If your home's facade is riddled with cobwebs, this $12 tool makes cleaning once-unreachable spots simple and speedy

With spring cleaning now in full swing, the inside of my home is looking cleaner and fresher than it was a few weeks ago. But with the sun finally deciding to rear its head, my thoughts have turned to sprucing up the front of my home – with dusting away the cobwebs being first on my list.

In days gone by, I would have used a hose to try and rid these sticky webs from my home. But with rising water bills, I was looking for a much more eco-friendly and cost-effective way to dust away the cobwebs. This is where this Cobweb Duster with Extension Pole and Washable Cleaning Duster Kit with 2 Duster Heads from Amazon takes charge.

There are plenty of essential outdoor cleaning tasks to get your outside ready for spring get-togethers – and this piece of kit makes ridding cobwebs from high places easy and quick. Find out why you need this tool in your outdoor cleaning arsenal and even more expert-approved tools for tidying up the exterior of your home.

Why I love this cobweb cleaning tool

I have a confession: I haven’t cleaned the outside of my home for months. The reality is that the outside of my home – and my small lawn, flower pots, and patio – often get overlooked during the fall and winter months.

The same goes for the facade of my home which, when the sunlight hits it, can look like it’s old, abandoned and often untouched thanks to all the spiders that have called my bricks and mortar 'home' for the past six months by weaving their sticky webs on the exterior corners and crevices.

According to professional cleaner Karina Toner, who is the operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, cobwebs tend to look especially noticeable this time of year for a few key reasons. This includes:

• The change in weather: ‘As the days get longer and brighter, natural light exposes dust and debris caught in cobwebs, making them appear more obvious,' Karina says. 'Shadows cast by the sun can also accentuate them.’
• The buildup over winter: ‘Over the colder months, cobwebs accumulate dust, dirt, and even pollen as airflow is more stagnant,' the expert explains. By spring, they look heavier and grimier.’
• Increased outdoor activity: ‘With the arrival of spring, people spend more time outside, naturally noticing areas they may have ignored during winter,' Karina says.
• There are more insects, which equals more spiders: ‘Warmer temperatures bring an increase in insect activity, which in turn attracts more spiders,' Karina explains. 'As they spin new webs, old ones become more visible and unkempt.’

But that’s where my extendable duster with stiff bristles, available from Amazon, is ideal for reaching high corners and tricky spots. While the microfiber head can be used either inside or out, as it's much kinder to delicate areas, like gutters and trim.

And experts agree: ‘The bristles trap cobwebs without spreading dust and debris,' Karina says. 'The soft bristles prevent damage to siding, trim, and delicate exterior details.’

Another plus point about this cobweb remover? It extends. As a 5ft5 person, reaching very high places isn’t my forte. However, this extendable brush, which reaches up to 100 inches, makes reaching the once unreachable easy. 'This also eliminates the need for a ladder, making it safer and more convenient,' Karina notes. Plus, retracting to just over 30cm in length, it's just as effortless to store.

Thirdly, this piece of kit doesn’t cost the earth. It’s quite literally a green-cleaning tool that you can use to clean your home without harming the planet, as it can be used again and again (and again). Additionally, the handy microfiber duster and the nylon dust collector attachments mean it can double up for indoor use. So, essentially, this is an essential cleaning tool everyone needs.

Karina Toner

Karina brings more than six years of experience overseeing all operations and quality control at Spekless, which provides residential and commercial cleaning and maid services in Washington.

How to use it

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Just like many of the best spring cleaning tools, this cobweb duster is simple to use. After you've opened the box and chosen which attachment you'd like to use, you simply attach it to the pole, extend it to as long as you need and then get to work.

Of course, this tool won’t keep cobwebs away forever. But it can help keep spiders away. Karina recommends sweeping or dusting your home’s exterior at least once a month to prevent future buildup.

She also suggests applying peppermint oil spray, like this Peppermint Essential Oil from Amazon which comes in a glass bottle and gives you the option to use a glass dropper or sprayerto the brush.

‘Spiders dislike peppermint, so a DIY pest spray (mixing peppermint oil and water) can act as a natural deterrent,’ Karina adds. You could also try turning off exterior lights when not needed. ‘Lights attract insects, which in turn attract spiders,’ the expert adds.

Outdoor cleaning essentials

Of course, the list of outdoor cleaning tips doesn’t just start and end with cobwebs. You may also want to add pressure washing your patio to your to-do list, along with washing your windows, and cleaning and refreshing your outdoor furniture.

Thankfully, there are a range of brilliant exterior cleaning tools to use at your disposal.

Keen to improve the look and feel of the outside of your home? Discover how to make the exterior of your house look expensive. Or check out the single most impactful way to elevate your curb appeal, according to an expert.