Importance of Proper Dusting

6/13/2017 (Permalink)

What is dust?

It is extremely small substances (many pieces are not visible to the naked eye) that become airborne, travel, and then settle back down to earth, landing on our desks, tables, chairs, window sills, blinds, pretty much any surface you can think of can hold dust. Sand and soil are the most common dust particles but pollen, soot, hair, spoors, mites, fabric fibers, plant material, micro-sized decaying insects, and even dead skin contribute to the make-up of that nasty stuff called dust.

Why is dusting an office building so important?

Dusting is an essential task your employees need to do in every office building.  Visible dust creates an unsightly work space, which people may translate into an image of neglect. In addition to being unappealing, dusty offices can contribute to “sick office syndrome.” A well dusted office building translates a positive and pleasing image to all building visitors and occupants. A clean working environment also encourages neatness, promotes better work habits and can reduce absenteeism.

Dusting is also essential because it improves environmental safety.  Accumulated dust can be an irritation to eyes, lungs and skin, and plays havoc with individuals who have allergies. If dust is left to accumulate, it can soil hands, clothing and paper items and also cause damage to electronic equipment. Airborne dust and contaminants can even spread infection. Proper dusting is an important part of effective sanitation practices.

If proper dusting is not done on a regular basis, dust builds up, hardens and becomes thick in corners and hard to reach areas.  Dust can stain furniture and cause an unsightly film on glass and hard surfaces. If dust is left long enough on hard surfaces, it can eventually cause permanent discoloration. Accumulation of dust can also interfere with the proper operation of a building's heating and cooling systems.

To correctly dust office buildings, you should have the following equipment and supplies on hand:  microfiber cloths (damp cloth for removing fingerprints and coffee rings, and dry for standard dusting), static dusters, extension dusters (for the hard to reach areas), cotton cloths, furniture polish, all-purpose cleaner, and window cleaner. Back pack vacuums with brush attachments or crevice tools should also be used for getting into hard to reach areas. And of course, personal protection equipment (gloves, glasses, dust mask, etc.)

How often should you dust? Dusting should be done at least weekly, especially on horizontal surfaces. Sides of desks, file cabinets and other vertical surfaces should be dusted once every two to four weeks or as needed. A good general rule to follow is if the surface is above eye level or below knee level; dust it every two to four weeks. Surfaces that are between eye level and knee level should be dusted on a weekly basis.