Swiffer products

[frugalone]

Anyone here like or use Swiffer products?

Several years ago, a friend gave us the basic Sweeper. I've been wondering about a Wet Jet and or the Steamboost. A web site I visit for cleaning house talks about steam mops a lot. I have two or three floors that need mopping and the rest are carpeted. I certainly don't want to invest a lot in a steam cleaner.

Anyone use the Wet Jet and/or Steamboost? Thoughts, opinions?

[catherine]

I've used Swiffers, wet and dry. They're OK, but I found that the pads needed replacing too often. That may be a function of my sporadic cleaning routine, however.

My DDIL who is the Felix Unger of my in-laws, has recently turned me on to the floor squeegee. Her mother is a fanatical housekeeper, and her sister runs a housecleaning service. I had never seen a floor squeegee, but she uses it all the time, and she does NOT understand why I get on my hands and knees to clean the floor.

She wraps a damp towel around it and the floor is clean in minutes--I'm not kidding.

[CathyA]

I sometimes use a swiffer, but just use wet paper towels with them. Its sort of a pain, 'cause they bunch up. I worry about those pads you're suppose to use with them. I have the feeling they last forever in the ground.
Hmmm..........I never thought of using an old towel. If you used a small hand towel, you could probably even push them into those holders on the swiffer.
I have a stick steamer too and don't care for it much. When I use it, it pushes all the dust/dirt into the corners and edges of the floor, then you have to get a wet paper towel and pick it all up. :(
Let's just get rid of floors! :~)

[frugalone]

My DDIL who is the Felix Unger of my in-laws, has recently turned me on to the floor squeegee. Her mother is a fanatical housekeeper, and her sister runs a housecleaning service. I had never seen a floor squeegee, but she uses it all the time, and she does NOT understand why I get on my hands and knees to clean the floor.

She wraps a damp towel around it and the floor is clean in minutes--I'm not kidding.

Well, I'm gonna have to Google floor squeegee and check this one out!

[razz]

Not sure about a Swiffer but I bought a generic swivel mop with pads that cling like Velcro and can be washed. I squirt a half-water and half-vinegar mix on the floor after vacuuming the vinyl floors and it cleans well. Not sure what type of flooring you are cleaning?

[frugalone]

Razz, vinyl/linoleum.

[JaneV2.0]

I have something like a Swiffer, but the pads are washable cloth with variable textures. The handle is adjustable. It's a very nice unit, but it doesn't get much use...

[herbgeek]

I have a Lipman mop - that has washable pads and you use your own cleaning solution with. I tried using Swiffer wet pads for a while, but I swear they put something in there that attracts more dirt so you have to use it more often, plus they are so wasteful and expensive. I use a mix of water and vinegar with a couple of drops of dish detergent and a few drops of essential oil (usually grapefruit).

[frugalone]

Is it this:
http://www.libman.com/freedom-mop.aspx

[iris lilies]

Towel user here.

I do have a sponge mop thing and here's my routine:

1) slop water around on the floor, a light coating, let it sit and the grime will loosen in the water

2) use the mop on spot areas if there is obvious grime that has not soaked loose


but the real cleaning comes with the towels:

I push them around with my feet to clean the floor and also to sop up the water

The sponge mop head has lasted a couple of years. I do use it occasionally when I put on a floor coating, that seems to ruin it faster than anything.

My housecleaner used the towel method, and I was gratified to see that since I was doing it before I saw him do it.

We have lots and lots of old towels for the dogs and thei endless messes and so I am used to doing at least 1 load of wash each week with old towels.

[onlinemoniker]

I have a string mop. I also have a special bucket I use to wring it out otherwise it would be unworkable. I use the shop vac to vacuum the floors and then I sling the string mop around and either breath-o-pine or Murphy's oil soap, depending on the floor I'm cleaning.

I also have a Hoover hard floor cleaner. I hardly ever use it bc it is SOOOOO SLOOOWW. However, when I do use it, the floor ends up much cleaner.

I have tried every Swiffer product available. (Many, I inherited.) I jut don't like Swiffer bc I think they're too expensive and not very frugal to purchase for cleaning your house.

[Teacher Terry]

I have a little robot called the "Mint." I call her "Fifi." She cost $130 on ebay over a year ago. She only works on wood, laminate, etc-no carpet. Best $ I ever spent. I put a dry or wet pad on her and turn her on with the GPS cube. She knows where she has been. I was amazed at how clean she gets things. I use her once a week in every room. My floors have never been cleaner. She is silent so the animals do not mind her or bark or anything.

[herbgeek]

Frugalone. Yes that's it.

[lmerullo]

I have a swiffer handle with both wet and dry pads. The dry is really good at getting the dusty fine bits off the floor - much better than a broom. We don't have any carpet, so I don't have a vacuum.

A few years ago there was a lot of mumbling about the chemicals in the wet stuff being bad for animals, so I stopped using the wet so much. I got a steam mop and just use that and water and am very happy with the results.

I also have used microfiber rags and my own cleaner on the swiffer head. It seems to be a "best of both worlds" type solution - I can use only vinegar and water, and not poison my dogs or any children who play on the floor, and it's reusable as opposed to disposable.

Yesterday I jostled my drink when going out the front door... when I grabbed a paper towel to sop it up, it was filthy! I have been too negligent lately with floor cleaning! I think I will try the towel method - sounds like a great way to get the really yucky stuff up.

[Blackdog Lin]

Oh, man, Teacher Terry! I want a "Fifi"!!! That sounds so awesome.

[catherine]

I
I also have used microfiber rags and my own cleaner on the swiffer head. It seems to be a "best of both worlds" type solution - I can use only vinegar and water, and not poison my dogs or any children who play on the floor, and it's reusable as opposed to disposable.


I like that idea..

I don't know why I actually like the hands-and-knees approach, except I like the "zen" of the rhythm as I move across the floor with a wet cloth in one hand and a dry towel in the other. Maybe I was inspired by our old friend Mrs-M who said she washes her kitchen floor on her hands and knees every day. Maybe I just don't like the clutter of too many broom handles hanging around.

[reader99]

I use a Swiffer with a piece of t-shirt material cut to the right size so the edges can be pushed into the little holder holes like the Swiffer cloths. I cut one that is a couple of inches too long at each end. I use it for wet mopping on the same old supposedly for dry Swiffer - get it wet, put it on the Swiffer and clean all over with it. The long ends get into all the corners and edges, and being wet it cleans icks as well as picking up particulates. It's especially good for me because the Swiffer is so lightweight it doesn't put pressure on my back. I can easily wave it around without having to actively push like I would a vacuum or a mop.

[happystuff]

I also have used microfiber rags and my own cleaner on the swiffer head. It seems to be a "best of both worlds" type solution - I can use only vinegar and water, and not poison my dogs or any children who play on the floor, and it's reusable as opposed to disposable.


Ditto this. Got my microfiber cloths at the dollar store - a 2 per pack. Have been serving me well for over a year now.

[Float On]

A lot of people knit or crochet their own covers for their swiffers. I did that when I had one and liked the results better. I made sure to use 100% cotton so it would absorb better. And then I got rid of that ugly white vinyl in the kitchen and got wood laminate and I don't have to clean it 6 times a day anymore.
Also an old 100% cotton T-shirt damp and wrapped around a regular broom works great too and gets into all those nitty gritty spots under the cabinets. That may have been something I picked up from Don Aslett's cleaning system or FlyLady.

[Teacher Terry]

Blackdog Lin, if you decide you want one buy it off of ebay. Walmart sells them for 200 and I only paid 130 for a new one. It took me a few tries before I was the highest bidder at a price I wanted to pay. Emails were circulating for awhile saying Swiffer was poison to animals & kids but looked it up on Snopes.com & it is just an urban legend-not true. I love that site.