Chemical-Free Dusting
Raise your hand if you use a dusting spray.
My hand would have been up, WAY UP a couple of years ago. The aerosol dusting spray can and I were best friends forever. My sister is probably nodding her head as she reads this. We shared a bedroom and not once did she have to dust. I was all over it. And the spray was all over our room.
But then I stopped. Not dusting. Just spraying dusting spray.
Martin and I were gathering cleaning supplies here in Germany several years ago, and I needed to find dusting spray. ”No one uses that stuff here,” Martin told me.
I ignored him like all new wives do when their husbands offer cleaning advice. How else would Germans dust?
I kept looking for spray. We finally found some… and get this – the bottles were completely covered in dust! No one was buying them.
Now I use a damp rag to dust everything.
I’m skipping the nasty spray bottle and fancy equipment, and I’m finding better success than I ever thought possible. I’ll never reach for the bottle again.
The key is to wring out the rags really well so they’re just slightly damp. That way you won’t leave water behind and damage your wood or leave water marks. When they get really dusty, I rinse out my rag in the sink. (Sometimes I have to use two rags.) My rags are nothing but an old towel that I ripped up.
I’ve heard of people doing chemical-free dusting with microfiber cloths. I haven’t ever seen something like that in Germany, and I like having one less cleaning thing to squeeze under the sink since old towels serve so many purposes.
* * * * * * *
I’m not sure how surprised I was this last summer when we were moving some of my old furniture – you know, the furniture I dusted until the cows came home as a kid. The wood was all kind of greasy. It felt like dirty hair. The grease was my dusting spray.
For more green cleaning tips, check out these posts: Green cleaning, Avoiding a moldy washing machine, Repurposing cleaners you don’t use, and Removing water stains.
So what do you say? What are some tricks you’ve learned about keeping the house dust-free?
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
I use a lamb’s wool duster, kind of like a feather duster but made of wool. Actually, my kids use it. That is one job around the house that they love doing.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 am
I love all of your tips and posts, they are just my style. I recently got some microfiber cleaning cloths and I’m going to start dusting with them tonight – sans spray of course!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:27 am
I’ve always just used a damp rag – I think because that’s how my mom did it and taught us. I remember thinking the dusting spray was cool though, but I read a thing a couple years ago on kids inhaling it on purpose to get high and then consequently dying… and that scared me, so I have never actually bought it or used it!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
I so rarely dust because I just hate doing it and it always makes Sean’s allergies go crazy (ironic), but I have wondered why a damp rag wouldn’t work just as well as that slippery spray junk. It’s only fun for spraying on hard floors and pretend ice skating in your sock feet – haha, if you’re a kid of course. ;)
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
I’ve never understood dusting spray… it seems so counter-intuitive to me, for exactly the reason you described at the end! I grew up just using rags and still do to this day. Actually I have added in Swiffer dusters which are of course not as green, but they allow me to dust around all the little knickknacks that I otherwise wouldn’t dust around… plus, I use each one VERY thoroughly. :)
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
I grew up with that iconic lemony scent whenever mom dusted, and I used it too. I use a damp rag now, but I miss the lemon smell. I’ve debated adding a few drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle and topping it off with water to get the lemon scent.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Jessie, the idea of a little lemon oil sounds perfect… it wouldn’t have to be on the rag, even. Just added to the home then. You’ve got me thinking!
Katie
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Honestly? I don’t dust. Although if I were to dust I would use a damp rag. Or, often, I use the vacuum cleaner’s wand to get the really bad accumulation. It really works, and then I’m not dealing with a rag that gets dirty way too fast.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I agree! I did it one day out of necessity (no cleaner) and it worked like a charm. I add a splash of white vinegar to the water, too. I’m still too afraid to use on antiques/old wood, though. For that I dust with a dry cloth.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 am
I’m totally scared of dusting sprays. I’m never sure what surfaces they’re safe for. I got a trial once of disposable dusting sheets, kind of like wet wipes, to use for a survey, and after the survey ended I left them so long they dried out. I do the vinegar and water thing for surfaces that can handle being wet. Other places, I use an ostrich feather duster. And then, if I’m really feeling ambitious, I do the damp microfiber cloth thing. My mom always used (and still does) those really thin washcloths you see at the grocery store hanging up in random aisles — she uses them for everything, including, wrung out, for dusting. I sometimes wonder why I didn’t pick up that exact habit, but I always have this irrational thought that if I have some fun new cleaning gadget (a new duster! a new spray!), I might actually clean. No. So eventually I go back to the easy stuff, and procrastinate some more.
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 am
I use the rainbow vacuum to clean walls and other tight spots.. it’s one of those rare things marketed by door to door salesman that is actually useful. It uses water instead of paper filters so I usually end up with a pool of black water.
I only use a vacuum once in a month though.. for everyday use, I’m still a fan of damp rags.
And I can’t believe micro-cloth fibers aren’t available there in Germany. The germans are known for their engineering prowess (just look at their cars). I think Chamois can be an alternative to micro-fibers. You know those yellow super-absorbent rags usually used for drying cars.
Cheers!
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Stumbled Upon your blog today – love it!
As a German (living in Berlin) I can honestly say I didn’t even know that something like dusting spray existed. Traditionally, people here use specific dust rags made from some soft fabric. I use Swiffer dust cloths – not exactly environmentally friendly since they’re single use only but I hate dusting and can’t stand it when you wipe over something only to see the dust fly all over the place, so at least the Swiffers keep the dust attached to the themselves.
Oh, and you can buy microfiber cloths (and traditional dust rags and Swiffers, too) in every drugstore. They’re with the other cleaning supplies and they come for all kinds of different jobs (floor, dusting, windows etc.).
December 5th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
When I need something on the rag/microfiber cloth (check car care aisle for these) I use my 50/50 vinegar & water spray that I use in the kitchen and bathroom. If you want it scented you can add a couple of drops of essential oil. :)
December 9th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I have never even heard of dusting spray…I always use old socks like a glove and water….for shelves with a lot of stuff and ripped old towels for larger surfaces…
December 17th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’ve been using the micro fiber clothes for a while. I love them. I went out to get a few more ans was dishearted when they were so expensive. I went over to the car care row and found them there in a bundle much, much cheaper for the pack. I use them and throw them in the wash. They work great and now I even have enough to use on the floor when needed.
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I have been a long time lurker having first seen your kitchen on younghouselove. I am the opposite of a packrat, but not quite as extreme as a minimalist. At first I was skeptical to go without furniture polish after years/eons of using it. But let me tell you………holy cow, it really does make a difference. I have black furniture in my bedroom and family room, a cherry wood pub set in the kitchen and all have benefitted from using a damp microfiber cloth. Thanks so much for the great ideas! My next step is to eliminate windex. (baby steps– LOL).