I need a new dusting tool.
October 25, 2012 1:46 PM Subscribe
What's better: Swiffer dusters or ostrich feather dusters?
Swiffers use static electricity and a magical fiber to attract dust and lift it away (yes, I got that from the commercial.) Feathers, not so much.
I'm boycotting Proctor and Gamble because they still test on animals, so I now use ersatz Swiffers (store brand) but they're still pretty great.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:48 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm boycotting Proctor and Gamble because they still test on animals, so I now use ersatz Swiffers (store brand) but they're still pretty great.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:48 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Swiffer dusters really are magic. Not so much on the Swiffer broom/mop things, but the dusters? Are heaven sent. And yes, I have had a feather duster, too. The problem with the feather duster is it gets dirty and then what? But with the Swiffers, the duster parts are disposable, and every time yours gets too dirty, you just slip a new one onto the handle. Probably not the most environmentally friendly solution, but definitely the most picking-up-dust solution.
posted by brina at 2:02 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by brina at 2:02 PM on October 25, 2012
Response by poster: I've read that the ostrich feather dusters have feathers with little finger-like barbules that grab dust, as opposed to just moving the dust around.
Also, since Swiffers use static electricity, can I use them on electronics?
posted by jcatus at 2:09 PM on October 25, 2012
Also, since Swiffers use static electricity, can I use them on electronics?
posted by jcatus at 2:09 PM on October 25, 2012
they work GREAT on electronics!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:13 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:13 PM on October 25, 2012
Scrap em both and buy a box of microfiber rags. Takes off the dust like nobody's business, and you can launder them. Also, they're great for cleaning cars and electronics, plus getting smudges off of metal surfaces.
Better for the environment and more useful. That's a double rainbow.
posted by oceanjesse at 2:19 PM on October 25, 2012 [17 favorites]
Better for the environment and more useful. That's a double rainbow.
posted by oceanjesse at 2:19 PM on October 25, 2012 [17 favorites]
Scrap em both and buy a box of microfiber rags.
Ooooh, that sounds amazing. Any specific recomendations?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:24 PM on October 25, 2012
Ooooh, that sounds amazing. Any specific recomendations?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:24 PM on October 25, 2012
Yeah, you can totally binder clip a microfiber rag to an existing swiffer hand duster or swiffer mop (wet or dry) and use that instead. I'm just pretty lazy and don't really care about the environment a whole lot.
posted by elizardbits at 2:31 PM on October 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 2:31 PM on October 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
My mom has been a professional house cleaner for the last 15 years and she swears by ostrich feather dusters. I've used them myself and they're excellent at picking up the dust (not moving it around). To release the dust, it just takes a couple hard taps to shake it off. To deep clean them once in a while, you give it a warm bath with mild detergent, rinse well, and let it air dry or use a hair dryer. They can last for years and I think it's a much better investment than buying swiffer rags.
Also, seconding microfiber!
posted by E3 at 3:02 PM on October 25, 2012
Also, seconding microfiber!
posted by E3 at 3:02 PM on October 25, 2012
Seriously, microfiber. While I love ostrich feathers for dusting, I love the fact that I can wash microfiber more (though I hate the feel of microfiber *yuck*).
posted by patheral at 3:15 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by patheral at 3:15 PM on October 25, 2012
I have the Casabella Microfiber Duster and it works great. It's washable/reusable (cost-effective) and grabs dust super well (dust-effective!).
posted by belau at 4:49 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by belau at 4:49 PM on October 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I already use microfiber cloths for large flat surfaces; I'm looking for something more lightweight so that I can dust delicate or hard-to-reach surfaces.
posted by jcatus at 7:08 PM on October 25, 2012
posted by jcatus at 7:08 PM on October 25, 2012
You can look for dusters OUT OF microfibre. I have one and it's awesome, does a better job than my Swiffer Duster ever did as long as I use it damp, and it's machine-washable. I got it for 2 dollars too. Check the dollar stores and little ethnic grocers near you, you may be surprised what they store.
posted by Hawk V at 2:04 AM on October 26, 2012
posted by Hawk V at 2:04 AM on October 26, 2012
They have microfiber dusters that are like Swiffer dusters at my local dollar store. Work just as well and nothing to throw away. Or, if you're crafty, you can cut a couple of clothes and sew them to fit the Swiffer handles. But if you can't find them, or you're not crafty, then I'd chose ostrich over Swiffer any day.
posted by patheral at 7:21 AM on October 26, 2012
posted by patheral at 7:21 AM on October 26, 2012
You can also launder the Swiffer dusters too, by the way.
posted by Pomo at 12:56 PM on October 26, 2012
posted by Pomo at 12:56 PM on October 26, 2012
Our retail store used ostrich feather dusters for aeons (mostly for effect, but they worked) but when the swiffers came out, they were never seen again. I have been known to rinse out swiffer replacement heads, air dry them, and use them again.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 9:47 AM on October 27, 2012
posted by halfbuckaroo at 9:47 AM on October 27, 2012
Wow, glad everyone is into my microfiber cloth suggestion!
posted by oceanjesse at 1:46 AM on November 11, 2012
posted by oceanjesse at 1:46 AM on November 11, 2012
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posted by elizardbits at 1:48 PM on October 25, 2012 [4 favorites]