At first glance, the device looks as if its raison d’être disappeared with the 19th century—or, at the very latest, with the invention of the microfiber dust cloth. Not at all: The very finely branched, soft ostrich feathers attract dust electrostatically and hold it securely. Delicate objects and furniture surfaces can be thoroughly cleaned with it without any mechanical pressure. Computers and other electronic devices can also be gently dusted with it, since ostrich feathers bind dust electrostatically but are themselves antistatic. You can easily clean the feathers by giving the feather duster a vigorous shake. The manufacturer recommends running the ostrich feathers through the morning dew on the lawn and hanging the feather duster upside down to dry, then shaking it out again. This helps preserve the natural protective coating of the ostrich feathers.