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Dusting Tips

No matter how frequently you cleanyour home, dust will form and re-formcontinually, settling on every surface.Dust consists of many elements

including tiny particles of fabric, deadskin cells, pollen and microscopic dustmites which can cause allergic react ion.Keeping a home well-dusted nor onlyhelps to reduce this risk but can alsohelp appliances to work much moreefficiently. A coating of dust on freezerand refrigerator coils prevents hearfront being expelled, resulting in theappliance working harder to keep thetemperature low.

Polishing is also an important part ofkeeping a home looking its best. Thepolishing of any surface whetherFrench-polished furniture or brass doorknobs - needs to be done carefully, orthe results can ruin its finish. Thepolishing of everyday items is lessspecialized and time-consuming, butneeds to be done on a regular basis.Keeping all surfaces smooth and shinywill help to make the removal of dustand dirt easier, and will prevent stainsfrom penetrating.

Remove dust from artificial or dried-flower arrangements by blowing it away with a hair dryer.

Dusting equipment

A traditional feather duster is verygentle and can be used to flick the dustoff every item in the house, as it isunlikely to damage even the mostdelicate piece. It will collect very littledust , however, so most of it rends to fallon the surfaces beneath, which in turnwill need to he dusted or vacuumed.Replace feather dusters every couple ofyears, as they rend to shed theirfeathers.

A 'static wand' (static duster) is alsovery useful. Look for the nylon-flufftype with the extendable handle thiswill reach into the corners of ceilingsand on to light shades.

"File most effective types of dustingcloths are the traditional soft-cottonones, or home-made ollets muck: frothold T-shirts. Keep a pile of these tohand, and wash them after each Ilse. Atiny amount of water sprayed on beforeuse will prevent the dust from floatingoff the surface of t he duster.

Frequent vacuuming is particularlyrecommended for homes in which dustmites cause allergic reaction, butremember to replace the dust bagsregularly and to use them inconjunction with an insecticidal sprayspecifically designed to eradicate dustmires. Vacuuming is also a particularlyeffective way of removing dust that hassettled on the mesh or grilles onelectrical equipment.

EFFECTIVE DUSTING

Wipe hard-to-reach crevices on staircarpets with a damp cloth.

As dust will float downwards tosettle on the surfaces beneath, alwaysdust from the top of a room down.

Reduce the amount of dust attractedto the surface of a television, (stereo) system, or glass-topped tablesthat are prone to static electricity bywiping them with a cloth wrung out ina solution mixed with 15 m1/1 tbspliquid fabric conditioner and 150 m1/1/4pt/2/3 cup warm water.

Shake duvets, pillows, small rugsand loose cushions outdoors to freshenthem and remove dust where it canblow away in the breeze.

Do not forget to dust the panels andmouldings on traditional dices, or therop edges, as dust will dull thepaintwork over time.

A baby's bottle-brush works wonders on louvre doors iind between andbehind radiators.

Polishing wood

Polishing wood will help to nourish it,but do not use liquid or spray polishescontaining silicone or acrylic resin onantique wood, as they will seal the surface. Genuine beeswax is the besttype of polish to use, and will have beenresponsible for helping old furniture tomaintain its sheen over the years. Mostwooden fin-nit-tire tends to he varnished,lacquered or waxed. Oiled wood has asoft, low sheen and should not hepolished. Instead, use a proprietarywood oil applied sparingly with a softcloth. Rub this in the direction of thegrain and gently buff to a lustre using aclean, soft cloth.

If you wish, save money by makingyour own furniture polish. Combine30 ml/2 tbsp each of water andturpentine with 450 m1/1/4 pr/2 cups ofboiled linseed oil and mix together thoroughly. This polish requires a lot ofbuffing but will give a rich, deep shineto wood.

Apply polish to furniture and buff in thedirection of the wood grain using a clean, softcloth or duster.

Oiled wood only requires re-oiling onceor twice a year to maintain its looks.

WOOD-POLISHING TIPS

Always wipe a wocxl surface with adamp, lint-free cloth first to removedust and grime, or the polishing actionwill simply grind them in.

Select a polish that is recommendedlot the type of wood or finish required.

Colours added to some waxes willhelp to disguise line scratches andblemishes at the same time as polishingthe surface.

If it has done so, remove the flakinglayer using the finest-grade of steelwool dipped in a little turpentine.Wipe it off immediately and re-polishto blend in.

Apply floor polish sparingly, as too touch will be difficult to shine and willcause dust to stick as it settles. Use onlyone type of floor polish, as differentmakes can react with one anotherresulting in a patchy, tacky iinish.

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