Clean Top to Bottom, Dry to Wet

Dust falls downward, so always start high — shelves, ceiling fans, light fixtures — and work your way down to the floors. Within each surface, dry-dust first, then wet-wipe. This order prevents you from doing the same work twice.

If you mop the floor first and then dust the shelves, you'll need to mop again. If you wet-wipe a dusty surface, you get muddy streaks. Following gravity and going dry-to-wet is the simplest way to clean efficiently.