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Gadgets We Love: The Ostrich Feather Duster

Posted by Laura
April 17, 2008

Photo by destinelee
Dusting was the bane of my childhood. Moving countless knick-knacks, spraying the surface and wiping it off, then trying to wipe the decoration free of dust was standard. When I went to college I rebelled: I never dusted. but at the same time, I began having problems. Turns out I’m allergic to dust. So I began looking for a solution. What I found was the ostrich feather duster.

Why feather dust?

After trying many solutions, I came across the feather duster. The feathers in a duster will gently get into crevices without knocking things over.

Why Ostrich Feathers?

Ostrich feathers, charged with static, will pick up the dust rather than move it around. It is the similar principle behind the Swiffer line of dusters, but in a natural product.

How I Use It

I have used my duster in more ways than I can imagine. I dust once a week throughout the house. I also use it to clean the blades of stopped ceiling fans; using a step ladder I can reach the blades and it does a thorough job.

My duster also picks up sheet rock dust. My partner re-did a wall in our bathroom and the vacuum did not get all the dust off the floor. One pass with the duster and it all came up.

In our area of the country we have a lot of pine pollen around this time of year. My front porch bench was yellow with pollen. I swiped with the duster, and it all came off.

The best part of this duster is it can be shaken clean. I wash it with a little baby shampoo and warm water about once a year. It’s a low maintenance, low waste product that works well.

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