To think that by 38 i should have heard of damp dusting???

[mumofBeth]

First post but have been lurking for a wee while. So just been told that my DD has a house dust mite allergy. First thing I do is Google to see what I can do to help and find info about hypoallergenic pillows and duvet (no problem with that) then everything I read says to damp dust. I've never heard of this! I can't imagine that a yellow duster will be much use damp so what do I use?? And does it just mean damp with water or is there some magic cleaning formula that I'm missing too??? Surely I should have heard of this before now!!! Any help from the more house proud/better informed would be very welcome!!!

Is uppose you dry dust electrical equipment, tvs etc. But yes damp dust (aka wipe) everything else. I use whatever cloth I have to hand and washing up liquid in the water.

I've never heard of dry dusting?? How would you remove the dust if your cloth wasn't damp? It would just fly around and then settle back down on the furniture again surely.

I can't get my head around wetting a yellow duster

I don't get it... why not? What's to get your head round? You just put it under the tap.

An old towel, cut up and ran under the tap, does the job brilliantly.

It would just fly around and then settle back down on the furniture again surely

People usually do it before vacuuming, so the idea is presumably that the dust goes onto the floor then they vacuum it up.

Lol, happy to be educated on housework, it's not exactly my strong point 😁 Time to up my game!

Before microfibres I used to just run a yellow duster under the tap and wring it out to damp dust, it keeps the dust from floating around, and traps it in the cloth.

I wouldn't bother buying microfibre cloths. A j-cloth will do.

Be careful what you damp dust tho. Eg I dry dust the cast iron surround on my fireplace, the pine bookcase, the oak dining table... Basically damp dusting is for sealed surfaces.

Oh, and I'm over 60 and my own mother called it 'damp dusting'. It's not a new thing.

DS's eczema is affected by dust mites so I 'damp dust' (agreee, silly name, most people would use something damp to clean) with a microfibre cloth and 50/50 vinegar and water with a few drops of clove oil. Apparently it's toxic to dust mites. The vinegar makes the wooden surfaces come out nice too.

" most people would use something damp to clean"

That's what I thought- it's "dry dusting" that seems odd to me.

I use the yellow duster I run them under the tap and wring out until very barely damp and use it on all surfaces (even along the top of my tv as it’s barely damp) I also do skirting boats with it. I can’t understand dusting with a dry duster 🤷🏻‍♀️

My mum taught me to clean like that as a kid - just use a j cloth and clean water.

Fluffy ears OK so do I. I just tell DH I wouldnt dream of it :)

As pp said damp dusting is just wiping isn't it?
Second a microfibre cloth though I wouldn't like to put a yellow duster under the tap it's just wrong it sets my teeth on edge.

J cloths (or equivalent) damp.

In fact have never dusted any other way

In the days of brooms and tea leaves, damp used tea leaves would be thrown onto a carpet before sweeping to 'lay' the dust. Hurrah for hoovers.

No sure if you have got a mattress cover yet but DH has a really sever dustmite allergy and these were recommended by his consultant. www.allergy.uk.com/shop/Alprotec_Allergen_Barrier_Bedding.asp

And yes, damp dust, hoover under beds if you can, wash bedding at 60 degrees (or tumble dry) and/or leave outside to dry - dustmites hate sunshine.

DH also does nasal rinse every morning as well. Uses this. www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_5&crid=27J7FNKK2TSZJ&sprefix=neilm%2Caps%2C151&k=neilmed+sinus+rinse&tag=mumsnetforu03-21 He still hates it 10 years on but the combined efforts have transformed his life - his nose is no longer sore, swollen and bleeding, he can breathe, no more snoring and his season hayfever is now minimal.

I've always damp dusted. Really can't see the point of using a dry cloth to dust, or even worse a feather duster, surely they just move the dust about and flick it in the air.
I just use a J-cloth slightly damp. It's not dripping wet so fine on wood. On shiny surfaces (TV, mirrors, glass), I then dry with an e-cloth to prevent any marks.

My mother had an ancient (pre WW2) book about 'home nursing', which advised damp dusting in the 'sickroom' , so as not to spread germs about. Presumably even more important in the days before antibiotics.

Yellow dusters are the worst thing ever for cleaning.
Microfiber cloths and e-cloths are all you need.

Damp dusting is all you need to do to dust your home. No chemicals needed at all. Fine on all surfaces as he cloth only needs to be barely damp. Stops the dust flying everywhere and cleans well without use if toxins or allergens. I use microfibre cloths.

The yellow cloths are perfect for damp dusting - and a hell of a lot cheaper than e-cloths.

The colour tends to come out of them at first when they're put into hot water, but that's not a problem; if it bothers you, stick them through a wash in the machine first.

You soak them in the hottest water you can bear and squeeze them out until they are, as the name suggests, barely damp, then run them along doorframes, doors, skirting boards, the stairs and any other surface. The dust sticks to the cloth, it comes out when you rinse the cloth and doesn't get flicked into the air to breathe in.

Or just buy a bunch of cheap face flannels and use those instead. It's what happened to the majority of terry nappies in the 20 years after the youngest baby was clean and dry at night, after all.

The other things that are good for dealing with allergies are -

New pillows with protectors.
Hard floors.
Bedding washed at 60.
Curtains washed regularly/blinds wiped down daily.
Vacuuming the house every day until it's immaculate and then cutting down to every other/every 3rd but being ready to increase the frequency again if symptoms reappear.
Vacuuming the mattresses daily at first, then putting on protectors once no dust comes off the things.
Doors on bookcases. It's amazing the difference it makes.
A flat microfibre mop - often called a 'Sweep' by contract cleaners - make it damp, push it around daily.
Wiping over any pets regularly with a warm, damp cloth. My cats actually rather enjoy it now, as they seem to think of it as they're being cleaned by their real Mum rather than by their slave

Basically, you need to blitz the place like you've never blitzed it before.

Strong scents can set allergies off, though. I'd suggest you use something unscented for each job at first - there are plenty of brands out there that don't have the pong power of Zoflora (and stay clear of Mr Muscle, whatever you do), leave off on room scents or air fresheners, no aerosols, and if you do use a cleaning chemical, spray it onto a cloth rather than into the air.

I didn't know what the majority of cleaning terms meant until I was in my 30s, simply because I grew up in a fucking hoarder's midden. But now I know, the house is immaculate. And damp dusted.

Microfibres cloths are fab. Soak then squeeze out excess water. I use this on wooden beds and a tile topped table.