Dusting
Dust first and vacuum second. Any bits of dust and dirt will fall to the floor where they will be collected in the
vacuum cleaner.
The best dust cloth is a damp, clean, cotton cloth. To dampen, hold the cloth by a corner and lightly mist with
clean water from a spray bottle. The cloth should be just damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture
streaks on the furniture.
When dusting wall units follow this procedure: first lift and dust each object, then dust the shelf both underneath
and behind. Start from the top of the unit and move down to the bottom.
Never dust a warm or hot light bulb with a damp cloth, as the bulb will shatter.
Dampen a clean, soft paintbrush to remove dust from louvered doors, telephone keys, carved furniture, etc.
Clean mini blinds can be maintained with minimum effort. Close the slants, dust, close the slants the opposite
way and dust again. Wipe wood surfaces with the grain to avoid streaks.
Pet Hair
A damp cloth or rubber glove will remove pet hair from the upholstery of the furniture.
Floors
Sweep or vacuum floors first to collect crumbs and dirt before damp mopping. Start washing the floor in the
farthest corner of the room and work your way towards the door.
Use a cloth on the end of a mop handle to reach the narrow space between appliances.
A plastic hair brush or hair pick will straighten the fringe on area carpets. Comb the carpet fringe in a direction
away from the centre of the carpet. Vacuum or sweep the bathroom floor to collect any loose hair, dust and
dirt prior to washing the floor. Remove mats, wastebaskets and any other items sitting on the floor that may
get in the way. Ensure that the correct vacuum attachment is used for the specific floor surface you are cleaning.
To reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents, place anti-slip backing under rugs. Place a mat inside and outside
each entrance to your home to reduce the dirt that is brought in on shoes and boots. Protect your floors and
furniture by preventing surface damage. Never set wet cloths, bottles, buckets, or damp mops on furniture,
hardwood floors, carpet or marble. Look underneath the furniture before vacuuming so the vacuum does not
pick up small items such as toys, jewellery, coins, etc.
Kitchen Appliances
Appliances that hang under cabinets save both space and time, as cleaning under them is no longer an issue.
To soften splatters inside the microwave, fill a cup with water and microwave on high for a few minutes. The
steam will loosen any baked on food so you can easily wipe it clean.
Allow burner rings and drip pans from the stove to soak in a sink full of hot, soapy water. This will loosen the
dirt and make them easier to clean. Spray oven racks in a plastic rubbish bag for easier cleaning. Dish cloths and
sponges can be incubators for germs. Launder dish cloths regularly, and microwave damp sponges in the
microwave on high for several minutes to kill bacteria.
Spills
Make it a habit to wipe up all spills immediately when they are much easier to clean. Once the spill has dried and
hardened, it will be more difficult to remove
