The Frugal Housekeeper

I've used the fabric softener trick, and it works.

Here's another: If you have ceiling fans, put a pillow case over a blade, close the end, and wipe in one motion. All the dust will fall inside the pillowcase and not all over your furnishings.

I use a sock to dust the furniture. I dampen it with spray polish and start swiping. When it's full, I drop it in the laundry and grab another.