Should You Dust or Hoover First? Why?


Dusting and Hoovering are two essential elements of housecleaning. But which one should you do first? Dusting or Hoovering?

You should dust before hoovering. When dusting, the dust particles, pet hair, and allergens stick to the duster or are removed from the surface and float into the air, eventually landing on the floor.

Read further for an in-depth explanation of why you should dust before hoovering. I’ll also explain how long to wait after dusting before you should Hoover, whether or not you can use your Hoover to dust, and how often to dust and Hoover.

Why Should You Dust Before Hoovering?

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that you should always dust before hoovering. But what are the reasons behind this?

You should dust first and then hoover because doing so removes the misplaced dust that can exacerbate allergies, stain carpets, and attract bacteria. Hoovering removes these particles, resulting in a cleaner house.

Hoovering before dusting means that the dust would remain on your floor until your next vacuum. If you have carpets, the dust can become embedded in the fibers, and be more difficult to Hoover out.

Large amounts of dust in the carpet fibers can form stains, which can only be removed by shampooing. (sources: Martha Stewart and Bustle)

a person dusting the wooden floor with a yellow rag

How Long To Wait After Dusting Before Hoovering?

So if you are dusting first, how long should you wait after dusting before hoovering?

You should wait five minutes after dusting before hoovering. This gives the dust, dander, and surface dirt time to float down and settle on the floor so that you can easily hoover them.

Waiting five minutes for the dust to settle doesn’t have to be inconvenient. For example, you could dust your home’s upper level and finish with the ground floor. When hoovering, follow the same pattern, allowing time for the dust to settle.

Can I Use My Hoover to Dust?

Hoovers are excellent appliances for removing dust and surface dirt from your home’s floors and upholstery. Can you use your Hoover to dust to speed up the cleaning process?

You can use your Hoover to dust, but it won’t be as effective as dusting by hand. Your Hoover’s brush attachment works well for dusting, but it won’t be able to reach all the dusty nooks and crannies.

Using your Hoover to dust is an excellent option if you’re in a hurry. If you regularly use your Hoover for dusting, make sure that you dust by hand at least once a month to prevent dust accumulation. (source: New York Magazine)

How Often Should I Dust and Hoover?

Now that you know that it’s best to dust before hoovering, how often should you do it?

You should dust and hoover once a week and dust thoroughly every three months. However, you’ll need to do it more often if you have:

  • Pets
  • Kids
  • A large household
  • Allergies
  • High-traffic areas

I’ll discuss the reasons behind this in more detail below:

  • Dust and hoover thoroughly every three months. Your once-a-week Hoovering and dusting should address the most commonly-used spaces. However, you should do a deeper Hoovering and dusting every quarter. This should involve cleaning baseboards, behind furniture, and unseen corners.
  • Dust and hoover more often if you have pets. It’s normal for pets to shed fur, and you may want to dust and Hoover more than once a week if you have pets, especially long-haired ones.
  • Dust and hoover more often if you have kids. Kids can be messy and accidentally spill crumbs while eating or introduce dirt after playing outside. Consider dusting and Hoovering twice or three times a week if you’re a parent.
  • Dust and hoover more often if you have a large household. The more people living in your home, the more dirt they’ll track in, and the faster your house will become dusty and dirty.
  • Dust and hoover more often if you have allergies. Dust and dander cause allergies, so you might want to hoover and dust several times a week in the spring when allergies tend to act up.
  • Dust and hoover more often if you have high-traffic areas. High-traffic areas include foyers, hallways, and the main living area. These get dustier and accumulate dirt quicker, so you may need to clean these more regularly than once a week.

(sources: ScienceDirect, American Lung Association, Everyday Health, and Mayo Clinic

a man hoovering the floor with a vacuum cleaner

How Can I Reduce How Often I Dust and Hoover?

I explained when you should dust or Hoover more frequently in the previous section. But is there anything you can do to reduce how often you dust and vacuum?

You can reduce how often you dust and Hoover by keeping your windows shut, reducing clutter, and brushing your pets regularly. When you dust, soak your duster in fabric softener beforehand.

When you dust with a fabric softener-impregnated duster, it leaves behind small traces of fabric softener, which is an excellent dust repellent. (source: Lifehacker)

I hope that this guide to dusting and hoovering has been helpful for you. As long as you dust before hoovering, your home should be dust-free for longer. (source: Indoor Air Quality Association)

Gillian

The things I love to buy are clothes, fashion, fragrances/perfume and I'm always on the lookout for accessories and jewellery. I love animals and have had many pets over the years - currently three extremely pampered cats!

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