Calima on the Costa del Sol: cleaning up after Saharan dust
When calima covers Marbella in fine red dust, the wrong cleaning method scratches glass and spreads mud. How to clean terraces, windows and your home safely.
· 1 min read
What calima is
Calima is the haze of fine dust carried from the Sahara on southerly winds. When it rains during or after a calima episode, the dust comes down as the orange-brown film that covers cars, terraces and windows along the Costa del Sol.
The dust is very fine and slightly abrasive, which is why how you clean it matters as much as when.
Wait, then rinse before you wipe
If you can, wait until the episode has passed — cleaning during calima just means cleaning twice.
Never start by wiping dry dust off glass or polished surfaces: you drag the particles across them. Rinse first with plenty of water to lift the dust, then wash and dry. On terraces, sweep gently or hose down before mopping, so the dust doesn't turn into mud in the grout.
Inside the home
Fine dust gets in even through closed windows. Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a duster, which only moves dust into the air, and vacuum with a filter that traps fine particles.
Air-conditioning grilles and filters collect a lot of it. Clean the grilles and check the filters after a strong episode — a clogged filter makes the unit work harder.
Let us take care of it
Interior windows, AC vents and grilles, and floors are part of every Lavanda clean. If you're away when calima hits, we can clean the home and send you photos of the result.
Exterior windows are available as an add-on when you book online.
