Crimped, scaled fibres trap particles mechanically, and residual lanolin makes the wool slightly tacky so the dust stays put.

Wool fibres are not smooth. They are crimped along their length and covered in overlapping scales, which gives dust a great deal to catch on.

Lanolin, the natural grease in unwashed wool, adds a light tackiness. Fine dust adheres to it rather than falling off as the duster is moved.

The loft of the wool means a large volume of fibre in contact with the surface, so capacity is high compared with a flat cloth.

Static contributes in dry conditions, attracting fine particles into the pile.

Together these make lambswool one of the better dry dusting materials, and the reason it has survived alongside synthetic alternatives.

Not routinely - washing removes the lanolin that makes them work, so they are shaken out and eventually replaced.

Detergent strips lanolin. A washed lambswool duster comes back looking clean and holds noticeably less dust, and no treatment restores the original property.

Washing also mats and felts the wool if the water is warm or the agitation vigorous, which destroys the loft.

The correct maintenance is regular shaking out during use, and tapping the handle to release trapped dust - outdoors or into a bag, never in the room being cleaned.

Where a duster becomes genuinely soiled rather than merely dusty, replacement is the answer.

This makes lambswool a consumable, and that should be reflected in stock planning - it is not comparable to microfibre on cost per year.

Large surfaces with awkward detail - cornices, panelled doors, skirtings, balustrades, ledges and picture rails - especially on an extending handle.

The soft loft follows a moulded profile, getting into the detail of a panel or a cornice where a flat tool skims across the high points.

Capacity means a large area can be covered before the duster needs shaking out, which makes it efficient in big rooms.

On a telescopic handle it reaches high fittings from the floor, which is safer than working from steps.

It is excellent on painted and varnished timber, plaster mouldings and polished surfaces where softness matters.

It is less suited to flat modern surfaces where a microfibre flat pad collects more, and to any environment where the duster must be laundered.

Generally not - it cannot be laundered or disinfected, it sheds, and it is an unwashed animal product.

Cleaning regimes in food production and healthcare normally require equipment that can be laundered to a defined standard or disposed of after use. Lambswool meets neither requirement.

Shedding fibres in a food production area is a foreign body risk and is likely to be an audit finding.

The lanolin that makes it effective is itself a residue that may be unacceptable on surfaces near food.

Microfibre systems, which launder to a specified temperature and can be colour coded and validated, are the standard alternative in these settings.

For offices, hospitality front-of-house, retail, heritage properties and residential work, none of these objections apply.

A telescopic or extending handle for high work, and a short handle for detail - the handle usually matters more than the head.

Most dusting injuries and accidents come from working at height. A pole that lets the operator stand on the floor removes the ladder from the job entirely, which is the single biggest safety improvement available in dusting.

Telescopic poles should lock positively and not collapse under sideways load. A pole that slips while extended overhead is dangerous.

Weight matters when working above shoulder height for any length of time, and a lightweight pole with a lightweight head is much less tiring.

Bendable or angled heads let the duster follow a ceiling line or reach over an obstruction.

Check that heads and poles are interchangeable across the range, so one pole serves several tools.

Months in normal commercial use, less where the environment is heavily dusty or the duster gets damp.

Wear shows as reduced capacity: the duster needs shaking out more often and starts leaving dust behind.

Matting is the other end-of-life sign. Once the pile has compressed or felted, the surface area is gone and it cannot be restored.

Damp is the main enemy. A duster that gets wet mats, holds odour and dries slowly, and rarely recovers its loft.

Storage affects life significantly: hang it rather than resting it on the wool, and keep it dry and away from direct heat.

Because the head is a consumable, dusters with replaceable heads on a reusable handle are more economical for a large operation.

Yes - the loft and tackiness suit cobwebs well, and on a pole it is one of the better tools for the job.

Cobwebs cling to the wool rather than being pushed around, and the volume of fibre collects a large amount before needing shaking out.

Work from the top of the room downward, so anything dislodged is dealt with as the work progresses rather than settling on surfaces already cleaned.

Shake out frequently. A loaded duster starts leaving webs and dust on the next surface.

For high ledges, tops of partitions and ductwork, a flat microfibre pad collects more on a flat surface, so many operations carry both on the same pole.

Eye protection is worth wearing for overhead work - dislodged dust and insects fall directly towards the face.