:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SPR-Home-top-dusting-tools-1900901-9467901f1a1240b3ae49c23fbad8bea5.jpg)
The Spruce / Sabrina Jiang
The right dusting tools are designed to trap dust and dander from all kinds of surfaces around your home. We conducted hours of research to find the best ones, evaluating each on performance, maintenance, and versatility. We also tested some dust-busting cleaners in The Lab in Industry City, Brooklyn, including vacuums and mops.
Ahead, the best dusting tools to keep your home clean.
Best Cloths
Mr. Siga Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mr-siga-microfiber-cleaning-cloths-70eea817c4ea490cafec29592050f3f7.jpg)
Amazon
Machine-washable
Easy to store
Can use on many surfaces
No additional cleaning products required
Sticks to other items in the dryer
Only available in bright colors
When it comes to getting every last speck of dust off of your shelves, furniture, car interior, and more, you really can’t beat microfiber cloths. And the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths take it to another level.
These cloths do so much more than your average rags—they’re electrostatically charged so they attract every speck of dust and don’t leave any behind. Not to mention, they’re incredibly soft and won’t scratch even the most delicate surfaces, like mirrors or your luxury car interior. You don’t even have to use any sprays or cleaners to reach optimal performance, making them a quick and easy standalone dusting tool.
If those aren't enough reasons to love these MR.SIGA cloths, there’s also the convenience factor at play. When you’re done cleaning, simply toss them into the washing machine to restore them to like-new condition for the next time. In between uses, storage is no issue—fold them and tuck them in a drawer or cabinet.
When we say they attract everything, we mean everything, which is a downside when they stick to other clothing items in your dryer. You'll likely be pulling these off of some clean sweatpants, but that's a small price to pay for a dust-free home.
Price at time of publish: $16
Dimensions: 12.6 x 12.6 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Microfiber | Color: Pink, yellow, green, blue | Maintenance Required: Machine wash
Best Wand
OXO Good Grips Microfiber Hand Duster
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/10080968-OXO-Microfiber-Hand-Duster-1-11e3d07732374099a967a18bd16de1d1.jpg)
Courtesy of The Container Store
Machine-washable
Wide surface area
Fits into tight spaces
Short handle
Only available in bright red
If you're looking for more maneuverability, a flexible wand-style duster like this one from OXO is the way to go. Though the handle is quite short (you’ll need a stool to clean out-of-reach areas like your ceiling fan and upper cabinets), the duster itself is 18 inches long and malleable enough to fit into super tight spaces between furniture. Of course, it also tackles larger surface areas like baseboards and bookshelves with ease, too.
When it’s time to clean up the tools you tidy with, it couldn’t be easier to give this one a little TLC. The head unsnaps from the handle and can be machine washed. This is a convenience that’s great for both your wallet and the environment.
Price at time of publish: $12
Dimensions: 18 x 4 x 0.9 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Plastic, microfiber | Color: Red, white, black | Maintenance Required: Machine wash
Best Feather
ddzmz Ostrich Feather Duster
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2022-02-28at1.14.52PM-70f9677f7cbe4b0cbc8853ffd89472ab.png)
Stylish
Picks up dust without any electrostatic charge
Great for delicate items
Small size
Short handle
If you’re inclined to reach for a more traditional duster, consider the ddzmz Ostrich Feather Duster. It’s made of 100 percent natural ostrich feathers imported from Africa, which are effective dusting tools. They have millions of separate, wispy filaments that collect and hold dust instead of simply moving it around. Plus, this feather duster won’t leave any electrostatic charge so your metal, glass, and plastic items will remain dust-free for longer periods of time. To clean a feather duster, you'll need to shake the dirt loose and then carefully wash and rinse the feathers.
Aesthetic is far from the most important characteristic when cleaning, but it doesn’t hurt that this is an attractive tool and it might even make the chore a little more fun. Overall, this is a fairly small product, so while this would work great for cleaning items on a bookshelf, you'll likely need another duster to deep clean your home.
Price at time of publish: $30
Dimensions: 16 x 4 inches | Weight: 2.08 ounces | Material: Wood, feather | Color: Brown, tan | Maintenance Required: Rinse with cold water and air dry
Best Vacuum
Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shark-iz462h-vertex-ultra-897f0ed876eb41c08c54f737273907c0.jpg)
Amazon
Powerful suction on all surfaces
Self-propelling
Long battery life
Folds in half for easy storage
Collection canister could be bigger
Noisy when picking up larger items
The Shark Vertex DuoClean Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner was our favorite vacuum after we put it through two days of rigorous testing in The Lab in Industry City, Brooklyn. This vacuum didn’t miss anything in its path—even Cheerios and popcorn kernels. In most cases, the tester only had to make one pass for it to suck up everything in its path.
Because it’s exceptionally lightweight and folds for storage, it earned top scores for convenience and maneuverability, too. It glides over all floor types, sits low to the ground, and easily swoops under furniture to pick up dust from anywhere. Just as importantly, it’s super easy to empty the dust-filled canister into your garbage can, fuss-free.
The 60-minute battery life is impressive enough to vacuum a large home, but we wish the dust bin was a little larger to accommodate those with a big mess on their hands.
Price at time of publish: $430
Dimensions: 46.46 x 9.65 x 10.24 inches | Weight: 9.04 pounds | Material: Not listed | Color: Gray, blue | Maintenance Required: Empty canister
Best Air Purifier
Blueair Blue Pure 311 Auto Air Purifier
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BlueairBluePure311AutoMediumRoomAirPurifier-f848a376ecb4495e9f96fc07f17c4fa5.jpg)
Amazon
Three-part filtration
LED air quality monitor
Sleek design with five color options
Not adjustable
This compact Blueair Blue Pure air purifier is not only stylish, it’s easy to use and—comparatively—rather affordable. It’s best suited for medium-sized rooms, and can completely filter the air in a 388-square-foot room in just 12.5 minutes.
The unit has a three-part filtration system that includes a fabric pre-filter available in five colors to suit your decor style. This filter works to catch larger particles. The second layer of filtration is a finer carbon filter that removes smaller particles and odors to keep your room fresher for longer. Finally, there’s a third filter equipped with HEPASilent technology that is intended to remove even smaller particles, including pet dander, dust, pollen, and more.
In our testing, the filter lived up to the hype, effectively removing strong food odors and improving air quality overall. Our tester also liked how quiet this unit was. Overall, it received perfect scores in design, setup, and features.
Price at time of publish: $250
Dimensions: 20.5 x 10.2 x 10.2 inches | Weight: 11.3 pounds | Material: Not listed | Color: White/Gray | Maintenance Required: Change filter
Best Disposable
Swiffer Duster Short Handle Starter Kit
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/08b7672c-76c9-4b3c-973c-2645f442f549.1b0b330799dd92a8a12cddf4b314d2651-566b28f02c7c43abaf4b0e40ed94ff67.jpeg)
Courtesy of Walmart
Affordable
Easy to store
Widely available
Handle is rather short
Not sturdy
When it comes to disposable dusting products, you really can’t beat Swiffer. They have products for all areas of your home, including their popular WetJet models specifically meant for floors. But we love the convenience of their handheld products, too. The Swiffer Duster Starter Kit comes with a reusable plastic handle and five disposable dusters. Once you’ve used all five dusters, you can purchase refills as needed.
The Swiffer disposable dusters are excellent at capturing dust and have the added benefit of being cheap enough to use on a regular basis. With a simple pass, these dusters pick up and—importantly—retain dust, dirt, dander, and other super fine particles. Instead of rinsing, washing, and reusing each of these dusters, simply toss it in the trash once you've maxed it out.
Price at time of publish: $8
Dimensions: 7.68 x 4.92 x 2.40 inches | Weight: Not listed | Material: Plastic | Color: White/Yellow | Maintenance Required: Purchase refills
Best Extendable
O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Sweeper Dust Mop
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/O-CedarDual-ActionMicrofiberSweeperDustMop-58ff7bdf5f9b581d59514b74.jpg)
Machine-washable
Extendable pole
Comes with two different types of dusters
Must replace dusters every 60 to 90 days
The O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Sweeper Dust Mop comes with everything you could ever want—most notably, a super long rod that extends from 24 to 49 inches, so you can reach even the highest areas of your home without having to lug a heavy step stool or ladder out of the cabinet.
The set also comes with two different types of dusters to suit all of your needs. One is a fluffy microfiber hand duster that’s perfect for dry dusting; the other is a dual-sided, flexible chenille and microfiber duster that’s better suited for deep cleaning your space. (Use this one either dry or damp—up to you.)
Both dusting heads are entirely machine-washable, so you don’t have to keep purchasing new ones. Just note: The company still recommends replacing them every 60 to 90 days for best results.
Price at time of publish: $20
Dimensions: 25.51 x 15.27 x 12.24 inches | Weight: 15.2 ounces | Material: Metal, plastic, microfiber | Color: Silver, blue | Maintenance Required: Machine wash, replace heads
Best for Floors
Microfiber Wholesale 18" Professional Microfiber Mop
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Microfiber-Wholesale-Mop-System-500e7e77b69d456a813e6e9d330d538d.jpg)
Amazon
Tackles wet and dry jobs
Long pole
Safe for many surfaces
A bit flimsy
Pads could be higher quality
This Microfiber Wholesale mop is a professional tool that comes with two microfiber wet mop pads and one microfiber dust mop pad, so it can handle both wet and dry jobs—perfect for families with children and pets.
The handle is also adjustable up to six feet, which gives you the unique ability to reach just about anywhere, even under low tables and sofas. Also notable: You can use the floor mop on all types of surfaces in your home—it’s safe to use on hardwood, laminate, tile, stone and concrete flooring.
When done with the task at hand, simply slip the pads into the washing machine—they’re made to last hundreds of cycles without losing their effectiveness.
Price at time of publish: $40
Dimensions: 41.2 x 7.5 x 1.8 inches | Weight: 4.65 pounds | Material: Metal, plastic, microfiber | Color: Silver, blue, white | Maintenance Required: Machine wash
Best for Plants
Evridwear Microfiber Auto Dusting Cleaning Gloves
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2022-02-28at1.35.04PM-bbdf355dfff144c0a9dd6c5c57bd1c51.png)
Source: Evridwear
Affordable
Easy to maneuver
Machine-washable
Runs a bit small
Must use delicately
Because plants tend to sit on your shelf for long periods of time without moving or being touched, they’re a prime place for dust to settle. But because of the unique shape of their leaves and stems, plants can be tricky to effectively dust. Evridwear Microfiber Dusting Glove are electrostatically-charged for you to slip on, then run your hand over each leaf.
When you’re done, toss the gloves in the washing machine. They’re great for other hard-to-reach spots like blinds, too. They do run on the smaller side and even though they're an excellent option for dusting plants, you still must be very delicate when performing this task.
Price at time of publish: $11
Dimensions: 8 x 4 x 1 inches | Weight: 2.08 ounces | Material: Microfiber | Color: Blue, green, pink, gray | Maintenance Required: Machine wash
Best for Blinds
HIWARE Window Blind Cleaner Duster Brush
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/810d3vrVnnL._AC_SL1500_1-416e1cff792942c092fa0f2069cd77c5.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Unique shape
Machine-washable
Comes with five cloths
A bit flimsy
Tedious process
Dusting your blinds can be a challenging task but the right tool can make the job much quicker and easier. The HIWARE Blind Duster features three fingers to efficiently clean multiple slats with one swipe. It’s designed for use on horizontal blinds, mini-blinds, or other slatted wood or vinyl blinds.
The duster includes five reusable and washable microfiber sleeves, ensuring that you always have a clean dusting tool ready to go. Keep in mind that you’ll need to squeeze this dusting tool as you use it to ensure that it captures dust from the top and bottom of the blinds. While this uniquely-shaped tool is super helpful, cleaning multiple sets of blinds will still be a tedious and time-consuming process.
Price at time of publish: $13
Dimensions: 10.31 x 3.74 x 1.61 inches | Weight: 3.2 ounces | Material: Plastic, microfiber | Color: Blue, orange, yellow, green, gray | Maintenance Required: Machine wash
Our best overall pick is the MR.SIGA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, which are electrostatically charged to attract dust without leaving any behind. They’re incredibly soft and won’t scratch even the most delicate surfaces. If you prefer the convenience of a more traditional handled duster, consider the Swiffer Duster Short Handle Starter Kit. It’s highly flexible, fits into tight spaces, and it's disposable.
What to Look for in a Dusting Tool
Type
There are many different types of dusters available. You can purchase a more traditional duster, like the handled ones with microfiber or feather cleaning attachments, or you can opt for an appliance like a vacuum or air filter to do the heavy lifting for you. Microfiber cloths and gloves are also an option and are particularly convenient since they are so versatile.
Size
The size of a duster is very important, not just for its cleaning prowess, but also for storage reasons. If you live in a very small space, you might gravitate toward smaller, more versatile options like microfiber cloths or extendable wands. If you live in a larger home and want to be able to tackle big jobs, you may find that vacuums, floor mops, or a combination of appliances and wands or cloths are more suitable for you.
Maintenance
Do you love the idea of being able to throw away the duster after you use it? Or, would you prefer the more environmentally-friendly route of washing the duster? Also consider: Do you need to purchase replacement filters, and if so, how frequently do you need to do so? All of these factors surrounding maintenance can be very important deciding factors. If you’re a very busy person or someone with kids, you may find that the machine-washable options are more convenient, since you won’t have to remember to stock up when you're running low on replacements.
-
How often should you dust?
Every room in your home should be dusted at least once a week. You don’t have to do the entire house in one day. If it’s more convenient, make a schedule and dust one or two smaller areas each day. This way, you’ll only have to spend a few minutes cleaning, but dust won’t build up, causing an unmanageable task.
-
Do you vacuum first or dust first?
"Always start from the top and work down in a room to avoid having to re-clean surfaces that dust falls on," says Marilee Nelson, co-founder of Branch Basics. For example, vacuuming or dusting a ceiling fan will always result in some dust falling to the surfaces below. Hit ceilings, walls, furniture, then floors in that order. Then, vacuum to capture any remaining dust particles.
-
Is it better to dust with a wet or dry cloth?
Experts say it’s generally preferable to dust with a damp microfiber cloth. The water, in combination with the microfiber, helps draw particles in, rather than simply move them around on the surface you’re cleaning.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer with more than 12 years of experience testing and writing about products for outlets like The Spruce and Good Housekeeping. Earley has a large family and, thus, a home that needs lots and lots of frequent cleaning. For this roundup, she considered dozens of different types of dusting tools, evaluating each on performance, maintenance, and versatility. She also considered our testing results and consulted reviews on third-party sites. Additional input was provided by Marilee Nelson, co-founder of Branch Basics.