Leaving your windows open can feel great in hot weather, but it can also let in lots of dust and pollen that seem to settle everywhere, no matter how often you clean your home. Blinds and window sills often collect dust because they are made of materials that create static electricity which pulls in dust and other debris like a magnet.
If you do not want to have to keep wiping down surfaces every day then John Anderton, an expert from Stylux Blinds, has shared that a simple way to repel dust is with dryer sheets.
John said: “Inexpensive tumble dryer sheets will make a good job of cleaning wooden, vinyl, or metal blinds.”
He added: “The dryer sheet will pick up the dust as you go, rather than redistributing it around the room, and remove static at the same time. This means that further dust isn’t attracted back to the blind as quickly.”
Dryer sheets are designed to prevent static electricity in laundry to keep clothes separated in the dryer, and these anti-static properties can also prevent dust settling on surfaces.
It will get rid of any static build up on a surface but also leaves a thin layer of residue that acts like a protect surface as it helps stop dust sticking to blinds or window stills.
You not only have to clean less often but dust will stick to the dryer sheets as you wipe down blinds and window stills so it also makes them much easier to clean.
How to use dryer sheets to prevent dust on blinds and window stills
To begin, shut your window if it is opened and make sure the blinds are fully lowered or extended. Then, use a fresh dryer sheet to first gently wipe along the window sill and then run another fresh sheet along each slat on the blinds.
Use a new dryer sheet if needed if the one you are using becomes really dusty. If you need to, you can also use a little warm water and washing up liquid to ensure you get rid of all the dust.
After cleaning the blinds and windowsill, give them one final wipe with a fresh dryer sheet to leave a protective anti-static coating.
Dust will stay away longer, helping your home stay clean and allergen-free all summer. How long the anti-static coating lasts depends on how often you open your windows, but typically it keeps dust at bay for at least a week, and sometimes up to a whole month.
