There's a Wrong Way to Dust? And 5 Other Cleaning Mistakes

Mistake No. 3: Spraying Furniture Polish All Over a Table

Statistics are hard to come by, but we're pretty sure 99 percent of people who set out to dust their wood furniture do the spritz-and-wipe. However, if you spray your cloth instead, you'll have to buff less, you'll waste less product and you'll avoid the sticky buildup that can come from using too much polish. (Hint: Ones with citrus oil will bring out the wood's natural shine, and the oil tends to repel dust and dirt for a while.) And if your aim is simply to remove dust, you don't have to use any cleaner at all—Smallin is a huge fan of microfiber dusters, since they pick up dust on their own and don't need spray.