The One Important Place You May Be Forgetting To Dust

Recently, I embarked on a plan to have my bedroom repainted. After roughly ten years of the walls donning the same paint color we had chosen upon moving into our home, it was certainly overdue for a fresh coat of paint. I began cleaning, decluttering, and moving furniture to the middle of the room to prep the space before the painters arrived. Little did I know the misstep I had made in my dusting and vacuuming practice would derail the entire preparation process for paint. 

When I pulled my bed away from the wall to clear the space for the painters, I noticed copious amounts of dust on the carpet and a boatload of dust bunnies clinging to the wall. The wall area, carpet, and wooden headboard were completely covered in a thick layer of dust. “Whether used for storage space or left clear of items, dust and hair can accumulate under the bed,” says Katie Dills, based in Columbia, Maryland, who is Brand President of The Cleaning Authority.

I also figured it was unhealthy to breathe in that dust each night when sleeping. “Dust is everywhere, which is why it’s important to do everything you can to keep dust levels in the home as low as possible–especially for those with allergies and health concerns,” says Michael Green, Chief Operations Officer of  One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning who is based in Waco, Texas.

I questioned how I could have missed dusting this space since I use it daily, but I also realized that since this space is hidden from plain sight, it might be easy to forget time and again. Here’s how to learn from my mistake and make a plan for dusting this space.

Vacuum Under Beds

Running your vacuum under the bed each time you vacuum is a great way to battle the accumulation of dust under the bed. “Using a handheld vacuum or a standard vacuum with a nozzle attachment should get the job done,” says Dills. Nozzle attachments ensure you can reach farther under the bed, especially if your vacuum won’t easily fit under the bed. If you have hardwoods, a simple swipe of dusting mop or microfiber cloth attached to a long handle is an easy trick for grabbing dust under the bed and working along baseboards to free dust particles and wipe them away. 

Clean the Wall Behind the Bed

To access this space, I moved my bed (with help!) to the middle of the room. I realize the challenge of always moving a heavy piece of furniture each time to clean. So, there are other ways. “For easy dust removal, a microfiber duster is a great tool to use around the home and is perfect for any hard-to-reach areas,” Consider one with a long handle so that moving furniture can be avoided. Run it across the backside of the bed and the wall to be sure to clear dust that might be clinging to the wall of the headboard. These are also great for cleaning between small spaces if your bed has spindles or small crevices. 

Clean the Air Vents 

Despite the inaccessibility of all ductwork and air vents in your home and the challenge of cleaning them, it is essential to take steps to clean what you can easily access. “In addition to replacing AC filters on a monthly basis, homeowners may want to clean their HVAC registers to eliminate the amount of dust and dirt being blown throughout their system and home. This simple task can be done by using a flexible duster or wand attachment on the vacuum,” says Green. You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean the vents and wipe away dust accumulation. “Professional duct cleaning allows technicians to reach deep into your ductwork with special vacuums and spray gentle disinfectants that can help keep your ducts cleaner for months to come,” explains Green. It’s suggested that the ductwork in your home be cleaned every three to five years, or possibly sooner, so it’s important to perform that maintenance regularly. 

Move the Furniture to Clean 

Once a year or more, if you can, it’s a good idea to consider moving large furniture pieces or pulling them to the middle of the room to deeply clean and vacuum walls and flooring that have been hidden behind or under furniture. Dust, pet dander, and hair can accumulate quickly around the edges of rooms and baseboards, so these areas at the base of a room or hidden behind furniture are commonly missed during a regular vacuuming session. “Lint rollers can be the most versatile cleaning tools,” Dills suggests. Using a lint roller on upholstered pieces of furniture like couches and occasional chairs is an easy and quick way to combat the dust that settles on the fabric on the back that faces that lines the wall or any other part of the fabric as well. 

Consider Other Spaces You Might Be Missing

Behind and under the bed is an often-missed space when dusting and vacuuming, but chances are, there are other places you might want to consider checking, especially if you already have the long-handled duster or microfiber cloth out and ready to go. “Often left untouched outside of adjusting for sunlight or privacy, blinds and curtains pick up dust and debris that can build up over time,” says Dills. Special dusters are made specifically for blinds, and many fabric curtains and drapes are machine washable. Check for dust on the top shelves of closets, ceiling fan blades, and behind appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers.