7 places hidden dust builds up fast – plus expert tips on tackling these 'notorious dust collectors'

Dusting is an integral part of any regular housekeeping routine, but are you remembering to tackle the troublesome hidden spots?

Areas like bookshelves, baseboards, and behind the TV can quickly collect dust without you noticing, increasing common allergens in your home and even affecting the performance of appliances and electronics.

Here, professional cleaners share their cleaning tips for ticking off these key tasks.

7 places hidden dust builds up fast

1. Behind appliances

Undoubtedly, there are plenty of cleaning tasks that are a waste of time, but skipping cleaning behind appliances is a surefire way to find yourself dealing with hidden dust.

As Alicia Sokolowski, cleaning expert, president and co-CEO at AspenClean explains, 'When it comes to behind and under appliances, like the fridge, stove and washer, spots collect crumbs, lint, pet hair, and dust because they're cleaned rarely, and static cling makes buildup worse.'

So, to tackle this hard household cleaning task, pull out appliances every few months and vacuum with your best handheld vacuum, before mopping or wiping with a damp cloth, such as the Great Value Multipurpose Microfiber Cloth available at Walmart, with a mixture of warm water and natural degreasing dish soap if needed. We recommend the AspenClean Natural Dish Soap and Refill available at Amazon for this.

Importantly, adds Petya Holevich, house cleaning expert at Fantastic Services, make sure you unplug appliances first if safe to do so.

2. Light fixtures and ceiling fans

As Aminah Vieira from InspireClean, an award-winning and women-owned cleaning service in Southern Ontario, says, 'Light fixtures and ceiling fans are notorious dust collectors because the heat from the bulbs creates air currents that deposit particles on fixtures, and ceiling fans distribute the dust they've gathered.'

To clean these overlooked spots you're forgetting to dust, she recommends turning off the power and using a damp microfiber cloth for fixtures, or slipping a pillowcase over dan blades to trap dust as you wipe.

For particularly high, hard-to-reach areas, you can also use an extendable duster, such as the Swiffer Dusters with Extension Pole available at Walmart. 'I recommend using an extendable microfiber duster to trap dust rather than letting it fall,' adds Taylor Riley, partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning.

3. Books and bookshelves

Unfortunately, says Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, paper attracts dust, and shelves are rarely, if ever, wiped down.

'Wipe books with a dry microfiber cloth and shelves with a slightly damp one,' she advises. 'The Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths available at Amazon are perfect and come in bulk,' ideal for dusting open shelves.

4. Tops of doors

Another place where dust settles silently and often goes unnoticed is on the tops of doors, says Karina, even if you take steps to combat reasons your home gets dusty quickly.

In order to prevent dust in an entryway and on top of other doors, she recommends using a microfiber cloth, or feather duster, such as the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Delicate Duster available at Amazon.

5. Behind the TV

'Dust builds up incredibly fast behind electronics and game consoles because these devices generate static electricity that attracts particles, and their fans pull in dust,' says cleaning expert Aminah. 'Unplug your devices and use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clear vents and surrounding areas.'

You can also use compressed air for tricky areas, and electronics-safe wipes, such as the Endust For Electronics Screen Cleaner Wipes available at Amazon, which Karina recommends, to clean a TV screen.

6. Baseboards

Another 'problem area,' says Taylor, is baseboards. He explains, 'Because they sit close to the floor, they collect all the pet dander, crumbs, and debris kicked up. I clean them with a damp microfiber cloth. For scuffed or textured trim, a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser available at Amazon works well.'

Alternatively, Dan Fauzi, home tech editor here at Homes & Gardens tried the TikTok vacuum hack to clean their baseboards, which uses dryer sheets, such as the Snuggle Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets available at Walmart.

7. Couch cushions

Finally, don't forget about dusting your couch cushions and under furniture, which are among the hidden areas of the living room we forget to clean.

'These areas are low-traffic but high in airflow, which means dust, pet hair, and lint settle there,' explains cleaning expert Taylor. 'My favorite way to clean these areas is with a robotic vacuum. They're able to navigate to places it's difficult to reach with a stick vacuum.'

Our guide to the best robot vacuums has everything you need to know if you're thinking of making the plunge on a purchase, and our top pick is the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro available at Amazon.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

FAQs

What causes dust to build up fast?

The number one thing that causes quick dust build-up is poor airflow. To prevent this, make sure your HVAC system is running properly, and regularly open windows and doors.

Meet our experts

Alicia Sokolowski

Alicia and her husband Chris Solodko set out on a mission to debunk the myth that in order to deep clean, you need to deploy potent, harmful chemicals to 'get it done.' They released the AspenClean cleaning service products to the public in 2018, with formulas derived from plants and minerals to ensure healthy cleaning and minimal environmental impact.

Taylor Riley

Taylor is a partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning of Maryland and co-founded a successful cleaning business, gaining hands-on experience in both residential and commercial cleaning, business management, and digital marketing. Taylor also founded Boom Facility Service Advisors, where he provides consultation and training for cleaning business owners looking to start or grow their businesses. He is a member of the Building Service Contractors Association International and has been featured in publications like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Clean Biz Network, Route, and Swept.

Aminah Vieira

Aminah is a cleaning expert and the head of marketing at InspireClean, a cleaning firm that also shares cleaning tips and advice on its website. Based in the US, the company aims to reach people in the Niagara region, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Mississauga, Guelph, and Kitchener-Waterloo.

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning, and knows better than anyone which places hidden dust builds up fast, and how to tackle cleaning them successfully.

Another effective way to tackle the places where hidden dust builds up fast is by trying top to bottom cleaning.