14 Genius Hacks That Make Dusting Easier

collage: stainless steel ceiling fan with a blue pillowcase on one blade/hand using tongs and a yellow microfiber cloth to dust mini blinds/hand using a piece of bread to dust a painting/hand using canned compressed air to dust a fan.

Am I the only one constantly wondering how to make dusting easier? It’s not the hardest or most time-consuming chore, but I used to put it off longer than I should. Not anymore, though, thanks to the 14 totally brilliant dusting hacks in this post that help me save plenty of time and effort.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to eliminate dust, but these tips make dusting less of a pain. Fair warning: we’ll be venturing beyond normal dusting methods and using tools like tongs, pillowcases, and even a slice of bread!

Have I piqued your interest yet? ;-) Then let’s get dusting! (Oh, and when you’re done, be sure to check out my other home cleaning hacks that will save you time!)

14 Genius Dusting Hacks That Save Time And Effort

collage; blond woman putting a fuzzy blue sock on a Swiffer dust mop/ blond woman cleaning hardwood floor with a Swiffer dust mop with a sock on it.

1. Use Fuzzy Socks To Sweep

The Swiffer Sweeper makes it easy to sweep up everyday dust and dirt, but the sweeper pad refills are expensive! But you don’t actually need them, because a fuzzy sock works just as well! Just pull the sock over the base of your sweeper, and sweep away. When you’re done, just toss it in with the rest of your laundry to clean it. Easy!

woman's hand using kitchen tongs and a yellow microfiber cloth to dust mini blinds

2. Use Tongs To Dust Blinds

Dusting each slat of your window blinds by hand takes forever! You can make the process much quicker by using a pair of tongs from your kitchen. Wrap a clean microfiber cloth around the edges of your tongs, and secure them using rubber bands. Then use your dusting tongs to dust your blinds twice as fast!

woman's hand using a coffee filter to dust a TV screen

3. Dust Screens With Coffee Filters

Surprisingly enough, a coffee filter is perfect for dusting your TV, laptop, and tablet screens. Coffee filters are soft enough that they won’t cause scratches, and they’re great at grabbing onto dirt and dust.

Woman's hand using a lint roller to dust a fabric lamp shade

4. Lint Roller Your Lamp Shades

Dusting your lampshades can be tricky, because traditional dusters struggle on fabric surfaces. Grab your lint roller instead, and your lampshades will be dirt- and dust-free in no time!

woman's hand using an artist's paint brush to dust a small yellow ceramic bird figure

5. Use A Paint Brush For Small Spaces

Traditional dusters aren’t great at getting dust out of smaller nooks and crannies. Use a paint brush or sponge brush to get into those tight spaces!

Stainless steel ceiling fan with a blue pillowcase over one blade

6. Dust Ceiling Fans With Pillowcases

Have you checked out the tops of your ceiling fans lately? Dust accumulates like crazy up there, but how do you get the dust off without sending it flying? The secret is to use a pillowcase! Slide the pillowcase over each fan blade one at a time. Then just press the pillowcase against the top and bottom of each blade and slide it towards you. All the dust will stay trapped in the pillowcase, and when you’re done, you can just toss it in the washer. Brilliant!

broom being used to dust corner of ceiling

7. Dust Corners With A Broom

Clean up those cobweb-covered corners of your ceilings and walls with a broom. It makes it easier to get into those hard-to-reach areas, and the broom bristles will grab onto any dust, dirt, or cobwebs!

woman's hand using bread to clean a painting

8. Use Bread To Dust Paintings

It may sound strange, but a piece of bread can help you gently dust sensitive surfaces, such as paintings and photographs. The bread will pick up dust without leaving behind residues or scratching the surface.

woman's hand using a ruler wrapped in a microfiber cloth to dust a vent grill

9. Dust In Tight Spaces With A Ruler

Wrap a clean microfiber cloth around a ruler to help you dust beneath your appliances, in and around your grates, and other tight spaces.

woman's hand using a microfiber cloth to clean a lightbulb

10. Dust Lightbulbs With Alcohol

When lightbulbs get dusty, they don’t give off as much light as they should. Get rid of even the most stubborn layers of dust by cleaning them off with a cloth and a bit of rubbing alcohol! (Make sure your lightbulbs are turned off and cool to the touch before cleaning.)

woman's hand using a blue washcloth to polish leaf on a large houseplant

11. Shine Up Faux Plants With Mayo

If your faux plants have lost their luster, give them a shine with the help of mayo! (Yes, that mayo.) Put a small amount onto a soft cloth and wipe down the leaves of your faux plant to remove dust and leave your plant looking revitalized.

hand using canned compressed air to clean fan blades

12. Dust Fans With Compressed Air

Over time, dust can collect on the blades of your smaller fans. The quickest way I’ve found to get rid of the dust is by using a can of compressed air, like the kind you can find at office supply stores. Just blow the dust out, then use a regular duster or vacuum to clean it up.

hand using a cotton swab to clean the keyboard of a laptop computer

13. Use Rubbing Alcohol To Dust Electronics

Electronics tend to show even the smallest amounts of dust, so I like to dust them often. I use a cotton swab or soft cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol, which leaves my devices clean, shiny, and dust-free!

woman's hand using thermostat to turn fan on

14. Get The Fan Going Before Dusting

The unfortunate thing about dusting is that it often kicks dust up into the air while you’re cleaning. So before you start dusting, turn on your HVAC system’s fan on. Then as you dust, any dust that gets airborne will travel towards the air intake and through your filter, where it will get trapped. So smart!