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Surfaces in your home gather dust quickly. Dust not only looks unsightly, but it also clogs the air around you, causing allergy symptoms. Fortunately, a good duster can help you maintain clean surfaces and good air quality. To help you sort through the options on Amazon, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best dusters. Here are our top five recommendations.
Top 5 Dusters
- OXO Hand Duster
- Swiffer Duster Kit
- Aldwin Feather Duster
- HIWARE Blind Duster
- Kitchen + Home Travel Duster
Compare Top Dusters
| Product | Head Type | Length | Grip | Hanging Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Hand Duster | Reusable | 18 inches | Rubber | Hanging hole |
| Swiffer Duster Kit | 12 single-use heads | Up to 3 feet | Rubber | Hanging hole |
| Aldwin Feather Duster | Reusable | 16 inches | Curved | Hanging loop |
| HIWARE Blind Duster | Five reusable heads | 8.5 inches | Curved | Hanging hole |
| Kitchen + Home Travel Duster | Reusable | 6.5 inches | Textured | Hanging hole |
| Product | Head Type | Length | Grip | Hanging Mechanism |
Best All-Purpose Duster: OXO Hand Duster
OXO Hand Duster
- $11.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a textured rubber grip
✔ Has a flexible body that fits in tight spaces
✔ Uses a machine-washable microfiber head
✘ Can’t use on sensitive electronic devices
✘ Has a large head that can’t clean small, detailed areas
What Customers Are Saying
We noted that customers appreciated that this hand duster was easy to clean by throwing the microfiber head in the washing machine. They also reported that the duster was sturdy and didn’t leave scratches on surfaces. Conversely, customers reported durability issues with the duster, citing strewn fibers throughout their home and inside of their washing machine after only a few uses.
Best Extendable Duster: Swiffer Duster Kit
Swiffer Duster Kit
- $18.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a handle that extends up to three feet
✔ Can easily slide the duster heads on and off
✔ Can bend the head to different angles
✘ Can’t reuse the heads
✘ Doesn’t extend far enough to reach vaulted ceilings
What Customers Are Saying
Customers found this duster to be an easy and effective way to clean elevated surfaces. They reported that the duster generally picked up dust, dirt, and allergens well while being lightweight and comfortable to use. However, we found that customers did find the duster’s three-foot extension to be insufficient for dusting vaulted ceilings. Some also had difficulty keeping the head attached to the handle.
Best Feather Duster: Aldwin Feather Duster
Aldwin Feather Duster
- $19.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Uses ostrich feathers that are imported from South Africa
✔ Has a wood handle that’s comfortable to hold and stylish
✔ Can clean display screens and precision instruments
✘ Uses feathers of uneven lengths
✘ Has customer complaints about a mothball-like odor
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers praised this duster for using high-quality feathers that collect and retain dust without any issues. We also noted that many users also appreciated how easy it was to use. Negatively, other users found the length of the feathers to be inconsistent and their smell to be foul.
Best For Blinds: HIWARE Blind Duster
HIWARE Blind Duster
Pros and Cons
✔ Can pair it with a cleaning spray
✔ Comes with different-colored sleeves to help you tell which ones you have used
✔ Works on air conditioner vents, fan screens, and more
✘ Requires the manufacturer’s special heads
✘ Not designed for straight blinds or big blinds
What Customers Are Saying
Although we did find that many customers had a positive experience using this blind duster, they still reported that cleaning their blinds was a time-consuming and cumbersome process. While some customers found that the plastic handle broke after a few uses, others were able to clean up their blinds many times without any durability issues.
Most Compact: Kitchen + Home Travel Duster
Kitchen + Home Travel Duster
- $8.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes a retractable cover to protect the fibers
✔ Fits easily in a glove box, cup holder, or drawer
✔ Can clean the fibers with dish soap when they get dirty
✘ Doesn’t effectively clean large surfaces
✘ Has soft bristles that can struggle to pick up caked-on dust
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers found this duster to be a convenient and portable cleaning solution. Users also appreciated the retractable cover that protected the bristles from damage when the duster wasn’t being used. Negatively, we noticed that many customers said it struggled to pick up dust, stating that the bristles were too soft.
Buyer’s Guide
A quality duster is a valuable addition to your arsenal of cleaning tools. Depending on what you’re dusting, our team suggests you think about material, length, and more to find the duster that suits your needs.
Head
Most types of dusters are made with microfiber or feather heads. Both are designed to naturally attract dirt, pollen, and other tiny particles. Feather dusters require more effort to maintain, but they’re usually safe to use around sensitive electronic devices. Microfiber dusters can have either disposable or reusable heads. For the reusable ones, you can usually clean them in your washing machine.
Size and Length
Dusters range from compact, mini tools to long, extendable poles. Small dusters are great for storing in a vehicle or backpack or using on fragile knick-knacks. Although the average duster is one to two feet long, you can find dusters with extension poles that reach over three feet to clean on fridges, bookshelves over door frames, and other hard-to-reach places.
Handle
If you’re dusting your entire home in one go, your duster’s handle needs to be comfortable to hold. Oftentimes, these handles are curved, textured, or rubber-coated for better gripping.
Storage
Once you’re done dusting, you should be able to store your duster in a closet, drawer, or cabinet until you’re ready to use it again. Some manufacturers make storing their dusters easy with a retractable or bendable design, carrying case, or hanging hole.
How To Dust Your Home
Unlike obvious dirt or grime, dust can remain unseen for long periods of time. Even if you know there’s dust, wiping every corner of your home probably isn’t on the top of your weekly chores list. When you decide to do a thorough dusting, make sure you get the best return for your efforts. Below, we’ve outlined several dusting tips to make this cleaning process efficient and effective.
Start High, and Work Your Way Down
Dust falls downward, so it’s more efficient to work in a spiral pattern, starting with the highest areas in a room and working down toward the floor. Sporadically dusting a room can lead to the spot you’re cleaning stirring up loose dust that lands on an already-cleaned area.
Collect, Don’t Push
It’s easy to think that quickly wiping something makes it clean. To the naked eye, that’s true—however, without the right tools, all you’re doing is pushing the dust from one area to another. Get in the mindset of lifting dust from your surfaces and belongings. Fortunately, dusters that use microfiber and feather heads are designed to attract dust, doing a lot of the work for you.
Replace Your Air Filters, and Dust Your Ducts
Dust flows through your home’s HVAC system. Though cleaning air ducts isn’t as easy as dusting furniture, it’s worth doing every few months. Also replace the furnace filters in there at least once or twice per year.
Unplug Your Electronics
Computers, gaming consoles, TVs, stereos, record players, and other tabletop electronics are notorious dust magnets. If applicable, temporarily unplug these devices before you gently dust them to minimize the risk of electric shock. Additionally, vacuum around the power cords to keep your electronics from clogging and overheating.
Wear a Mask
As you pick up particles from your home’s furnishings, appliances, and other surfaces, you’re kicking up dust that you may have missed. If you’re particularly sensitive to dust, protect your sinuses by wearing a mask while you’re dusting. Although a cloth mask is better than nothing, a filtered mask or respirator is best.
Reduce the Amount You Have To Dust
Although dust is inevitable, decluttering your space, taking your shoes off at the door, and washing your bedding on a weekly basis help reduce the amount of dust in your home. Other ways to minimize dust buildup include vacuuming and bathing and grooming your pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a duster?
Anyone who owns or rents should have at least one duster at their disposal. In a matter of days, even a clean surface accumulates dirt, pollen, dander, and other particles. Even if you can’t see the dust, it’s best to dust surfaces in high-traffic areas of your home on a weekly basis.
Can I use a microfiber rag to dust around my home?
A microfiber rag is an effective way to clean dust off of desks, tables, and other surfaces. However, a dedicated duster tool picks up more allergens. A duster is also able to navigate between cracks and objects. Lastly, dusters have a comfortable handle that places less strain on your wrist.
How do I store my duster?
Place your duster in the same area where you keep most of your cleaning tools—in the hall closet, underneath the bathroom or kitchen sink, in the garage, and so forth. We recommend using a nail, pushpin, or hook to hang your duster from the hole in its handle. If your duster is made from real feathers, you may want to store it with mothballs nearby to prevent an insect infestation.
How often should I dust my home?
Dust your home at least once per month. For hard-to-reach areas, such as ceiling fans, corners, and door frames, every three to six months is usually an acceptable time frame. If possible, dust tables, desks, and other surfaces in commonly used areas every one or two weeks rather than monthly.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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