layer of dust. “Whether it’s used for storage or left clutter-free, dust and hair can build up under the bed,” says Columbia, Maryland-based Katie Dills, Brand President of The Cleaning Authority.

I also thought it was unhealthy to inhale that dust every night while sleeping. “Dust is everywhere and that’s why it’s important to do everything you can to keep dust levels in your home as low as possible, especially for people with allergies and health conditions,” said Michael Green, Chief Operations Officer of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, located in Waco, Texas.

How I missed this place

I wondered how I could have missed dusting this space since I use it every day, but I also realized that because this space is hidden from view, it can easily be forgotten over and over again. Here’s how you can learn from my mistake and make a plan to dust off this space.

My plan to tackle this place

Vacuum under beds

Running your vacuum cleaner under the bed every time you vacuum is a great way to combat the build-up of dust under the bed. “Using a handheld vacuum or a standard vacuum with a nozzle should get the job done,” says Dills. Nozzles allow you to reach further under the bed, especially if your vacuum cleaner doesn’t fit easily under the bed. If you have hardwood, a simple wipe with a dust mop or microfiber cloth on a long handle is an easy trick to grab dust from under the bed and work along the baseboards to release and sweep away dust particles.

Clean the wall behind the bed

To access this space, I moved my bed (with help!) to the center of the room. I realize the challenge of always moving a heavy piece of furniture to clean. So there are other ways. “For easy dust removal, a microfiber duster is a great tool to use around the home and is perfect for hard-to-reach areas.” Consider one with a long handle so that moving furniture can be avoided. Run it along the back of the bed and the wall to ensure you remove any dust that may be clinging to the headboard wall. These are also ideal for cleaning between small spaces if your bed has spindles or small crevices.

Clean the ventilation openings

Despite the inaccessibility of all ducts and vents in your home and the challenge of cleaning them, it is essential to take steps to clean where you can easily access them. “In addition to replacing AC filters monthly, homeowners may also want to clean their HVAC registers to eliminate the amount of dust and dirt blown through their system and home. This simple task can be accomplished using a flexible duster or wand attachment on the vacuum cleaner,” says Green. You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the vents and wipe away any accumulated dust. “Professional duct cleaning allows technicians to penetrate deep into your ductwork with special vacuums and spray gentle disinfectants that can help keep your ducts cleaner for months,” Green explains. It is recommended that the ducts in your home be cleaned every three to five years, or possibly sooner. It is therefore important to perform this maintenance regularly.

Move the furniture for cleaning

If you can, once a year or more it’s a good idea to move large pieces of furniture or pull them into the center of the room to thoroughly clean and vacuum walls and floors hidden behind or under furniture. Dust, pet dander and hair can quickly build up around the edges of rooms and baseboards, so these areas at the bottom of a room or hidden behind furniture are often overlooked during a regular vacuuming session. “Lift rollers can be the most versatile cleaning tools,” Dills suggests. Use a lint roller on upholstered furniture such as sofas and side chairs is an easy and quick way to combat the dust that settles on the fabric backing that runs along the wall or any other part of the fabric.

Consider other spaces you may be missing

Behind and under the bed is an area that is often overlooked when dusting and vacuuming, but chances are there are other places you may want to consider, especially if you already have the duster or long-handled microfiber cloth ready lying down and ready to use. “Blinds and curtains are often left untouched outside of sunlight adjustment or privacy, and trap dust and dirt that can build up over time,” says Dills. There are special dusters made specifically for blinds, and many fabric curtains are machine washable. Check for dust on the top shelves of cabinets, ceiling fan blades and behind appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers.