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I once had a professor say that dusting is giving in to your own humanity, and as dust is at least partially made of hair and human skin, I guess he was right. If that's not enough to make you go out and buy the best duster and cleaning products you can find, I don't know what is. Disposable Microfiber Cleaning Mop
In addition to hair and dead skin cells, the dust that accumulates in your home is a combination of pollen, pet dander, dust mites, insect droppings, soil, food crumbs, and particulates in the air, among other things. The more people and pets in your home, and the more often the doors and windows are open, the more dust you will have.
These particles in the air and on surfaces can lead to mild allergic reactions like sneezing and a runny nose, and they can also trigger asthma attacks. Dust is inevitable, but keeping up with it doesn't have to be difficult. With a good duster, you can tackle the dust in every nook and cranny of your home.
To help you find the best duster, we've conducted research and testing, and we also interviewed professional cleaning experts. If you're looking for a more hands-free solution to dust, check out our guide to the best air purifiers.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.
Best overall: OXO Good Grips Microfiber Extendable Duster - See at Amazon The OXO Good Grips Microfiber Extendable Duster traps dust easily, extends and adjusts to reach high surfaces, and can be washed for years of reuse.
Best budget: Green Vivid Lambswool Duster - See at Amazon At just over $10, the Green Vivid Lambswool Duster is a great reusable option and has natural properties that attract and trap dust.
Best disposable: Swiffer Heavy Duty Dusters with Extender Handle - See at Amazon With a 360-degree duster surface that has more fibers and an extendable handle, the Swiffer Heavy Duty Dusters with Extender Handle is a hard-working, disposable duster.
Best feather: Aldwin Ostrich Feather Duster - See at Amazon The long and sturdy handle on the Aldwin Ostrich Feather Duster makes it easy to get into nooks and crannies, though you'll have to hand wash the feathers.
Best for tight spaces: OXO Good Grips Under Appliance Microfiber Duster - See at Amazon One glance under your kitchen and laundry room appliances and you'll know why you need the OXO Good Grips Under Appliance Microfiber Duster.
Best for window blinds: Hiware Window Blind Cleaner Duster - See at Amazon If you want to remove dust from window blinds and shutters more quickly, the Hiware Window Blind Cleaner Duster is for you.
Pros: Microfiber duster head traps and holds dust, machine-washable head, aluminum extender handle reaches from 27 to 54 inches, replacement heads available
As a woman who is both short in stature and always watching expenditures, the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Extendable Duster is my duster of choice. My favorite thing is that after dusting, I can remove the head and toss it in the washer so I can start each dusting session with a clean duster.
With a sturdy but lightweight and comfortable handle, the duster can stretch from 27 to 54 inches. The duster head rotates 270 degrees and can be locked into place at multiple angles. Since the duster head has microfibers on each side to capture dust, you can simply switch the angle and continue dusting when one side is heavily soiled.
Microfiber is made from polyamide (nylon) and polyester and creates an electrostatic fabric that attracts dust. The dust is then trapped in the many tiny fibers until you use laundry detergent and water to flush them away. If you're concerned about washing microfibers, some laundry bags can help keep microplastic out of the wastewater.
To keep your duster in top shape, avoid bleach that can damage fibers and fabric softeners and dryer sheets that coat the fibers and lower their ability to trap dust. I find that air-drying the head works best.
Pros: Naturally attracts dust, easy to shake clean, fits into tight spots
Cons: Sends some dust into the air
When I first used the Green Vivid Lambswool Duster, I was impressed with how much dust it picked up and how little dust it sent into the air. It has a solid wooden handle and measures 18.9 inches from top to bottom. The long and narrow dusting head makes it ideal for reaching into tight and awkward areas that would be difficult to reach with a cloth or other type of duster. I found myself reaching for the lambswool duster when cleaning the nooks and crannies of my office chair and milk crate storage boxes.
When testing, I used this duster on the same surface I had previously dusted with feather dusters, and it picked up some dust that the feather dusters missed. It also did an excellent job of trapping dust particles in the duster instead of moving them around.
To clean the duster, hold it by the handle either outside or over the trash can and rub your hands together to make the duster rotate. This will shake off the majority of the dust. You can also rinse it with water and let it air dry when it needs a deeper cleaning.
Pros: Disposable, lightweight, fits into tight spots to trap dust, extendable handle, dusting head locks into place
Cons: Replacement dusters can become expensive and aren't eco-friendly, head sometimes collapses during use
When I want to use a disposable duster, I turn to Swiffer. I've tried every brand on the market, and the Swiffer Heavy Duty Dusters with Extender Handle is the very best one I've found.
Because there are more electrostatic fibers on the duster head, I find the Swiffer Heavy Duty Duster picks up twice as much dust as other brands. The sturdy plastic extender handle expands up to 6 feet. You can lock the head into four different angles to clean hard-to-reach surfaces.
The disposable dusters are easy to find online and in many stores; however, a heavy-duty duster refill costs around $1 each. It's also not the most environmentally friendly solution. While Swiffer does have a recycling program for the duster heads, you'll have to print a shipping label and mail the heads back to the company.
I like Swiffer for dusting knickknacks on mantels and shelves. The duster is flexible enough that I don't have to move each small item every time I want to capture the dust. I also use it in my car to reach those tight spaces in the corners between the windshield and dashboard and all the little nooks and crannies of air vents.
Pros: Long sturdy handle, easy to shake clean, ideal for dusting quickly and in tricky spaces
Cons: Sends dust flying into the air
A feather duster provides a classic way to clean on and around delicate items that have many nooks and crannies. The Aldwin Ostrich Feather Duster is a really sturdy option with a long wooden handle. From top to bottom, the whole duster measures 16 inches. It felt nice and solid in my hand, and the longer handle made it easy to reach areas that are typically a bit difficult to get to, like behind decorations or the top of picture frames. The feathers are fluffy and soft, and they don't scratch surfaces.
When compared to microfiber cloths, I find that feather dusters tend to move dust around and expel it into the air more. Of the feather dusters we tested, this one did the best job of actually picking dust up, though it did still send some dust and dog hair flying.
After using this duster, you can shake any trapped dust into the trash can. While you can't simply throw it in the washer like you can with microfiber dusters, you can wash the feathers in warm water and let them air dry when dust starts to build up.
If you're looking for a duster that's easy to pull out and have on hand, this quality feather duster is ideal. It has a loop to hang it for storage, and running over your surfaces with a duster that doesn't require any assembly or machine washing is one of the quickest ways to freshen up dusty areas of your home.
Pros: Slim profile and flexible handle fit under appliances and in tight spaces, the duster head is removable for washing, reusable
Cons: Microfiber pollutes oceans
After an embarrassing moment when the refrigerator had to be moved to retrieve some dropped jewelry, I discovered the OXO Good Grips Under Appliance Microfiber Duster. It is the perfect dusting tool. I simply can't move some appliances and furniture during weekly cleaning, but a few swipes with the OXO Under Appliance Duster and I can feel satisfied that my house is cleaner.
Dust and lint under a refrigerator can clog the circulating fan and cause it to overheat and fail. With a clothes dryer, excessive lint can cause a fire, especially with gas dryers.
The OXO Under Appliance Duster has a microfiber head that is removable for easy cleaning in the washer. The duster head flexes so it can conform to tight spaces and the 33.5-inch length will reach the back of most deep appliances, cabinets, and furniture. The duster head can be removed and washed for reuse.
We recommend using a special laundry bags to help keep microplastic out of the wastewater.
Pros: Cleans window blinds, indoor shutters, and air vents thoroughly; comes with five duster heads; washable; reusable; can be used with a cleaning solution if needed
Cons: Microfiber pollutes oceans
I have white wooden blinds on every window in my home that attract dust. I've tried other types of dusters to get rid of the dust that clings to both sides of each slat but just when I thought I had all the dust removed, I'd see it clinging to a slat I missed. Then I found Hiware Window Blind Cleaner Duster.
This ingenious little contraption has a sturdy three-pronged plastic handle and microfiber "gloves" that slip over the prongs. I can dust the top and bottoms of blinds at the same time. To get the best results, give the flexible handle a little squeeze to get good contact with the slat surfaces.
Since there are five microfiber cloths included, when one gets soiled I can just slip on a fresh one and keep dusting. At the end of the job, all the cloths go in the washer, again with a special laundry bag to help contain some of the microplastic.
When you're shopping for the best duster, consider these factors to help make your choice:
Size and Function: Before choosing a duster, think about the function you need your duster to serve. It's helpful to have a duster designed to reach tricky spaces, such as under appliances, between blinds, and on high surfaces. An extension pole can help you reach high areas in your home. According to Alessandro Gazzo from Emily's Maids of North Dallas, a 24-foot pole is ideal because shorter poles may not be long enough for some areas and longer poles can get too wobbly.
Flexibility: A good duster is both resistant and flexible, allowing you to apply enough pressure to clean the surface while also allowing you to adjust the shape of the duster for various surfaces. "Look for dusters that you can extend, turn around, tilt, fold, and lock into place once they are in the position you need them," says Gazzo.
Washability: You need to be able to clean the dust out of your duster, whether it's by hand or in a washing machine. "Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain the duster's performance," said Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning. Before you choose a duster, decide how easily you want to be able to clean it and whether a machine-washable duster is a must-have for you. Additionally, consider single-use dusters if you don't want to deal with any hassle washing your duster.
Material: Dusters are made of various materials, including microfiber, lambswool, and ostrich feather. All of these materials are soft and won't scratch your surfaces, and all duster types have different advantages. Microfiber dusters are typically durable and machine washable, lambswool is flexible and naturally attracts dust, and ostrich feather dusters help collect dust with an inherent electrostatic charge.
Our picks are based on years of cleaning experience and hands-on product testing. We also spoke with two cleaning experts: Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning and Alessandro Gazzo from Emily's Maids of North Dallas.
We tested each duster according to its intended use. For example, we used microfiber cloths on typical easy-to-reach surfaces, such as shelves and TV stands, and we used under-appliance dusters under the fridge and stove.
With each duster, we examined whether it left behind any dust, how much dust was trapped in the duster, how easy the duster was to clean, and how easy the duster was to use. We also noted if any duster seemed to dispel an excessive amount of dust into the air. Fortunately for you and unfortunately for me, my asthma and dust allergy made this easy to determine.
Some steps you can take to reduce dust in your home include washing bedding weekly, removing shoes at the door, changing air filters regularly, using an air purifier or dehumidifier brushing or grooming pets, and dusting each room from the top down.
Both reusable and disposable dusters are equally effective when it comes to removing dust, as they both are made of special fibers that grip dust easily and efficiently.
Which product you should buy comes down to whether you prioritize cost versus ease of use. Reusable dusters are significantly cheaper in the long run, but must be washed regularly to maintain effectiveness. Disposable dusters don't need to be washed, since they're replaced after each use. However, the cost of purchasing disposable dusters adds up over time.
You can and should clean your dusters. "Regular cleaning is necessary to maintain the duster's performance," says Toner.
Clean your duster every few weeks. "If you use the duster frequently or have allergies or sensitivities, more frequent cleaning may be necessary," says Toner.
Gazzo recommends using a handheld cleaner or a compressed air duster as alternatives to traditional dusters.
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