What Are Stair Dust Corners?

As far as household chores go, sweeping is one of the more relaxing tasks. There’s no lugging around large or heavy pieces of equipment, and the simple, repetitive motions can even feel soothing. That is, until you get to a tricky area, like a staircase or awkward corner, and you can’t get rid of those bits of dust and dirt no matter how hard you try.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this snag—meet the humble stair dust corner, a beautiful and functional cleaning hack that’s been around since the Victorian era.

What Are Stair Dust Corners?

Stair dust corners are flexible, triangle-shape pieces that keep dust from accumulating in stair corners. Traditional corners are made of brass or nickel, while modern options often consist of plastic. They were introduced near the end of the 19th century as a way to simplify sweeping. True to their name, stair dust corners prevent clumps of dust from developing in hard-to-sweep areas. Simply put, their small, concave shape prevents dust from gathering in corners by getting rid of corners altogether.

As an added bonus, stair dust corners are not just functional—they’re fashionable, too. Find them in a variety of finishes and patinas, plus choose from smooth metal or decorative details. Dust corners add vintage charm to your staircase, especially in an old home. The only downside? Stair dust corners are great at fending off dust, but don’t work well with stringy items like pet hair.

Shop Now

How to Install These Dust Guards

There’s only one thing you need to do to reap the benefits of stair dust corners—install them! Assembly is simple: just wedge the stair dust corner into place and secure with a long nail. For best results, add two stair dust corners to every step of your staircase, one on each side. From there, go on with your cleaning routine as usual.

Even though they were developed for stairs, dust corner guards can easily fit into other elements of your home. Try adding them to other spots you can’t easily reach with a broom, like fireplace corners or the pesky corner space below your kitchen cabinets. Talk about a cleaning hack!

To see stair dust corners in action, check out this stunning DIY remodel from TikTok user @vivianshayhome. We love the vintage charm they add to the staircase!

@vivianshayhome I love doing these videos so I can appreciate all the progress that was made ❤️ Now who’s ready for my next project?! #diy #homereno #traditionalhome #staircase #refinishingwoodfloors #woodenstairs #stairrenovation #stairrailing #oakrailing #redoak #bonamegaone #bona ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) – Danilo Stankovic

Where to Buy

via merchant

We recommend these corners from Amazon, available in both a satin nickel and polished brass finish for about $4 each, plus shipping. Once they’re installed, say goodbye to tedious sweeping and make a plan for how you’re going to spend all that extra free time!

Shop Now