A complete clean encompasses your entire home – from floor to ceiling and everything in between. The dirt, dust and other allergens on the surfaces in your home can – and will – become airborne. Learn how to clean these surfaces thoroughly to keep as many pesky particles as possible out of your home’s air.

Above the Floor Cleaning

Furniture

Most people have two types of furniture throughout their home: upholstery like sofas, cushioned chairs and ottomans, and wood, including dining tables, bookshelves and dressers. Both accumulate household dust and dirt, and both need to be cleaned regularly.

Upholstered Furniture
Dust and dirt may not be visible on fabric and leather covered furniture like sofas, chairs and ottomans, but it’s there! These furniture pieces are actually collecting more dust than your wood furniture, even though it’s more noticeable on wood. The best way to clean upholstered furniture is with a vacuum’s on-board attachments and make sure to do it often. (See “Selecting the Right Vacuum” for more information on available vacuum attachments.)

Remember to remove the cushions, if you can, to clean the bottoms as well as underneath and between them. Don’t forget the pillows, either! Decorative pillows are also gathering dust. In addition, if you have removable slipcovers, have them professionally cleaned once or twice a year. Check your furniture’s label or owner’s guide for details on how to do this without damaging the fabric.

Wood Furniture
Who hasn’t noticed dust glistening on the dining room table or bookcase? Dust quickly becomes noticeable on wood furniture, so make sure to dust often. And remember to dust in, around and underneath your furniture!

Use a slightly dampened soft, cloth to avoid spreading dust through the air while cleaning. You also can use some vacuum attachments to capture dust from wood furniture. Some brush attachments are soft enough for wood, and an on-board electrostatic duster grabs dust and dirt like a magnet. The Eureka Altima™, features a duster that is self-cleaning to avoid messy shaking and keeps dust and dirt contained in the vacuum.

Don’t forget the collectibles, knick-knacks, frames and books that call your furniture home. These surfaces need frequent dusting, too!

Kitchen Surfaces

Most people know to clean their kitchen for bacteria and germs, but the kitchen is also a haven for dust, mold and allergens.

Countertops
Clean your kitchen thoroughly every day, including wiping countertops and other common surfaces such as refrigerator handles, microwaves and telephones. There are a variety of multi-surface wipes that make it simple to prevent mold and bacteria from growing on these surfaces. A hand-held vacuum, like the Rapido™ from Electrolux, with wheels to easily glide along countertops and pick up crumbs, makes this everyday cleaning a snap.

At least once a week remove everything from the countertop and clean thoroughly with a multi-surface cleaner – especially under small appliances like coffee makers, toasters and blenders. Every week you should evaluate which appliances you’ve used in the past seven days. If you haven’t used it, find a place in a cupboard or pantry for the item. The more things on the countertops, the more places for dust to hide!

Hard-to-Reach Spots
Dust is everywhere, and because it’s not your main focus in the kitchen, it can build up. Use your vacuum crevice attachment to clean under and behind large appliances, and don’t forget to dust above cupboards and on top of your refrigerator on a regular basis.

Sink
Do you hate to do the dishes? It’s not fun, but someone needs to do them daily to avoid mold and mildew! Never leave standing water in your kitchen sink for long periods of time, and leave your sponge where it can drain and dry quickly. A sponge sitting moist in the sink is a haven for bacteria and mold. Microwave your sponge several times a week to zap it clean and use bleach to clean unwanted mold and bacteria from your sink drains on a regular basis.

Trashcans, Pantries and Refrigerators
Mold grows in your trashcan, on last week’s leftovers in the refrigerator and even on expired products in the cupboard. Empty the trash and do a clean sweep of your cupboards and fridge at least once a week to avoid growing mold and increasing the mold spores in your home’s air.

The Bathroom

The bathroom can be one of the dirtiest rooms in the home and is a haven for mold! The following simple tips will help you keep your bathroom fresh and clean, too:

• Avoid Dirt Build-up! – Remove dust and germs by cleaning the sink, faucet, mirror, shower drain and toilet seat at least once per week.

• Hit the Floor – Mop the floors at least once every two weeks, and vacuum floors when vacuuming other rooms of the home. Hand-held vacs and your vacuum’s crevice tool can get hard-to-reach places, like behind the commode, quickly and easily!

• Keep the Air Flowing – Keep mold at bay by using your bathroom’s ventilation system both during and after a shower. Also spray the inside and outside of your shower with an after-shower spray to prevent mold and grime build-up. If you’re pressed for time in the morning (and who isn’t?) there are even automatic systems available to make this an even easier task.

• Change Your Liner – To avoid mold on your shower curtain liner, every three to four months replace vinyl curtain styles or wash nylon fabric styles.

• Toss the Washcloth – Did you know towels take forever to dry? Swap your washcloths for quick-drying synthetic poufs, and wash your towels at least once per week!

Hard-to-Reach Spots

Out of sight may mean out of mind, but it doesn’t mean out of the air! Dust and dirt are hiding everywhere – on your window treatments, ceiling fans and crown molding. These spots need to be cleaned regularly, too. The following tips will shed some light on cleaning hard-to-reach spots!

Window Treatments
Drapes and curtains need to be laundered several times a year, as well as vacuumed carefully between washings. You can vacuum curtains carefully on a light setting with your vacuum’s brush attachment. Blinds and shades can be taken down and washed several times a year, depending on the material, but can also be vacuumed between deep-cleanings. Most manufacturers recommend weekly cleaning of cellular, vertical and wood blinds. (And don’t forget the windows behind the shades, which should be washed regularly, too!)

Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures at least once a month with an extendable duster. Ceiling fans especially can spread dust and allergens throughout the air when turned on, therefore don’t forget to look up when you’re cleaning. Also, if you are dusting with a damp cloth, be sure light fixtures are not hot when you dust them, since wet light bulbs can explode!

Crown Molding
Dust crown moldings and baseboards with your preferred duster once a month to avoid build-up of dust and debris. (See “Above the Floor Cleaning – Furniture” for more information on our suggested methods of dusting.)

Ceilings and Walls
Dust and dirt can even cling to walls! Ceilings and walls should be washed once a year with a mild washing solution. Many homemade recipes with vinegar, baking soda and ammonia exist, but Woolite and water will suffice. To reach the tops of walls and ceilings, affix a terrycloth towel to a Swiffer or wet mop. Start at the top and work your way down to avoid streaking.

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