Summer is now in full swing which means many of us have our windows wide open and fans blasting to combat the heat, but this can also cause dust to sweep into our homes. In July, dust seems to settle faster than you can clean it away, especially on skirting boards, as static electricity will cause any debris to stick firmly to the surface.
Static electricity builds up when the air is dry in plastic or wooden material, and will act like a magnet to attract any particles in the air like pollen, pet hair and dust. This means skirting boards will quickly become dusty again no matter how often you clean them, but Zahra Mukadam, an expert from the Original Factory Shop has shared a simple way to repel dust is with a dryer sheet.
Zahra said: “Skirting boards often collect dust and dirt, but cleaning them doesn’t have to be a chore. Use a dryer sheet to wipe along your skirting boards. It not only picks up dust but also leaves a subtle fresh scent behind.”
It might sound odd to use a dryer sheet outside of laundry, but they are specifically designed to be anti-static to stop clothes sticking together in the tumble dryer.
If you wipe a dryer sheet on a skirting coat, it will leave behind a thin coating that reduces static, so dust will slide off easily instead of sticking to the surface.
This coating lasts a long time and makes the skirting boards less sticky, making it harder for any summer debris to cling onto it.
Dust can be a summer nuisance, but it doesn’t have to turn into a never-ending chore as using a dryer sheet is a simple, budget-friendly trick to keep dust away.
How to use dryer sheets to keep dust away from your home
To begin, it is best to clean your skirting boards like you normally would to get rid of any excess dust.
Simply fill a bucket with soapy hot water, use a sponge to wipe down your skirting board and then you can use a clean cloth to dry the surface.
Next, take a dryer sheet and wipe it over the skirting board. Make sure to get into the corners and any grooves as these areas tend to be the dustiest.
Your skirting boards should stay dust free and smell fresh for at least once week, but can last longer depending often you have your windows open.
This simple cleaning technique can also be used to stop dust sticking to blinds, bookshelves or any other dusty area of your home, so it will be cleaner without much effort.
