The duster has a long history. As early as the Xia Dynasty 4000 years ago, Emperor Shao Kang (later Emperor Shao Kang) observed an injured pheasant dragging its body forward, leaving a clean trail in its wake. He then used pheasant feathers to make the first duster, the origin of the feather duster. Because pheasant feathers were too soft and not durable, Shao Kang later used bamboo strips, wormwood, and sorghum stalks as raw materials to create a more durable broom.
In Europe, Asia, and most parts of the world, brooms made from sorghum stalks were widely used. US President Franklin promoted sorghum cultivation to develop agriculture, leading to its widespread adoption across the United States. Sorghum brooms were also used in the US, and a sorghum broom manufacturing industry emerged. Even today, brooms are still in use.
Before the 1970s, dusters were a common cleaning tool in most households. With the changing times and the upgrading of tools, traditional dusters gradually faded from daily use. Meanwhile, the duster-making technique, as a traditional handicraft, has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage and protected in some regions.
