We researched dozens of dusters, evaluating them on material, durability, ease of use, and effectiveness. Our top picks include feather dusters, microfiber cloths, compressed air dusters, extendable dusters, and more. Read on for the best dusters for every type of dusting job, whether you need to clean your ceiling fan, bookshelves, laptop, or furniture. These cloths are great multitaskers as well, as they can clean dry or with liquid cleaners for streak-free and lint-free results. They’re also super absorbent, and will clean up coffee spills and splashes with ease if you don’t want to use them just for dusting. Available in two colorways (blue/white/yellow or pink/green/gray), these handy cloths come in packs of 24, 36, 48, and even 144, so any household can stock up. Product Details:
Material: MicrofiberSize: 12 x 16 inchesCare: Machine wash; hang dry
This handheld microfiber duster from Oxo really hits all the marks—not only is it easy to use and maneuver, but it’s durable and well-priced. It has a slim, long profile that’s ideal for cleaning in oddly shaped spaces, and its length makes it perfect for cleaning the tops of windows, blinds, and valances. If you’re brave, you can even slide this duster under your refrigerator or any appliance. One of our favorite things about this duster, though, is how easy it is to clean. There’s a small button on the base of the handle that pops off the microfiber end, which can simply be thrown in the washing machine for a quick cleanup. Then, you can dust with a microfiber poof that feels like new. Product Details:
Material: MicrofiberSize: 18 x 4 x 0.9 inchesCare: Machine wash cold; dry without heat
Clean up to 20 feet high anywhere in your home with a telescoping pole that makes it easier to reach pesky cobwebs and dust. This duster kit comes with three different attachments that clean in different ways: a cobweb duster, a microfiber feather duster, and a flex-and-stay microfiber chenille ceiling fan duster. The ceiling fan duster is moldable, so you can also angle it for a lot of other cleaning projects, like the tops of cabinets or other hard-to-reach areas. The extension also has an attachable 180 degree hinge tip to make reaching even easier. In all, this tool can clean everything from bookshelves, bookcases, ceiling fans, chandeliers and other light fixtures, high ceilings, rafters, window sills, mantles, and more. Product Details:
Material: MicrofiberSize: 58 x 4 x 4 inches (extends 60 to 144 inches)Care: Ceiling fan duster is machine-washable; other attachments are hand wash only
This no-nonsense extendable duster is made with ceiling fans in mind. It’s designed to efficiently clean out-of-reach places with its broad brush head, which easily traps and reduces dust. The extendable handle can be stretched from 27 to 47 inches, which helps you to reach higher places that need a thorough cleaning. The actual duster is structured like a big doughnut, with a circle of microfiber that wraps around each blade as you’re cleaning. It’s also easy to keep clean. After a few dustings, just slide the head off the handle, wash with warm water, and let dry. The duster will dry back to its natural fluffy state and be ready for the next use. The Estilo duster comes with either one or two dusters, and is extremely budget-friendly. Product Details:
Material: MicrofiberSize: 59 x 8 x 2 inches (extends 27 to 47 inches)Care: Hand wash
This duster is one of the best options when it comes to cleaning blinds. It has a unique design that allows for the cleaning of the top and bottom of two separate standard-size blinds simultaneously, making the cleaning process much quicker than if you had to clean every slat individually. The three-pronged tool comes with five microfiber sleeves that can easily be slid on and off (plus, the sleeves are machine washable). The duster can be used to clean plastic, wood, or metal slats, and it’s also great for air vents on your car or in your house (hello dirty air conditioner slats!). Another way to dust your blinds is with them closed. “For slatted blinds, use the string to close them one way and dust, then close them the other way and repeat,” says Peterson. “It’s effective and a lot more efficient than trying to do one slat at a time.” Product Details:
Material: MicrofiberSize: 8.5 inch lengthCare: Machine wash
Feather dusters are best for fragile areas and objects in your home, like objects on a counter, nightstand, or desk that you don’t want to move. We recommend this duster from Royal Duster because it’s high quality, affordable, and extremely effective at picking up and trapping dust. Each feather contains thousands of soft, tiny filaments that act as a magnet to effectively trap and hold dust particles. The soft feathers won’t scratch delicate and fragile items like glass tables and shelves, so it’s perfect for delicate jobs—but you can use it for just about any other dusting job too. Aside from dusting art, frames, and furniture, you can even give your indoor plant leaves a little touch up. Product Details:
Material: Ostrich featherSize: 12 x 1 x 1 inchesCare: Hand wash
Lambswool with natural lanolin is one of the most effective materials to trap and hold grime and dust, and this duster does all that and more. The silky smooth texture is soft to the touch and perfect to use on delicate items and surfaces without worrying about scratching—you can use it on knickknacks, keyboards, screens, blinds, car dashboards, shelves, and even ceiling fans if you can reach. This lovely duster has a slightly longer handle than other lambswool dusters, which makes it a bit easier to use, and the end of the wooden handle has a leather loop so you can easily hang it in your closet or pantry. The head of the duster is also twistable, making it even more flexible and easy to get into small spaces. To clean, just rinse with warm water. Product Details:
Material: LambswoolSize: 18.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inchesCare: Hand wash
Most compressed air dusters are simply cans of compressed air with a tube for aiming, but this multi-use duster is an ideal alternative. Powered by a motor that runs off electricity (with a 10-foot cord), this duster forces air at an impressive 67.5 mph. This speed provides continuous high-pressure air to remove debris and dust from any electronic equipment in the home or office. That said, this little powerhouse isn’t heavy or unwieldy. Weighing only 1.9 pounds, it’s easy to maneuver for chores around the house, and comes with a momentary switch to hold and press for power that automatically turns off when the button is released. Because it’s more powerful than a can of air, it’s not only usable for your laptop and keyboard, but also small spots like fan openings, remote controls, and more. It comes with three nozzle attachments for different uses, making it an ultra versatile option. Product Details:
Material: PlasticSize: 7.8 x 7.8 x 8.1 inchesCare: Wipe clean
It’s also smart to look at the handle of your duster. “We recommend finding a duster with a telescopic and bendable handle,” says Peterson. “This will help reach high and low places that are often difficult to reach.”
Type
Different duster types are better suited for different dusting needs. If you’re mostly concerned about dusting high-up spots like ceiling fans, consider an extendable duster that can easily access hard-to-reach places. Ostrich feather and lambswool dusters are great for delicate items like art, knickknacks, and mirrors, while compressed air dusters are made for electronic devices like keyboards and computers. You can also stick with standard microfiber cloths and dusters, which will offer the greatest versatility and are easy to clean.
Questions You Might Ask
How do dusters work?
Basically, dusters grab the loose dust on your furnishings, depending on the material they’re constructed from. For example, “feather dusters work due to the static electricity attraction from the dust to the duster,” says Peterson. The same is true with microfiber and other “sweeping” dusters. Others, like compressed air, use the push of the air to remove dust. “Don’t forget to hit the tops of doors, fans, light fixtures, picture frames and yes, each of your knickknacks,” says Peterson.
Can you clean a duster?
Yes, and you’re going to want to, otherwise you’ll just be pushing dirt around. That said, different duster styles call for different types of cleaning. “With a cloth duster, place it in the washing machine on a warm water cycle and allow it to air dry,” says Peterson. While microfiber dusters are easy enough to clean, other types require a little extra work. “For a feather duster, fill a sink with warm water and mix in two tablespoons of liquid detergent,” says Peterson. “Put the feather duster into the soapy water and whirl it around a few times, drain the water, and rinse the duster under warm water using a gentle stream of water until all the soap is washed out. Shake out the duster to remove any excess water and hang to dry.” Lambswool dusters are similar: “Instead of whirling it around, fully submerge the lambswool duster into the soapy water and then rinse with a gentle stream of cold water until all soap is gone. Add about a tablespoon of glycerin to restore its natural oils. To dry, gently wring out excess water with a towel and air dry.”
How often should you clean your duster?
You need to give your duster a thorough cleaning “about once or twice a year,” says Peterson. Doing so is “important to maintain the quality of the duster,” and will ensure you aren’t just moving dust around instead of picking it up. In between washes, be sure to shake out your duster.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Tanya Edwards, a writer and editor who has written for The Boston Globe, CNN, Glamour, Yahoo, Allure, Refinery29, AOL, Huffington Post, and many more. To write this article, she considered each duster’s construction, durability, ease of use, and effectiveness. She also talked to Vera Peterson, President of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, about what to look for in a duster.
