"NEW" SWIFFER DUSTER vs. "OLD" FEATHER DUSTER: WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE FRIENDS?

We've all seen the commercial where the Swiffer Duster wand replaces the "outdated" feather duster. The poor feather duster even has a little suitcase sitting on the curb. I felt so sorry for the feather duster, I went and bought one. Now, I panic if either one of these dusters isn't in my caddy when I leave for a job. In my opinion, they are both very effective dusting tools for most dusting jobs.

The ostrich feather duster is far superior to any other bird feather duster for several reasons. The ostrich has a softer, more pliable feather with tiny finger-like barbules that grab the dust. They also resist static electricity, making them ideal around electronics. (FYI: ostriches aren't sacrificed just to collect feathers. They are plucked during moulting season. Ok, there are some "fun" jobs still available out there!)

There are several types of ostrich feather dusters:

• BLACK - come from the male bird and are soft and loose...great for delicate light fixtures or figurines.


• GRAY - sturdier than the black, but also very soft.. ..most popular and easiest to find in stores.


• FLOSS - most soft and delicate from under the ostrich wing.....also the most $.

I bought my gray ostrich feather duster at Target for under $10. There is also a Tennessee company, called the Beckner Feather Duster Company, which has produced hand-made feather dusters since 1913. They offer six types of dusters ranging in size (12"-32") and price ($6-$40). http://www.becknerfeather.com/.

Proctor & Gamble, Inc. has had record profits from their Swiffer product line. This doesn't surprise me, because most of their products deliver what they promise. The Swiffer Duster is a must-have for those out-of-reach areas like door jams, valances, and ceiling fan blades. The head can be angled to catch tops of armours or china hutches. (If you have to climb a ladder to keep these cleaned, it's very likely they'll just be skipped.) It is also great for edge dusting mop boards or cleaning under raised furniture. Wal-mart has the Swiffer Duster Extender Starter kit for $8 and a box of refills for $11.

So, the moral of this story is....."old" is still around for a very good reason. Things endure the test of time when they work well. Both of these dusters will swish dust into the air if you don't dust often enough. The key is to do it regularly enough to prevent any buildup. (Or avoid buying extremely dark furniture if you aren't a fan of dusting!) Meanwhile, we can all still enjoy the creative commercials P & G pays many $'s for!

STREAK-FREE WINDOWS & MIRRORS ARE THIS EASY!

If you have ever painstakingly tried to wipe off every little streak or smudge from a bathroom mirror, only to have more mysteriously reappear in the morning light, you'll love this discovery!

When I first began cleaning professionally, I mixed ammonia and water as a glass cleaner. It worked very well and was inexpensive. Overtime though, I began to develop vapor burns just inside my nose. I wondered, What else could be damaged by breathing these fumes? I switched to using white vinegar and water for awhile. (I still use that on very grimy, greasy windows or filmy shower doors.) But, I ordered a starter pack of cleaners from Imus Ranch

and nothing I have ever used performs as well as their Greening the Cleaning Citrus Sage Glass & Window Cleaner. Teamed with a lint-free flour sack towel, this combo saves me time and sanity every day.

This is the cleaner I reach for if I'm not sure whether a faucet or door hardware can tolerate the acid level of the vinegar and water cleaner. It contains no alcohol and is mild enough to be trusted on antique mirrors or glassware.

It can be ordered at http://www.imusranchfoods.com/. They offer several other very good cleaning products, as well as yummy chips, salsa, and coffee. Deirdre and Don Imus use the profits for the Imus Ranch, where children with cancer get to play cowboy/cowgirl in a toxin-free environment. You can also order her book, Green This! Greening your Cleaning on the website.

The flour sack towels are available at Wal-mart or on-line (5 for $5). My mom always used these for drying dishes and washing windows. Why change what has worked for that long without fail? They absorb best if you wash them first. The microfiber cloths are fine, but once washed, tend to hold onto lint and leave that behind on a mirror. They also have to have "just right" moisture conditions to work well. Who has time for figuring that out? Not me! Help yourself and help a worthy cause too... it's a win-win situation. You'll also have more reason to see a big smile in that glossy, clear mirror!

IT JUST MAKES SCENTS! LAVENDER OIL

I usually like to use my white vinegar and water cleaner mixed fairly strong (50:50 ratio), so the smell can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially in enclosed areas like a shower stall. As soon as it dries, the odor disappears also. It usually doesn't bother me, but some people aren't fond of the scent.

This week, I decided to try adding a little more lavender essential oil to the formula. The oil cut right through the vinegar scent and left a nice natural "flower field" smell behind. I had only added 6 drops to the bottle. It costs about $18 for a 4 oz. sized bottle at Heritage Natural Foods (Moline, IL), but at that concentration it will last a very long time for an average consumer.

Some other added benefits to using lavender oil in your cleaners are:

• spiders, dust mites, and other insects do not like it.


• it has an aromatherapy de-stressing effect on people. (Much needed for me!)


• it is a great antiseptic if you happen to cut yourself, get burned, or stung by a bee.

(Speaking of bees, the photo I took this morning is from the gardens of Lavender Crest Winery on Rt. 6 near Colona, Il.)

There are some precautions to keep in mind when working with all concentrated essential oils though:

• tip the bottle and allow drops to fall out. (Shaking could result in a splash in the eye)


• lavender is safe for skin contact, but oils like peppermint can burn.


• lavender is toxic to the livers of cats. (They should not even breathe the vapors)


• always shake your spray bottle before each use to remix the oils.

This trick is for some better sleep at night:

Just add 4-5 drops to a small spray bottle of water, spray it around your bed and pillows before sleeping, and you should drift off to sleep quite easily. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz