How to Clean a Feather Duster (and Other Duster Types)

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

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Updated on 09/27/22
Reviewed by
Katie Berry
Katie Berry
Reviewed by Katie Berry
Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.
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Fact checked by
Sarah Scott
SS
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
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Feather duster passing over mirror edges

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 15 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins - 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0-5

Concerned about the amount of waste created each year by disposable products, including disposable dusters, some people have returned to a classic feather duster. A feather duster, or another type of reusable duster, can be used more than once for dusting. How you clean and care for a reusable duster depends on the fibers used:

  • A true feather duster is made of natural bird feathers (turkey, goose, or ostrich, typically). The barbs on the feathers interlock and when rubbed together build up static electricity that captures and holds dust. The best dusters are made of ostrich feathers, which are softer and less prone to leaving scratches on fine wood than other types of feathers.
  • A wool duster is made from the wool of alpacas, sheep, or lambs (lamb's wool is the softest and most desirable). The natural static electricity and lanolin oils in the wool attract and hold onto dust. The fibers can be short and curly, or longer to resemble feathers.
  • An electrostatic duster uses synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, microfiber) that trap dust. The fibers can mimic the look of natural fibers or come in a rainbow of colors.

No matter the type of reusable duster you prefer, it will need to be cleaned regularly to maintain its dust-attracting capacity. Cleaning a duster is easy and requires only a few items you probably have on hand.

How Often to Clean a Feather Duster

A duster should be cleaned when it no longer is picking up dust. If you notice that dust is being left behind, it's time to clean the duster. One that is used frequently, and looking dingy or dirty, should be cleaned to prevent spreading around dust and dirt.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Sink or large bucket
  • Terrycloth bath towel

Materials

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Wool wash
  • Glycerin

Instructions

Materials and tools to clean dusters

The Spruce / Almar Creative

How to Clean a Feather Duster

  1. Remove Loose Soil

    Take the duster outside and gently hit the handle against a handrail or post to shake loose as much dust as possible.

    Feather duster shaked outside to loosen soil

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

    Fill a sink or bucket with water and add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water. Agitate the solution with your hand to disperse the soap.

    Bucket of water mixed with dishwashing liquid for cleaning solution

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  3. Wash the Duster Head

    Submerge the head of the feather duster into the soapy water. Swish it up and down in the water to remove the soil. This should take about three or four minutes. Drain the dirty, soapy water.

    Tip

    Try to complete this step quickly—the longer the wood and adhesive in the duster remain wet, the greater the risk of the feathers coming out of the duster.

    Feather duster washed in bucket with cleaning solution

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  4. Rinse the Duster Head

    Refill the sink or bucket with clean water. Swish the duster head in the clean water to rinse. If there is excess soap still in the feathers, hold the head under a running faucet to flush away the soap.

    Feather duster rinsed in bucket with clean water

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  5. Shake Away Water and Air-Dry

    Once the soap is removed, gently shake the duster over a towel or outside to remove excess water. Avoid pressing or blotting the feathers, as they may become matted. Instead, hold the handle between the palms of your hands, feathers up, and roll your palms. This will spin the feathers so they shed excess water.

    Hang the feather duster in a shower or outside away from direct sunlight to drip dry. Do not use again until the duster is completely dry.

    Feather duster placed outside in sun to air dry

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

Should You Dust or Vacuum First?

How to Clean a Wool Duster

  1. Remove Excess Dust

    Take the duster outside and give it a good shake to remove as much loose dust and soil and possible.

    Wool duster shaked outside to remove excess dust

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  2. Create a Cleaning Solution

    Fill a sink or bucket with lukewarm water. Add one tablespoon of wool wash or a gentle soap like Castile or Ivory Flakes. Agitate the water with your hand to create a sudsy solution.

    Wool wash added to bucket of water for cleaning solution

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  3. Wash the Wool Duster

    Submerge the wool duster head in the soapy water. Swish it up and down in the solution to loosen the soil. You can also use your hand to work the solution into the fibers, much as you would hand-wash a sweater.

    Cleaning solution worked through fibers with hands

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  4. Rinse the Duster

    Drain away the dirty water and refill the sink or bucket with cold water. Rinse the wool duster head until no more suds appear. Gently squeeze out the water.

    Wool duster rinsed with cold water over bucket

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  5. Renourish the Wool

    Pour one teaspoon of glycerin into the palm of your hand and work it into the fibers of the wool. The glycerin helps restore the natural lanolin oils that have been washed away.

    Glycerin poured into hands over wool duster

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  6. Dry the Wool Duster

    Roll the duster in a large towel and squeeze gently to remove as much water as possible. Hang the duster to air dry completely. After it has dried, spin the handle between your palms to fluff the wool fibers again.

    Wool duster squeezed with towel to remove excess moisture

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

How to Clean an Electrostatic Duster

  1. Shake out Loose Soil

    Go outside and gently shake the duster to remove as much soil as possible.

    Electrostatic duster skaked outside to remove soil

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  2. Wash and Rinse the Duster Head

    Fill a sink or bucket with lukewarm water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Swish the duster head in soapy water to remove accumulated soil. Drain the soapy water and refill the sink or bucket with cool, clean water, and rinse the duster head.

    Tip

    Electrostatic dusters with removable duster heads can be washed in a washer. Place the duster head in a mesh laundry bag and wash on the gentle cycle with your regular laundry detergent. Do not add any fabric softener, bleach, or vinegar, because they will interfere with the fibers' electrostatic properties. It is best to air dry the duster head or tumble dry with little to no heat.

    Electrostatic duster washed in bucket with water and dishwashing liquid

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

  3. Dry the Duster

    Shake away excess water and hang the duster to air-dry.

    Electrostatic duster hung outside to air dry

    The Spruce / Almar Creative

Tips to Keep Your Duster Clean Longer

Keeping the dust down in your home can be challenging, but here are some tips that will help.

  • Change the air filter every 1 to 3 months.
  • Brush any furry pets you have in the house regularly.
  • While we all love fresh air, keeping the windows closed will prevent dust and debris from entering.
  • During a deep cleaning, wipe down blinds with used dryer sheets. This simple trick helps to keep the dust from settling on them.
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The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Wise, Natalie. The Natural Cleaning Handbook. Skyhorse Publishing, 2020.

  2. 19.3: Laundry Auxiliaries- Softeners and Bleaches. University of California Davis Libraries.