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Maryan
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 12:29pm | IP Logged
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Okay confession: dusting is last on my list of things to do. But I'm trying to change that. In my attempt to "change my ways," I decided I needed the right tool to dust (because it's not about my laziness; it's because I don't have the right gimmick to get me to dust)... 
I went to the store (world market to be specific -- cuz they're known for their dusting supplies??) and bought a lambswool stick duster type thing... and now all my boys are intrigued by it. And I had an a-ha moment: if I let my boys use this tool, every single picture frame in my house will be broken because the duster will quickly become a padded baseball bat and my knick-knacks will be the ball.
So woolly duster will have to be MY exclusive tool. Not so good if I want to have my kids get in on the dusting game -- which I think I might. And as far as my $7 woolly duster goes -- it's okay... but it's not the best.
I know fly lady uses feather dusters and so does the clean team.
So...Do any of you use feather dusters?
Or... what do you use to dust?
Or... do you just get rid of knick-knacks so dusting takes but a second?
Please share all your dusting secrets!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Martha
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 12:33pm | IP Logged
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I do dust.. usually when we are moving something about and the new shinny spot left behind is glaring proof of my housekeeping neglect.
I just quickly grab a baby wipe and swipe the dust into the trash.
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Martha
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KackyK
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 12:48pm | IP Logged
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I have a rag pile, and frankly I never used it for dusting...just for cleaning the potties because then I'd just throw the away. I was dusting with paper towels, I felt safe having the kiddos use them.
Well, this last time I dusted, I decided to go the rag route in my pile was some old pj pants from oldest dd, they were the totally polyester, stick to you when staticky kind. I cut it up and had several rags.
It worked great! The dust totally stuck to the rags! I just threw them out when I was done (I probably could have rinsed them I suppose). It felt great to know I was getting rid of the dust, not just floofing into the air to accumulate some place else.
Now I need some more pants!
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KackyK
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SusanJ
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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I spritz a rag (cheapo washcloths from Target that we use for everything) with diluted Murphy's Oil and then wash and reuse. I hardly ever dust--knicknacks I try to keep to a minimum and mostly in a hutch.
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kozimom
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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Wow! My house must be very dust prone, because we dust every day! Most days, it's just a quick wipe of surfaces with a rag dampened with water. Surfaces like the fireplace mantel, piano,end tables,and computer area. On Saturdays, we dust all the surfaces - hutch, shelves, book shelves, downstairs piano, bedrooms, etc. Mostly it's just a dampened wash cloth. Sometimes, it's been sprayed with Pledge. And about once a month, I use the vacuum with a brush attachment or a lambs wool duster to also get cobwebs etc.
Oh, just wanted to add that I have hardly any knickknacks.
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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We wipe. No dusting here. With a damp rag and the kids go around to everything they can reach. I do up-high stuff. about twice a year, I pull out the Pledge and shine a couple horizontal surfaces. When we move furniture around we suck up the corners, etc. with the shop vac.
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Suzanne in ID
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anitamarie
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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We use the Swiffer Dusters. The kids really like them. In also use Pledge and a micro-fiber cloth. We installed an air filter on the furnace that has dramatically reduced the dust/pollen around here. We have dust/pollen allergies and this was a must. It also has reduced the need to dust as frequently. 
Anita
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mavmama
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 3:40pm | IP Logged
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I was never a believer in feather dusting until I bought Flylady's. I have been using it for the last 7 years and it is the BEST. It can be cleaned (she has a tutorial on her site) so it has been well worth the money spent. It is nothing like those sold in stores. I use a rag and polish occasionally.
ETA: I can dust my entire house in under 15 minutes using this duster and that includes the knick-knacks.
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KC in TX
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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I use the swiffer dusters and my 7 year old dusts very well with them.
I'm right there with you, Maryan.
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Matilda
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 8:47pm | IP Logged
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Feather dusters for light dusting and miracle cloths for heavy dusting.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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| Posted: March 24 2009 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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Golly, you guys are so sophisticated. We use old washcloths and warm water.  We just wipe things down like that. All the kids get a wet washcloth - little kids do baseboards and table legs, big kids do bookshelves, and I do big pieces of furniture.
I do like polishing my wood with beeswax polish - does that count?
Since we just use wet washcloths, we just pick up the knick knacks and wipe 'em down as we go.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Maryan
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| Posted: March 25 2009 at 1:26pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm... I use baby wipes for window sills, but have never used them for any other dusting. I like the idea of swiffer wipes, but I don't think I would remember to buy them regularly. Cloth and Murphy's oil I could do -- I just don't know if I would be able to do it weekly unless I boxed all the knick-knacks away... and I'm kind of a photo freak.
I am tempted to try the feather duster to do something on a weekly basis....
Hmmm... everybody answers are so varied!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Nique
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 12:59am | IP Logged
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Maryan wrote:
Hmmm... everybody answers are so varied! |
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Maryan, forgive me but I couldn't resist, so just to add to the variety:
I just don't!
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I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice cream straight out of the container. ~Bill Bryson
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Maryan
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 8:22am | IP Logged
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I tend to fall in that category too!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 8:58am | IP Logged
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I try to dust as little as possible! Actually, I have been dusting a bit more, with a dog and two cats  it is hard to keep up. I use my Dyson for some dusting and the Swiffer dusters. I have a bunch of them, so I just pass them out to the three kiddos and have everyone attack the dust bunnies.
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Michaela
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 10:15am | IP Logged
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I use an old t-shirt and pledge.
I use to dust when I noticed it needed it, but with another family living in the house who don't enjoy dog and cat hair ....I'm up to at least once a week.
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Michaela
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LucyP
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 3:00pm | IP Logged
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I did declutter some knicky-knacky things when I became a mother, so it is a bit quicker and easier.
I have a lambswool duster that I use for dusting cobwebs and pictures, and for usual dusting furniture and surfaces I use a cloth very, very well wrung out and sprinkled with lavender oil. And then I use olive oil with essential oil added to polish wood.
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HeatherS
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 7:03pm | IP Logged
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Windex Wipes, Murphy's Oil Soap Wipes and Lysol Wipes. I have lots of pics in smaller frames...my attempt at interior decoration. I clean those & I assign our 2 oldest girls to clean one bathroom each (the countertops), and each take their room or the school room. I'm embarassed to admit this, but I've been known to pick up 4-packs of Laura Ashley/April Cornell-looking cloth napkins at TJMaxx and covering end tables, tops of our few bookcases, etc. just so that I can take off the cloths & toss them in the laundry...that way there's less surface area to have to dust. I hide 5 or so pennies under kleenex boxes on bathroom counters, the *napkins*, etc. so that the girls can learn to be somewhat thorough in their cleaning. I think I remember reading that in a book that I read to the girls. Sometimes I forget the pennies, and well, they still keep searching & cleaning!
heather
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Maryan
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Okay that money hiding thing... I love that! My boys would totally be into picking things up and dusting (well and hopefully dusting) to find money!!! Great idea Heather
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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HeatherS
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| Posted: March 26 2009 at 11:36pm | IP Logged
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Well, the girls asked about having more pennies hidden & we said we'd revisit that idea (and increase the amount of dusting expected of them) when we see that they can do a good job dusting and finding the 5 coins I hide now...I could see wheels turning in their little heads at that prospect when they proposed greater recompense for their labors! As a norm, we don't do allowances & I do *forget* to hide pennies now & again.
heather
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Do you dust and with what?
