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swiffer!  

post #1 of 17
3/7/04 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
I know many here think these things are evil and wasteful, but they don't have to be! I've discovered that a washcloth fits really well and works just fine. If you wet it and spray your floor with a little diluted simple green, it works great to spot clean. And, if you unscrew and remove one of the sections of the handle, your kids can use it!

BTW, I have no financial ties to Swiffer, I just started to like it again after not using it for a while.

peace, beth
post #2 of 17
3/7/04 at 1:06pm
I bought one before I started simplifying and getting rid of chemicals & such, but I do still like it. I don't use the wipes, but (like you mentioned) I can put a hand towel or washcloth on it and mop...or sometimes I'll use it dry with my dusting cloths. Not too shabby.
post #3 of 17
3/7/04 at 4:31pm
We bought a Clorox thingie with the wet bottle and refill it with whatever mixture we're mopping with, tea for the wood floors, borax,water and eo for the linoleum, etc. Sometimes just vinegar and water.

I have been known to use the disposable cloths sometimes (I know! I am ) but mainly because I couldn't get the washcloths I had on hand to work quite right with the mop. I'm still working on one that doesn't get in the way of the sprayer.
post #4 of 17
3/7/04 at 7:33pm
Tea for wood floors? Do tell...

What kind of tea? How strong? And what kind of wood with what kind of finish?
post #5 of 17
3/7/04 at 9:00pm
Actually I read it in Queen of Clean. She recommends brewing "1 quart of boiling water with 1-2 tea bags. Let it come to room temp. Wring out soft cloth to just damp and wash floor, keeping the rag clean. Do not over-wet floor. This will clean the floor and cover many imperfections. Buff with a soft cloth if desired."

Our old floors are really scarred up and it did give a nice sort of sheen to them. She says it's the tannic acid that cleans the wood. We were pleased with it.

As far as what kind of wood with what finish, I really don't know. They are probably 50 years old, probably original to the house.
post #6 of 17
3/7/04 at 9:20pm
Do you use tea to clean anything else? I sometimes spray a strong black tea on aphids on my roses. I can't tell say for sure that it works, though, because I also spray with neem oil.

Are your floors varnished or oil-treated? You can tell the difference, b/c if they are 50 years old and varnished, the varnish would be scratchy.

I'm wondering if the tea would be OK for my new oak oil-treated floor.....any advice, ladies?
post #7 of 17
3/8/04 at 12:41pm
You know what else works really well on a swiffer? Fleece. I bought some MM fleece to make diapers and cut some for my old swiffer, it picks up so much dog hair I can hardly believe it. Then I just wash it and reuse!
post #8 of 17
3/8/04 at 1:13pm
how did i ever survive without you gals?

i have a bunch of fleece and a swifter! i do have one cloth left (from eons ago) but after it's gone (i don't use it that often) i'm usin' fleece! awesome
post #9 of 17
3/8/04 at 1:33pm
nak anyone use microfiber? i've heard good things about it too!
post #10 of 17
3/8/04 at 8:00pm
I use microfiber with my swiffer and love it! (Have a bunch that are washcloth size, but also a couple that were made specifically to fit onto a swiffer. They velcro and are way better for fit.)
post #11 of 17
3/8/04 at 8:23pm
I have been thinking about getting one and using it with fleece...my question is: can i use the "wet jet" or sprayer kind like this, or only the standard deal? I noticed one poster said they had a hard time fitting it on with the spray kind. Anyone have any advice?
post #12 of 17
3/9/04 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally posted by alexisyael
I use microfiber with my swiffer and love it! (Have a bunch that are washcloth size, but also a couple that were made specifically to fit onto a swiffer. They velcro and are way better for fit.)
Did you make them yourself or buy them?
post #13 of 17
3/9/04 at 1:10am
bought the washcloth sized ones from costco. bought the velcro tabbed ones at Canadian Tire
post #14 of 17
3/9/04 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally posted by alexisyael
bought the washcloth sized ones from costco. bought the velcro tabbed ones at Canadian Tire
:LOL I don't have either one of those!

I think there's some wahms who sew them to swiffer size, so I'll have to check into that. Maybe the one I have in the cabinet is swiffer size, I'll have to check...
post #15 of 17
3/9/04 at 12:12pm
It's really easy to cut a piece of fabric to fit your swiffer!
You don't even have to sew!

If it is a fabric that will frey, you can tape the edges to keep them from fraying, if you sew you can zig zag or serge teh edges.

Hemp fleece works fantastic
post #16 of 17
3/9/04 at 1:01pm
I don't have a Swiffer, but I do all my dusting with felt. I have a couple of squares of felted knitted wool that I made and then some scraps of wool felt from a craft project. The felt totally picks up dust and other junk and they're washable (and natural). I'm guessing if you can attach a washcloth to a Swiffer, you could attach a piece of felt.
post #17 of 17
3/9/04 at 4:17pm
I agree with the others, but I have also seen mircrofiber cloths at other stores...

felt also seems like a great idea!
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