Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

I LOVE my Swiffer mop

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Environment & Energy » Frugal and Energy Efficient Living Group Donate to DU
 
Horse with no Name Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-19-07 09:34 AM
Original message
I LOVE my Swiffer mop
Edited on Mon Feb-19-07 09:38 AM by Horse with no Name
BUT...it is a very wasteful luxury.
So....I have been toying around and came up with a unique solution.
I took some of the prefolded cloth baby diapers that I picked up at a thrift store...I folded the sides into the thickest part. I then sewed a seam down each side and then again where the wings came into the middle.
I sewed a piece of velcro from side to side horizontally.
I made 6 of these. They attach easily to the Swiffer and then when I am done, I can toss them in the washing machine for next time.
The entire project cost about $6.
My camera isn't working or else I would post pics...but it is very easy to do and helps on cost as well as keeps the crap out of the landfills.
Refresh | 0 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Feb-19-07 02:03 PM
Response to Original message
1. i used old bar towels the same way
i could gt 3 doz in the automotive section of Costco for about $13 and they fit into the pokeyhole of both Swiffer and the Clorox mop heads
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-28-07 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. You can turn them into Swiffer like shmutz magnets
with a light spray of Endust.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
TygrBright Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-27-07 05:25 PM
Response to Original message
2. blink-blink... See, this is why I spend so much time on DU.
DUH, I have a HUGE pile of flannely rags that would be great swiffer covers. And washable. And free. And...

well.

Again, DUH!

I love you guys...

bemusedly,
Bright
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
youthere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jul-28-07 01:04 PM
Response to Original message
4. What a great idea!
I also love my swiffer, but I use it "sparingly" because the covers cost so much (plus I hate the idea of more landfill fodder)
My husband has plenty of worn flannel shirts I keep to tear up for rags...I don't have any cloth diapers anymore. Thanks for the idea!
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
madmunchie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-21-07 12:01 PM
Response to Original message
5. I bought a mop like that several years ago
the handle was like a "swiffer" but the bottom is a microfiber with velcro. It can be used wet or dry. I love using this, it is easy and clean and economical.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Summer93 Donating Member (439 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-22-08 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
6. Swiffer luxury
I just recently ordered Floor Wipes from Wipex. These are scented with floral Rosemary and basically use vinegar for cleaning hardwood floors. Now I am thinking of reuseable wipes with my own formulation of vinegar and rosemary.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Melissa G Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jul-01-08 07:54 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. Is vinegar the best thing for cleaning hardwood floors?
Edited on Tue Jul-01-08 07:55 PM by Melissa G
I've got about 3,000 square feet of them at the office that I need to clean. Effective, economical tips welcome. I have a bit of tile as well.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
kestrel91316 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-26-08 07:55 PM
Response to Original message
7. I have never bought a Swiffer, though my sister swears by hers.
Thing is, my only non-carpeted flooring is in my moderately-sized bathroom, my tiny kitchen, and my tiny entry hall. So it really is no big deal for me to run a sinkful of hot water with a little dish soap and ammonia and get down on the floor with a good thick cloth and wipe the floors clean (after sweeping first). And because it's just me and my one remaining cat, my home doesn't really get dirty (that coco mat outside the front door is a BIG help) enough to be cleaning floors real often. I do try not to spill in the kitchen!

So in the interests of frugality and independence from manufactured single-purpose goods and burning a few more calories than I have in recent years, I am opting for the homemade labor-intensive version. No more sponge mops, and no Swiffer.

In light of our energy costs and environmental concerns, I would rather see truckers drive food and medical supplies and true essentials across the country rather than plastic stuff that will break too soon......was it Thoreau who admonished us to ".....simplify, simplify!......"?
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
zuzu98 Donating Member (412 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jun-22-08 07:27 PM
Response to Original message
8. Method sells biodegradeable refills for the O Mop
that would fit Swiffer mops, as well as a washable/reusable pad that sticks on (to their mop) with Velcro. I've been cutting down on the refills and using cloth diapers and old T-shirts cut up into reactangles as no-sew options.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Summer93 Donating Member (439 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jul-06-08 05:28 PM
Response to Original message
10. Wood floors
I use water VERY sparingly. The Wipex papers that go on the Swiffer are the same size as the swiffer so the amount of fluid is very small. Sort of like damp mopping. To remove the dust bunnies.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Fri May 03rd 2024, 11:56 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Environment & Energy » Frugal and Energy Efficient Living Group Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC