At Eckler Cleaning Services, we strive to be sustainable and minimize our contribution to the landfill. Swiffer dusters are an amazing tool, and we love our 6-foot dusters! However, the disposable dusters that come with them are costly – both financially and to our planet.
Maggie, owner of Eckler Cleaning Services, makes our own dusters and have saved 100s if not 1000s of dusters from going to the landfill. Here’s how me make them:
(Note: I did not design these ourselves. I found tutorial only and tweaked it to fit our needs).
You will need:
- Flannel fabric
- A rotary cutter or scissors
- A ruler
- A cutting mat (optional)
- Thread
- A sewing machine
One dusters needs:
- Four 7in x 7in squares
- Four 4in x 7in rectangles
For most efficiency, fold the fabric in half (across width of fabric) and in half again with the bottom and top. You will be able to cut four pieces at once width of fabric by 7 inches.
With the fabric cut width of fabric by 7 inches, you can cut a 7×7 square and a 4×7 rectangle. Each duster will need four of each piece. Note: the measurements do not need to be 100% perfect. In this example, I was able to cut two 7×7 pieces, one 4×7 piece, and a 3.5×7 piece along the full width of fabric. The half inch will not make a major difference with the quality of product.
Layer two 7×7 pieces and two 4×7 pieces together and sew down the center. Again, perfection is not 100% necessary. If it is not 100% centered, the product will still be functional. Each duster needs two of these 4-layered pieces.
Place two 4-piece parts together backsides facing each other. Your layers should be two 4×7, four 7×7, and two 4×7 pieces. Line them up with the center sews you sewed. Fold the two smaller pieces to the side and sew the four larger pieces together about half an inch to the side of the center seam. If you sew all 8 layers together (instead of just the four larger ones) you will not have a pocket for the duster stick to slide into. Make sure you only sew the four 7×7 pieces together. Do this on both sides of the center seam. This creates the pocket for the duster stick.
Now you are ready to cut. Using scissors or a rotary cutter, carefully cut each section separately. Be careful not to cut the any of the seams as this will create a whole in the pocket and your swiffer will poke through it. Make 6-9 cuts toward the seam on each layer. They do not need to be measured or perfect.
You should now have a fully sewn and cut duster! Shake it out and wash before use. We have made over 100 dusters for the Eckler Cleaning Services team to use while cleaning your home. They are great for cleaning hard to reach places, cobwebs, fans, and more. We wash them after every house and can use them daily for several months before they need to be retired.
Love our dusters but don’t want to make them yourself? Reach out to maggie@ecklercleaning.com and I can custom make them just for you!
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