How To Dust a Mannequin (The Easy Way)

Do you have one or more mannequins on display in your store? There's no denying the fact that mannequins are an invaluable tool for displaying and promoting merchandise. Whether your store sells apparel, fashion accessories, handbags, sports equipment, or pretty much any other type of consumer goods, you can use them to boost sales. But like other visual merchandising props, mannequins will inevitably gather dust over time, making them look dingy and dirty. So, what's the best way to dust a mannequin?

Warning: Don't Use Furniture Polish Sprays or Products

While effective at restoring the appearance of wooden furniture, most chemical-based polish sprays and similar products are too harsh to use on mannequins. The chemicals will settle on the surface, staining your mannequins. This doesn't happen with all polish sprays, but it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid them altogether. There's nothing more frustrating than spending several hundred dollars (or more) on a new mannequin, only to accidentally stain it with furniture polish. The bottom line is that you should avoid products such as this, sticking with all-natural solutions instead.

Feather Duster

The easiest way to dust a mannequin is to simply wipe it down with a feather duster (see image above). When you notice a layer of unsightly dust covering your mannequin, make sure it's secured to the floor and wont' fall over, at which point you can dust it with a feather duster. There's really no wrong way to use a feather duster. Just brush the surface of your mannequin and it will knock away most, if not all, of the dust. Sorry if you were expecting more, but that's all it takes to dust a mannequin!

When you are finished dusting your mannequin, it's recommended that you immediately sweep or vacuum the area underneath. Doing so will prevent the dust from floating back into the air and onto your mannequin.

Here are some tips to reduce the amount of dust in your store:

• Change your store's heating, ventilation and cooling system (HVAC) filter at least once every 90 days. Air filters are cheap, usually costing less than $10 bucks a piece, making this an expensive way to eliminate excess dust.
• Vacuum the floors on a regular basis. If your store has carpeted floors, which most apparel stores do, vacuum them daily to reduce dust.
• Have an employee clean any gondola/shelves regularly.