1. Wear gloves to prevent contamination.
2. Unfold a clean microfiber cloth to maximize surface area.
3. Wipe gently in one direction—not back and forth—across the sampling surface. Let the cloth pick up dust naturally.
4. Continue wiping until the cloth is visibly dusty. If it’s still clean, sample additional surfaces on that level.
5. Fold the dust inward, place the cloth in a sealed plastic bag, and label with:
   • Location
   • Date and time
   • Notes on the environment (e.g., musty smell, prior water damage)

Be sure to collect at least one sample per level of the home and per HVAC zone. A single sample may be made up of several wiped surfaces on the same level for broader coverage.