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5 Ways to Wipe Out Dust Fast

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Get rid of the toughest dust (and prevent it from building up in the first place!) with these easy tricks. 

1. Purify Indoor Air With a NASA Strategy

Houseplants such as peace lily, bamboo palm, and chrysanthemum are such efficient air purifiers, NASA recommends them to help clean the air in your home! Yet the plants themselves can get dusty, which blocks their filtering powers. To the rescue: “Apply a little bit of mineral oil to the leaves using a paper towel,” says cleaning expert Lily Cameron. The oil creates a shield on the leaves, so they can still filter the air but the dust won’t settle on them!

2. Keep Blinds Clean With a Citrus “Shield”

Blinds and baseboards attract dust because air circulates more easily around them, thanks to drafts and heating. “Just wipe them down with a cloth dampened with a solution made of one part lemon juice to two parts warm water,” suggests Cameron. “The acid in lemon forms a barrier that prevents dust from settling and also blocks static electricity, so dust will be repelled in the first place!” 

3. Get This Hard-to-Reach Spot With the Pillowcase Trick

One of the most difficult dust magnets to tackle? Your ceiling fan. To easily clean the blades without getting your hands (and the rest of the house!) dirty, spritz the inside of a pillowcase with a solution made of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. With the fan turned off, slip it onto each blade, then slide it off — all the dust will be caught in your pillowcase “trap!”

4. Head Off Household Buildup With a Humidifier 

Drier winter air makes it easier for dust to go airborne. The simple fix? “Keep your home’s humidity level at about 50 percent — most humidifiers let you set a specific humidity percentage,” says cleaning expert Harriet Jones. “Not only will it make your home feel more comfortable, it’ll also help weigh down dust particles so they can’t spread all over your house.” Just be sure not to go over 60 percent humidity because too much moisture creates the ideal environment for dust mites.

5. KO Dirt at the Door By Clicking Your Heels

Dirt we track in on our shoes makes up about 60 percent of the dust in our home! Luckily, just tapping your shoes together three times on your doormat before you enter is shown to shake off 40 percent of dirt. 

This article originally appeared in our print magazine. 

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