Should You Dust or Vacuum First?

By HomeAdvisor

Updated January 21, 2021

professional maid vacuuming a carpet

Whether you hire a professional cleaner to care for your home or handle things yourself, you’ve probably wondered if it’s better to dust or vacuum first. While there’s no one right answer to this problem, there are a few pros and cons to consider. Here’s what you’ll need to know before you start your next cleaning project.

Option 1: Vacuuming First

If you choose to vacuum your floors first, you may want to keep these things in mind:

  • Vacuuming kicks up dust that can settle on furniture, counters and other surfaces.
  • More dust could mean a more difficult time dusting.
  • When dusting, debris could accidentally be pushed back onto the newly-cleaned floors.

Tip: Most professional cleaners have quality dusting tools that can help avoid any re-dirtying of the floors.

Option 2: Dusting the House First

When you dust the house first, you’ll want to remember that:

  • This allows you to wipe debris off of hard surfaces and then vacuum them up later on.
  • There’s a good chance that the vacuum will add more dust to your surfaces after you’ve already wiped them down.

Dust First vs. Vacuum First: Which is Better?

While both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, most professionals recommend that vacuuming be done first. There is no way to keep dust and debris from being kicked up into the air when you vacuum — even when using a higher-end machine

More Tips

  • Limit the amount of debris tracked into your home and avoid wearing shoes inside.
  • Change your air filter frequently to improve the air quality.
  • Consider buying an air purifier to cut down on dust and allergens.
  • Move furniture around to get a deep clean.

You may also consider hiring a local carpet cleaning service on occasion for a much-needed deep clean.

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