How Often Should You Really Be Dusting Your Furniture?

If you dislike dusting, it might make you feel better to know that you're not alone. According to a survey conducted by Better Homes & Gardens, dusting is one of the most-hated top ten household chores. However, while you may not enjoy dusting, you should take time to do it because, well, it's never going to go away otherwise. Not to mention, if you don't clean it up, more dust will accumulate.

For being so small, dust is composed of many things, including skin flakes, pet dander, dirt tracked in from outside, and fibers from your furniture and bedding. As you may already know, dust is everywhere. It can even get up your nose and in your mouth, according to NPR. Dust that builds up on surfaces attracts dust mites, and these microscopic critters excrete fecal matter that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma (via the American Lung Association). With so much of it on just about every surface in the house, how often should you wipe it up?

While there is no hard and fast rule for dusting, there are things to consider that can help you determine how often you should dust. These factors include how many pets you have, how much foot traffic is in your house, and your lifestyle. Pets and lots of foot traffic cause more dust to accumulate on surfaces. If you open windows often or if you have carpeting, you should dust more because dirt and dust blow in from the outdoors and carpeting collects more dust than a hard floor (via Mind Body Green). If someone in your home has a dust (or dust mite) allergy, dusting often is advised (via The Spruce). Plus, if you pay attention, you will notice some surfaces need more attention than others.

If you're wondering about the best way to dust, cleaning expert Melissa Maker told Mind Body Green the best cloth for dusting is a moist, but not wet, microfiber cloth. She also suggested wiping surfaces in an "S" pattern to trap more dust.