Manjusha Anand, Executive Housekeeper, Della Adventure & Resorts Pvt Ltd
Manjusha Anand, Executive Housekeeper, Della Adventure & Resorts Pvt Ltd, Lonavala weighs in on efficient ways to prevent and remove dust.
Dust-free mattresses
While making a bed, you need to air out the mattress and pillows by stripping off their covers and linen, and leave them for at least 5-7 minutes. This allows the mattress to breathe.
Scheduled monthly vacuuming (with an upholstery brush attachment) is one of the many ways to keep mattresses dust-free. Ensure all areas are covered by overlapping strokes. Changing the mattress protector on a fortnightly basis will also help. Steam blast treatment once in six months will do wonders.
Cleaning upholstery
Regular effective vacuuming with a HEPA filter once everyday, followed by sheer dusting with damp cloth once a day will ensure that no dust settles on upholstery. Shampooing upholstered furniture once a quarter will ensure its freshness and longevity. At times, lint rollers can help in quick dust removal from sofas, lampshades and blinds, but cannot be used often, as it is not cost-effective.
Other surfaces
Removing dust from non-floor surfaces need not be a time-consuming process. A microfibre duster can be twisted, turned or rolled to bring the magic out. Soft and hard bristled brushes in different forms also play a vital role here.
Design interventions
- Smooth, plain and laminated surfaces/furniture tend to collect/gather less dust as compared to rough texture, raised patterns and grooves.
- Furniture should be made of good quality teak wood and not ply boards, which cause shredding.
- Non-porous stone-tops wherever possible ease the task of cleaning.
- Upholstered furniture should have a minimum of decorative buttons or should be plain, as this accumulates dust easily. Upholstery should be easily detachable for easy cleaning.
- During the construction phase, every duct and shaft should be well layered and laminated, similar to the interior walls. With this, the loose cement corners will be eliminated, contributing to dust control.
Stepwise cleaning of an unused room
- Ensure the AC is off. Remove all soft furnishings and send for washing/tumble-drying as applicable.
- Starting from one corner, using the right brush or suction plate, vacuum the areas from top (AC ducts) to bottom (through the verticals) in an overlapping method. Suction hose can be used for grooves and corners.
- Vacuum the mattresses, pillows, bed corners, bed-frames, under beds, furniture, sofas etc.
- Dampen the microfibre duster with a disinfectant and clean vertical surfaces, wall panels, doors, wardrobe, furniture etc.
- Clean the window glass and mirrors.
- Bathroom can be steamed with a steam machine and disinfectant. Once all these are done, AC can be put on.
- Loose soot from the AC may be thrown in the air. Hence, a second dusting with another clean microfibre duster (dry or damp) may be needed, followed by a final wet mopping with a disinfectant floor cleaner.
- Put the upholstery back in, make the bed, then again for the last time, dust furniture surfaces and mop the room. While making the bed, the lint from linen may have shed off)