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Feather dusters offer a quick way to remove dust from fixtures or decorating items like knickknacks, shelves, carved molding, ledge tops, ceilings, and electrical equipment. But there is one bad thing about dusters; they sweep dust into the air and it lands in another part of the room. So you need to find a duster that will hold as much dust as possible until you can discard it in a safe place rather than re-circulate it throughout your home or office.
The ostrich feather duster is one of the best you can buy. When most people dust, what they should do is dust a tabletop and then tap the duster against the toe of a shoe to loosen and remove dust onto the carpet. Then it can easily be swept up after dusting is complete. But when you use a cheap feather duster, you end up getting most of the dust airborne because it doesn’t hold as much. You are better off spending more money on a quality ostrich feather duster to save time and effort.
Another good choice would be a lamb’s wool duster, since ostrich feather dusters can be hard to find and cost more. A lamb’s wool duster works just as well, and you will save money up front.
A lamb’s wool duster looks like cotton candy. It is made of synthetic or natural wool attached to a long handle. This type relies partly on the natural oils in the wool and partly on static electricity to attract and pick up dust. Try to always buy real wool because it will pick up dust much better than other kinds of materials. Many professional cleaners use them because they will make the job easier and help to clean cobwebs in corners. You can even buy these with extensions so you won’t have to climb when you are doing light fixtures or if you live in a house with exposed beams. Lamb’s wool dusters are a lot better than cloth for dusting knickknacks and trophies, or anything that is uneven or hard to reach. Some of the items that lamb’s wool dusters are not good at dusting are rough wood or any type of masonry. Lamb’s wool dusters, when dirty, should be taken outside and shaken. Then you can wash them as you would your hair. Gently shampoo the duster, and then rinse it off to make sure you remove all excess shampoo. Take the handle and spin it in the palm of your hand to remove most of the water. Then hang it up to dry.
To dust mop correctly, push it over the floor in a smooth, continuous motion, with the same edge always leading. Most professionals use the “s” motion, and when you change direction, swivel the head so you don’t lose some of the dirt and dust you’re pushing. Also, avoid running into table or chair legs, again so you won’t jar loose the debris. When you have done an area, stop and shake the dust off in a pile. When you’re done, sweep all of the small piles into one big one and use a whiskbroom and dust pan to pick it up.
There are other types of dusters on the market, and you may want to try one or more of them. If possible, avoid those that have been treated with cleaning chemicals, which can be harmful to pets or small children. Wash your duster by following the cleaning instructions to avoid moving dirt all over the house.
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