The 12 Best Dusting Tools For Your Home (& Which Ones To Ditch)

Unlike spilled wine on the sofa, muddy paw prints on the floor, or sticky countertops and cabinet pulls that need to be cleaned right away, it's easy to overlook dusting until a thick coat starts to appear. Maybe you've got cobwebs in the corners of your shower or that telltale grey line sitting on top of your ceiling fan blades. Perhaps you've noticed your HVAC unit isn't working as well as it should or your child's allergies seem to be worse than usual. Whether you're looking for flexible microfiber mop heads that work under heavy appliances, a sticky gel that's ideal for tiny crevices, telescoping wands that clean your gutters, or a delicate option that's perfect for your electronic devices, we've rounded up the best dusting tools for your home.

If new cleaning tools aren't in your budget, you can always rely on standbys like old socks, worn out flannel shirts cut into squares, or even fabric softener sheets. But there is one dusting tool you should avoid. Although an old-fashioned feather duster may have been your grandma's favorite, it's one tool that didn't make our list. Feathers can cause allergies and have a tendency to fling dust around rather than collecting it. They're also difficult to clean, and animal rights activists say they aren't a humane choice. We suggest ditching the feather duster and opting for one of these top-rated dusting tools instead.

If you only choose one dust mop on our list, pick the Swiffer Duster Heavy Duty Dusting Kit. With nearly 30,000 five star reviews from customers who love the simple assembly and powerful performance, this kit makes dusting easy. Thanks to an extendable 3 foot handle, it's perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach places and narrow crevices that your vacuum or hand just can't reach. The kit comes with 12 fluffy disposable dusters that can help keep the air in your home cleaner by trapping cobwebs, dust, and even animal fur.

If you're looking for something to reach high ceilings or to help you clean cobwebs off gutters, rafters, or windowsills, the Doca Duster Kit is an outstanding choice. Along with its 12-foot telescoping pole made from lightweight aluminum, the kit includes several dusters that are easy to wash after using on dirty jobs. Over 6,000 customers give this dusting tool a five star rating. Several call it a game changer when it comes to cleaning high ceilings, corners, and other spots that are tricky to reach without pulling out a ladder.

When you need to dust delicate items, consider using a classic tool like the J&A Lambswool Duster. Gentle enough for antiques, pianos, and picture frames, the naturally occurring lanolin contained in the fluffy head attracts and locks in dirt and dust. Unlike disposable dusters that can be expensive and aren't very environmentally friendly, this tool is easy to clean and reuse. Once you're done dusting, all you have to do is vigorously shake it outside before washing with a neutral detergent and allowing it to air dry. 

From your laptop to your state-of-the-art soundbar, most of your electronics have a dirty little secret: They are covered in dust. Without regular dusting, this can wreak havoc on sockets and ports, damage keys, and eventually cause overheating. These problems are easy to avoid with a Mr.Siga Microfiber Delicate Duster. The microfiber head and rubber handle are both extremely durable and able to provide soft-yet-powerful dusting for your devices. This product also pairs well with another dusting tool that can help you get in those tiny cracks: the Blow Off Compressed Air Duster.

Dust allergies are extremely common. To avoid symptoms ranging from itchy red eyes to difficulty breathing, opt for a damp dusting tool instead of a dry one. Pick up something like these Homexcel Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, then add some water and wipe down your surfaces. These lint and scratch-free cloths trap dust and are machine washable. Over 20,000 customers give them a five star rating, appreciating that the ultra-absorbent fabric doesn't fray or pill. Many even call the quality outstanding, especially considering that they're just $7.99 for a 12 pack.

Are you looking for a way to clean your air vent covers? It can be a grimy task, but properly cleaning them with a tool like the ZZ Lazycottage Cobweb Duster with Extender Pole could help to extend the life of your HVAC system. Along with an extension pole that reaches over 8 feet, the kit includes a long microfiber duster with a built-in bendable rod that can be shaped to fit any crevice. Reviewers say the cobweb duster attachment is great for dusty returns and popcorn ceilings.

Different floors call for different cleaning approaches. The best mops for laminate floors aren't necessarily ideal for cleaning hardwoods or baseboards, but this brand routinely makes our best cleaning tool lists regardless of the surface. The O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Sweeper Dust Mop has a flexible microfiber chenille mop head that swivels to pick up pet hair, dust, and dirt instead of just pushing it around. Perfect for a variety of surfaces, including wood, marble, smooth glass, and textured ceilings, thousands of users love how easy the mop cover is to remove and wash.

It's been over a decade since Scrub Daddy was named "Shark Tank's most successful product." It's a title the brand still holds today thanks to cleaning innovations like the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster. Made of a durable grooved foam, a slightly moistened damp duster is ideal for cleaning dust off Venetian blinds, dirty baseboards, sticky railings, or streaky mirrors without the need for any additional cleaning products. When you're finished, you can easily rinse off all of the accumulated dirt, dust, and debris under your faucet.

It turns out soft gloves are one of the secrets to easily cleaning your dusty houseplants. Clean and shiny leaves don't just look better — they are actually important for your plant's health. A layer of dust can coat leaves and deprive your plant of the sunlight it needs to thrive. Give your favorite potted pals a gentle clean with the Evridwear Microfiber Plant Dusting Gloves. Available in beige, blue, pink, and green microfiber, the gloves are comfortable to wear and quickly trap dust.

Pulidiki Car Cleaning Gel may not be the first dusting tool that comes to your mind, but after reviews from 65,000 happy customers who gave it a five star rating, maybe it should be. The goopy, putty-like substance is designed for car detailing, but it can remove dust from any tricky nook or cranny you can find. You'll simply remove the gel from its container, push it into cracks and crevices, and slowly pull away. Dust, debris, and crumbs stick to the substance like glue, and it can be reused until it eventually loses its tackiness.

Before you switch your ceiling fan direction to save on energy costs this winter, make sure to clean your fan blades to avoid sending dust all over the place. The Heonay Ceiling Fan Cleaner Duster is a unique, donut-shaped duster made of a dense fabric that reaches all areas of a fan blade in one wipe. Users say that once you get the hang of it, this mop head and its extension pole make cleaning ceiling fans quick and easy.

No matter what you're cooking, a clean kitchen is the most important ingredient. It's easy enough to scrub sinks and wipe down countertops, but to get the gunk under your stove or refrigerator, you'll need a tool like the Oxo Good Grips Under Appliance Microfiber Duster. Its machine-washable microfiber head flexes to fit under and in between tight areas, trapping dust in long fluffy strands that work even on uneven surfaces. This dusting tool also works beautifully to clean walls, large pieces of art, and gaps under furniture.