Let’s talk about dust, shall we? I’m not fond of it. As I write, every surface in my home has a layer of the finest dust you can imagine. It’s so bad, I am tempted to adopt the philosophy that dust is a protective coating for fine furniture and just leave it be!
Here’s what happened: We had the wood floors in our home refinished. That required one full day of sanding through all the layers of finish and stain, right down to the bare wood.
Even the biggest, best “dustless” sanding machine cannot boast 100% effectiveness. The machine’s collection system got most of the sanding debris; the rest has been uniformly distributed to every flat surface throughout the house.
Years ago, I would have loaded up with aerosol cans of Endust, but those days are gone. Now, I make my own dusting spray—cheaper, better and faster. I love it because I know what’s in it; it doesn’t make me cough the way I did whenever I would use Endust. And it smells fantastic. Instead of $5 a can, I make twice the amount for just pennies using natural ingredients from my pantry.
Dusting Spray for Wood Furniture and Surfaces
Pour all ingredients into the spray bottle, attach sprayer top and shake vigorously. Spray directly on furniture (being careful to avoid overspray) and immediately buff with a clean, dry cloth. Do not allow the spray to sit on the surface. Here’s the routine: spray on, wipe off. Because oil and water separate, shake often. Safe for all wood furniture and surfaces. Not recommended for wood floors.
About the Ingredients
Vinegar
White distilled vinegar cuts through grease and grime. It also acts as a mild disinfectant.
NOTE: Do not substitute with wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Both contain scant amounts of sugar and yeast. You don’t want to deal with that kind of residue.
Olive oil
It shines and protects wood, naturally.
Essential oil
Essential oils have many beneficial properties, and my favorite is that they make my home smell naturally fresh and clean. But it’s optional in this formula. You can leave it out and the dusting spray will retain its effectiveness or opt for a different fragrance like orange or cedarwood essential oil. Or come up with your own blend of several oils.
Amber glass
I use an amber glass spray bottle for this dusting spray because both olive oil and essential oil should be stored in the dark to slow the oxidation process that can cause a reaction that makes plastic feel sticky.
First published: 5-17-18; Updated 4-23-21
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Thanks for the tip. Where do you find an amber glass spray bottle?
Oh, how I detest these links to Amazon (y’know, the ones who destroyed our Mom and Pop stores and are rapidly destroying the planet) even more than I detest dust.
Can this be sprayed on my fluffy dusting wand, rather than the surface to be dusted?
Have not tried this, but give that a try and let us know your results.
Does the olive oil component not attract dust? That is one reason I do not use furniture polish because the “shining” ingredient is also what dust clings to.
Leave it to Mary to come through with a great, inexpensive alternative for dusting spray! I’m everyone’s go-to person for cleaning delimas, thanks to Mary Hunt! Love you, Mary!
Thank you for this. I’ve wondered for a long time if there isn’t a better, cheaper homemade solution for dusting spray. Once again, you come through for us, your readers!
So glad for the recipe. I use most of the other natural cleaning recipes from Mary…and love them. Question: If this solution is stored in a dark closet, is using the dark amber bottle still really necessary? (I just ordered the plastic spray bottles that you recommended in a recent column; should arrive tomorrow. Can’t wait for those…because as you predicted, my cheap one just quit on me!)
Probably not necessary, but can’t hurt 😉
Didn’t you say a ‘glass’ bottle? Would the vinegar and a plastic bottle be bad for each other?
I give the dust kitties names – you can’t throw out a pet!!
my mom would say that dust is a “protective cover”.
I say, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”…. I don’t dust because it may be someone I know. 😉
honestly, this is going to be a huge boost to my dusting.