I’m not a big fan of dusting. I especially hate it because I hate creating the waste of throwing the duster away. But, it’s definitely a necessity. So if I’m going to do it, I want to do it as greenly as possible. Enter: the reusable duster. I don’t think it will disappoint.

I didn’t want to squeeze too many words into the title, but this duster requires no sewing, is reusable, AND it’s machine washable! It hit all the things I want on my list for a duster. And I actually think it’s pretty darn cute.

It works perfectly with the swiffer duster handle. Instead of buying more disposable duster heads, just make one or two of these reusable dusters and switch them out between washes. Couldn’t be easier.

And trust me, it’s so easy even you can make it.

Step one: Gather supplies and cut cloths

The supplies you will need are:

• 2 microfiber cloths (mine were 11″x11″)
• Unique stitch fabric glue
• Scissors
• Swiffer duster handle

The unique stitch is the key to making this without sewing. I get mine on amazon and it’s definitely worth it.

Once you have your supplies in order, you need to trim the cloths if they are too big (like mine were). Trim in a U shape, so you will be left with 3 long strips of extra fabric. I trimmed about 3 inches off each side.

Step two: Glue outside pieces

Using the leftover strips from when you trimmed your cloths, next you will make a shorter outside layer. Cut the strips in half and using your unique stitch, glue them along the center.

In the picture above, you can see indentations where the glue is.

These pieces will become the outside of the duster. You might want to break for a few minutes (or longer if you are more patient than me!) to let the glue set a little.

Step three: Glue opening

Turn one cloth over so the small strips are facing down. Using your unique stitch, trace the handle you intend to use on the cloth.

Make sure you leave enough space at the bottom for the handle to go in. I actually ended up widening mine at the lower part so that the handle would fit.

Then just press down your other cloth onto the glue with the small strips facing out and let dry.

You can see what the opening looks like above.

You might want to test that your handle will fit after letting it dry for a half hour or so. That way the glue isn’t completely set and you can still fix it if you made your opening too tight. You want it to be as tight as possible while still having room for the handle.

Step four: Cut strips

After letting your glue dry for at least a few hours, it’s time to cut strips into your duster. Simply cut 1″ wide strips towards the center, without clipping your glue seams.

If you made it too long, now is the time to trim a little off the top. I also trimmed mine so it had rounded edges.

And that’s it!

Now get dusting!

This duster works perfectly with my homemade dusting spray! Say goodbye to swiffer and pledge, because you’ve moved on to better products.

supplies used in this post

The post How to Make a No-Sew Reusable Duster appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.

If you like this post, you should also check out Homemade Febreeze and Homemade Green Window Cleaner.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had the time and energy to dust all the surfaces in their home on a daily basis? It would be pretty awesome. But, unfortunately, it’s not gonna happen. So the next best thing you can do is use a spray that will help prevent dust.

Everyone loves pledge right? There’s no doubt it works. Problem is- the ingredient list is kind of scary: Isoparaffin, Dimethicone, Octylphosphonic Acid, Nitrogen, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan Oleate, Polydimethylsiloxane, Aminomethyl Propanol, Fragrance from SC Johnson Fragrance Palette, Proprietary Thickening Agent, Methylisothiazolinone. Are these really necessary ingredients for cleaning? I don’t think so. These ingredients range from mild skin irritants to possible carcinogens. Definitely something you want to avoid.

Well, what if I told you you could make this at home, and it is just as effective, has no harmful ingredients, and less expensive?  Pretty much a win-win situation. One batch only costs 42 cents to make.

All the ingredients serve a purpose, and are non-toxic:

• Vinegar: Great all purpose cleaner
• Olive Oil: Helps prevent dust for settling
• Lemongrass Essential Oil*: Anti-bacterial, repels insects, smells awesome

*Other great oil options include: lemon, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon, tea tree, and orange, among others. Anything that is anti-bacterial with a nice scent will work.

The recipe is ridiculously simple.

This stuff works like a charm. You will still have to dust on a regular basis, but this dusting spray will make it less often.

There’s something about the smell of lemongrass that I just love. I chose it because it is anti-bacterial, repels insects, and I wanted a change from using my standard cleaning oil of plain lemon.  I really can’t get enough of the scent.

With the vinegar- it’s really more than just a dusting spray. It also makes a decent all-purpose cleaner if you are in a pinch. (And if you aren’t, check out my Natural All Purpose Cleaner with Free Printable Label).

With the olive oil and lemongrass essential oil, it has a pretty yellowish color in the bottle. Don’t worry- it sprays clear onto surfaces and won’t stain. The olive oil is also great for wood because it helps it maintain moisture and keep its stain.

It’s easy to dust with a microfiber duster or cloth. I opt for a cloth because it’s multi-purpose. It’s also important to shake the bottle before use. It’s a step that can’t be ignored. You gotta make sure the oil and water mix up. You can also use it with a homemade reusable microfiber duster– you really can’t go wrong with it.

Try making your own dusting spray and let me know how it goes!

Don’t forget to check out how to make a reusable washable duster without sewing!

Supplies Used In This Post

The post Homemade Dusting Spray appeared first on Pins and Procrastination.