Dust is everywhere, totaling millions of tons each year falling on this country. Air inside the typical home has about twice the concentration of dust as the outside atmosphere, and when combined with airborne grease molecules from cooking, it creates a sticky mess demanding tougher measures than using a mere dust cloth. Removing the grease requires application of a highly alkaline (see the entry Alkalies) cleaning solution, and leaving the cleaner in place long enough for it to do its job. The surface must be rinsed well and dried after cleaning.

 

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You can take a number of steps to reduce the amount of grease settling and catching dust in your home:

• Use the kitchen exhaust fan whenever anything’s cooking on the stove or in the oven, and clean the fan’s grease filter regularly. Run the filter through the dishwasher or soak it in a tub with a solution of hot water and dishwashing liquid. Allow plenty of time before rinsing the filter, and this job will be painless. Regular cleaning is especially important for hood fans lacking an exhaust duct – the filter is the only thing keeping airborne grease at bay.

• Place all appliances that generate steam or greasy vapors underneath the hood fan while in use, and turn on the fan.

• Cover all pots and pans as much as possible while cooking. A round, steel-mesh screen guard is useful for open frying since it will trap airborne grease and reduce spatters on the stovetop.

• Change or clean the furnace filter at least once a month. It helps by catching a lot of airborne dust, but it can’t do the job if it’s clogged.

• Use bathroom exhaust fans to clear steam and humidity. Steam also does a great job of bonding dust particles together, and then they’ll get blown all around the house by the ventilation system.

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Don Aslett in The Cleaning Encyclopedia: Your A to Z Illustrated Guide to Cleaning Like the Pros.