Feather Duster Alternatives That Will Make A Huge Difference In Your Home

Dust is an ever-present nuisance in most homes. Whether you keep your home immaculately clean or are more of a tidier, dust will show its ugly face with time. Beyond wanting to keep your home clean, experts agree that ridding your home of dust is important for human health. Left unchecked, dust in your home can cause respiratory issues, allergies, or even cardiovascular concerns, depending on the type of dust and how much there is. So what tools are the best to get it out of your house?

While your grandmother might have relied heavily on feather dusters, there are other options on the market today that are just as effective as this old-school option. Additionally, newer innovations in the dusting world are more convenient, as they don't require the same degree of upkeep to maintain the duster's cleanliness and effectiveness (feather dusters need to be cleaned and thoroughly dried periodically in order to keep them working well). Among some of the best options for dusters are lambswool dusters, sustainable microfiber dusters, or disposable dusters that work in tandem with specially designed handles.

As far as natural options go, it doesn't get much better than a lambswool duster. Similar to feather dusters in that they are made from natural materials and are reusable, lambswool dusters have a number of additional attributes that make them highly effective: Namely, the presence of a natural oil called lanolin, which attracts and keeps dust in place within the fibers of the duster, rather than spreading it around your home. Lambswool dusters are also incredibly soft and gentle, making them ideal for dusting fragile items and pieces of furniture. Since they are meant to be reused, you will need to clean your duster periodically, but this is an easy-to-do process once you get the hang of it.

For a synthetic duster that is also super effective, you can look into a microfiber duster, like this one from Mr. Siga. Microfiber dusters use a static charge to attract dust to their many tiny fibers and hold them in place securely. These dusters have the additional benefit of being easy to maintain (they are usually machine washable), and typically have extendable attachments, allowing you to dust items that are hard to reach. Quite affordable, as well, microfiber dusters can be an excellent and effective solution for keeping your home clean.

We live in a more fast-paced world than past generations did, making every minute valuable. While it's laudable to try reusable dusting tools, sometimes the extra time to maintain them can be an unhelpful hurdle to overcome on cleaning day. In these cases, single-use dusters are the way to go. Swiffer is the best-known brand for disposable dusters, and their products have excellent customer reviews. Their products include highly reviewed surface dusters that are designed for everyday cleaning and trap in dust, fine particle debris, and allergens. For areas of the home that are higher, such as ceiling fans, you can also try Swiffer's Heavy Duty Dusting Kit, which comes with an extendable handle that provides an extra 3 feet of height. Or for pet owners, Swiffer has a Heavy Duty Pet Multi-Surface Duster that is designed to lock in pet-related debris, like hair and dander.

The obvious downside of Swiffer and other disposable dusters is that they are single-use and can be costly additions to your home cleaning budget — they also generate significant waste compared to the reusable options mentioned above. That being said, they do work well and can cut down on cleaning time and effort. In addition to arming yourself with the right dusting apparatus, learning how to prevent dust from accumulating in your home initially can make a big positive difference in cleanliness.