<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Fighting Hidden Dirt  Baseboards: I like to put on old socks, spray a bit of cleaning fluid on them and slide my feet along the baseboard, sticking my toes into corners to get at that hard-to-reach dust. It&amp;#039;s good exercise and the cleaning gets done.  Sofa crevices: Remove any pillows and cushions and vacuum the base of the couch and all its crevices. Take pillows outside and beat them to get rid of dust and pet hair. Use a long-handle, dampened dust mop or the vacuum attachment to reach the dust under hard-to-move furniture.  Pleated shades, miniblinds and louvered doors: To lift off dust, wipe a new paintbrush over the slats vertically, then horizontally. Clean the brush.  Cabinets and armoires: Run a finger across the top edge. If there&amp;#039;s a thick coat of dust, vacuum with a brush attachment.  Doors and molding: Use a long-handle brush to wipe off the tops of doors and to go around the highest part of any molding.  Skylights: If you can&amp;#039;t get your vacuum to reach these areas, use a mop or broom handle or a fishing pole and cover it with an old T-shirt to do the job. Ceiling fans: Get out that step stool and use a long-handle brush dampened with a cleanser appropriate for the fan and gently remove the dirt.  Chandeliers:  Use a soft, natural-bristle artist&amp;#039;s paintbrush or a fine pastry brush.  Wall outlets and switch plates: Dust the tops of the outlet covers and wipe switch plates with a cloth dampened with water only.  Air vents: Fuzzy dust and cobwebs cling to heating vents and air conditioners. Vacuum well to suck up this gunk. Plant saucers: Yucky stuff accumulates on these, so wipe often with a damp rag.  Bookcases: Take books off the shelves to remove the dust they&amp;#039;re sitting on. Then hand-dust or carefully vacuum.  Unexpected dirt traps: Don&amp;#039;t forget pet doors! One night, while I was watching TV in bed, a snake slithered across my chest (I do live in Texas)! After investigating, I realized it had come through my dog&amp;#039;s pet door. The flap magnets needed dusting so they&amp;#039;d shut properly. I don&amp;#039;t think I&amp;#039;ve ever tackled a cleaning job so fast.   Dust-Busting Basics  Don&amp;#039;t just push it around A dry cloth just moves the dirt into the air or onto the floor. Your goal is to remove it. Use a multipurpose spray cleanser, furniture polish or plain water to dampen the cloth or duster. Microfiber cloths and electrostatic wipes also work well.   Curtains and draperies Pop washables into the dryer on the air setting for several minutes to get rid of dust.   Cobwebs  To remove cobwebs from high corners, stand on a small step stool or a stepladder and use the wand on the vacuum. Or, put an old sock on a yardstick; secure with rubber bands. Poke it into the area to break up the webs. Or, wrap a tennis ball in a cleaning cloth and gently toss it up. Take care to catch it on its way down so nothing gets damaged.  High-tech dust catchers To remove dirt, crumbs and pet hair from fax machines, scanners, printers and PCs, turn off the device, unplug it, then gently vacuum the back and the sides. Use the crevice attachment to vacuum the area around the equipment.  Computer keyboard: Unplug it and turn it upside down. Gently tap to loosen food and other debris. Wipe keys with a microfiber cloth or alcohol-based wipes.  Entertainment center: Don&amp;#039;t forget to check the back of your audio equipment for dust and hair. Vacuum or pick up grit with a microfiber cloth.   Bathroom &amp;amp;amp; Laundry Checklist   Toilet tank Remove the lid -- you may be stunned by what you see. Sand and other debris can accumulate and prevent the flapper from working correctly. To clean, turn off water at the base. Flush the toilet, which will empty the tank, then wipe the inside with paper towels.   Dryer vents  Lint filter: Pick out the lint often, as it can be a fire hazard. Fabric softeners can also coat the filter. Use a scrub brush and hot, soapy water to clean.  Outside dryer-vent hood: Check the screen or flapper -- pick off any lint you see. Hose down the hood.  Kitchen Checklist  Refrigerator  Top: Use hot, soapy water to remove the grease and dust. Then make the next cleaning easier by covering the area with plastic wrap or shelf liner paper.  Drip trays: They collect lots of food debris, so wash regularly with hot water. Filter below the door: Use hot, soapy water to clean.  Gasket: Wash with mild soap and water. Don&amp;#039;t use bleach, because it may cause the gasket to become brittle and crack.   Oven hood, burner grates, broiler racks If removable, run these through a dishwasher cycle. Microwave vents Pet hair and kitchen dust can build up and clog the vent. Wipe or vacuum regularly.   Dishwasher  Yes, the inside of your dishwasher accumulates dirt and gunk! Inspect the bottom reservoir and drain hose, where grease and food particles could get trapped. Push a wad of paper towels or a large sponge into the bottom to absorb any of this stuff. Then pour several cups of household vinegar into the bottom and run a cycle.   Garbage disposal splash guard  Nasty junk could be sticking to the underside of the black plastic splash guard on the disposal. After turning the disposal off, scrub with a short-handle brush and hot, soapy water. Can opener  Bits of food on the cutters and blades can attract bacteria. To clean, dampen a new toothbrush and dip it into baking soda; scrub well.  Chairs and table Inspect legs and braces for food spatters; sponge off. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a16527/dust-dirt-cleaning-aug06/?src=shelter_footer>