How to DIY Highly Effective Dusting Spray: Safe on Fine Wood Furniture
Let’s talk about dust, shall we? It’s the uninvited guest that seems to settle on every surface, especially on our cherished fine wood furniture. I used to begrudgingly tackle this task with store-bought aerosol cans until I discovered a simpler, safer, and more affordable solution: DIY dusting spray.
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!
The Dust Dilemma
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. Every nook and cranny seemed to harbor a thin film of dust, challenging my commitment to cleanliness.
Enter DIY Dusting Spray
Years ago, I would have loaded up with chemical-laden 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 used Endust. And it smells fantastic. Instead of $5 a can, I make twice the amount for pennies using natural ingredients from my pantry.
What You’ll Need
With these ingredients and materials on hand, you’ll be equipped to create your own highly effective dusting spray, ensuring your fine wood furniture stays dust-free.
Water
You’ll need 1 cup of water as the base for your dusting spray. Opt for filtered or distilled water for best results.
White Distilled Vinegar
This household staple serves as the cleaning powerhouse in your spray, cutting through grease and grime while also disinfecting surfaces.
But here’s a word to the wise: stick with white distilled vinegar for this recipe. Avoid the temptation to substitute it with wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Why? Because those alternatives contain traces of sugar and yeast, leaving behind unwanted residue that can wreak havoc on your surfaces. Your furniture will thank you!
Olive Oil
Time to add some shine and protection to those wooden surfaces! You’ll need just a couple of teaspoons of olive oil. It’s like giving your furniture a rejuvenating spa treatment.
Lemon Essential Oil (Optional)
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.
16-Ounce Amber Glass Spray Bottle
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.
How to Make DIY Dusting Spray—Cheaper, Better, Faster!
Pour all the ingredients—water, white distilled vinegar, olive oil, and optional lemon essential oil—into your spray bottle. Once everything’s in, attach the sprayer top and give it a good shake to blend all the ingredients thoroughly.
Now, it’s time to put your homemade dusting spray to work! Spray it directly onto your wood furniture, taking care to avoid overspray, and immediately buff the surface with a clean, dry cloth. Remember, the key is to spray on and wipe off—don’t let the spray sit on the surface. And because oil and water tend to separate, give the bottle a shake before each use to ensure optimal performance.
Rest assured, this DIY dusting spray is safe for all wood furniture and surfaces, making it a versatile and reliable cleaning solution for your home. Just a word of caution: while it works wonders on furniture, it’s not recommended for use on wood floors.
DIY Dusting Spray: Cheaper, Better, Faster Solution for Fine Wood Furniture
Materials
- 1 cup water, filtered or distilled
- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 10-15 drops essential oil, optional
Instructions
To make DIY Dusting Spray:
- Pour all the ingredients into a spray bottle.
- Attach the sprayer top securely.
- Shake the bottle vigorously to blend all the ingredients thoroughly.
To use DIY Dusting Spray:
- Spray the homemade dusting spray directly onto your wood furniture, being careful to avoid overspray.
- Immediately buff the sprayed surface with a clean, dry cloth.
Notes
Resources
Most of the items below can already be found in your pantry. These Amazon links are here for reference purposes, providing additional information and options for your convenience.
Question: Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping your wood furniture looking its best? Share your favorite maintenance tips.
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Can I use “fragrance” versus “essential” oil? I know there’s just a little difference between them.
Sure.
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Can I substitute vegetable oil or glycerin or mineral oil for the olive oil?
Have not tested such a subsitute, but if you do, you could let us know your outcome.
The Amish who made my bedroom furniture said to dry dust it with a swiffer cloth or if necessary, lightly mist with Windex and then dry immediately. He said never use Pledge or other furniture sprays as it will build up on the finish and eventually ruin it. My wood floor guy said to use Windex as well. I do and everything still looks great after years.
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.
Couldn’t agree more!! Walmart is equally as guilty. My small town has a Walmart nearby and a local supermarket chain (that now has expanded into 2 states). The supermarket chain is just as bad as Whole Foods as far as prices go and there aren’t local farms, or shops I could do my shopping. It’s unfortunate as the town has so much potential, especially in regards with its historical ties to the railroad. All they want are chains. I’m so tired of them all…
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.