Dusting in summer can be a constant chore, as no matter how often you wipe down a room, you will notice that horrible grey film clinging to your walls after a day or two. I live in an old Victorian house, and the skirting boards always seem to be covered in dust, even when I clean them daily, which makes my home look like I am decorating for Halloween.
However, I recently discovered that there is actually an easy way to get rid of dust and stop it from coming back. All you need are some dryer sheets from your laundry. That might sound bizarre, but certain areas of your home, like skirting boards, can generate a lot of static electricity, which causes dust and other dander to stick to the surface.
Dryer sheets are designed to remove static electricity from clothes so they do not cling together in a tumble dryer, and will also work to remove static from your walls.
They do not actually clean away the dust, but they leave a thin coating of fabric softener on a surface which acts as a natural barrier.
I was sceptical of cleaning with dryer sheets at first, but after trying it out, I was amazed that my skirting boards stayed completely clean and dust-free for weeks rather than just a few days.
How to use dryer sheets to keep dust out of your home
All I did was clean my skirting boards like I normally do. I used some antibacterial wipes to get rid of most of the dust, then used a cloth and some soapy water to deep clean them.
Once my lower wall was completely dust-free, I dried it with another cloth and then ran a dryer sheet all over the skirting boards.
I made sure to get into areas where dust is known to stick but is often neglected, like a corner of a room and a radiator.
After a few days, I noticed that my skirting boards were still completely clean. It has now been over a week, and they still look polished, as if they have just been freshly cleaned.
My bedroom skirting boards are still completely dust-free, but I have noticed a little bit of grime is starting to appear on the coat of my living room boards.
How long the dryer effect lasts will depend on how often you have your windows open, as pollen and other debris are more likely to enter your home in summer
However, I am really happy with the results and using dryer sheets is now part of my weekly cleaning schedule to keep my home looking fantastic for the rest of the summer.
