The Best Feather Duster | 2023

No matter how often you clean your house, you’ll still be surrounded by dust. As innocent as dust can seem, in recent years, scientists have become aware of the chemicals found in each of those particles. Those chemicals can cause problems, particularly if household members have sensitivities.

Regularly removing some of those dust particles can help, though. Although you won’t be able to completely eliminate dust from your spaces, dust removal can help purify your air. The key is to find products that help.

Traditionally, households used products like furniture polish to keep dust at a minimum. These products are still available, but they limit you to areas you can reach. It also takes time to cover each surface with a spray cleaner, then wipe it up. Lastly, if you’re concerned about chemicals, you’ll be challenged to find the products you need.

With a feather duster, you can collect dust from a large area of your home with minimal effort. Feather dusters are hardly new concepts. In fact, they’ve been around since the 1800s. These original dusters used feathers to absorb dust, which kept them lightweight and flexible.

However, there’s a problem with feather dusters. High-quality ostrich feathers are the best at removing small particles, and the process of sourcing those makes this type of feather duster expensive. Most of the feather dusters on the market are made from synthetic feathers intended to mimic the look and feel of those made using ostrich feathers.

Luckily, there are many other materials that are effective at removing dust without sacrificing the flexibility and lightweight build found with traditional feather dusters. Many of these use fibers geared toward attracting dust and hairs. One of the most popular types of dusters uses microfiber. Fibers that encourage electrostatic charge are even more useful since they can attract particles without adding any substances to the fibers.

• Although traditional feather dusters had short handles, there are far more options these days. You can find dusters with telescoping poles that can extend as far as 100 inches. This will allow you to reach the higher shelves and ledges in your house without having to track down a ladder or chair.
• The sturdiness of the handle is important. You’ll want one that will offer stability as you’re reaching into nooks and crannies.
• Look for a duster that has a head that adjusts. Some can tilt as far as 90 degrees, while others offer 360-degree rotation. Still others feature heads that bend and curve to get into those odd spaces.
• Occasionally, you’ll need to clean your duster. Some have removable heads that can be hand washed and line dried to refresh them occasionally.
• Consider how you’ll store your duster between uses. Some have holes in the handle that allow you to hang them on a hook. This can work if you already have cleaning supplies that you hang from hooks.
• Reducing the dust in your house is a better move than trying to remove it. Air purifiers can help keep dust at a minimum.
• Maybe you like to open your home’s windows on a nice day and let some fresh air in. The problem is, this can increase the amount of dust in your home. Outside air contains plenty of dust.
• Just as you shouldn’t open your windows and let outside dust in, you should minimize the amount of dust you bring in on your shoes. Try to avoid wearing shoes in the house and put rugs in entryways to encourage everyone to wipe their feet before entering.
• Carpets can generate more than their fair share of dust. If possible, switch carpets out for wood, laminate or tile flooring. If you have carpet, try to vacuum as often as possible to reduce dust.