Why You Should Dust First When Cleaning Your Home

Cleaning the home is not many people's favorite task, but it's a necessary chore for an orderly house. The issue for many is how convoluted the task can get — in what order do you accomplish each task, what products do you use, and how do you use them? There isn't one right way or order in which to clean your home, but there are methods to make it easier.

For example, dusting should be done at least once a week — specifically dining tables, coffee tables, end tables, and so on, per Dirt Busters. Dusting regularly not only prevents more dust from forming and makes your furniture look spotless, but it also removes pollen and other air pollutants from your home, which is especially helpful for those with allergies and/or people who keep their windows open. When it comes to your cleaning schedule and routine, it's common advice to start with dusting, but the reason isn't always clear.

When gearing up to clean your house, you should always prepare to dust first. According to Five Star Furnishing Care, this is due to the fact not every dust particle is swept up with your duster or rag. Especially if you're dry dusting, the particles don't disappear, but instead settle onto the floor or other surfaces. So, if you clean your floors or make your bed first and dust second, for example, the dust would just fly around and settle on top of your clean floors or bedding.

This is why it's also recommended to dust your home from top to bottom. This means that if you need to clean a fireplace mantle or something with multiple tiers or levels, start at the top section and work your way down. The dust particles will likely settle on the bottom levels, so there's no point in cleaning them first.