How can I reuse or recycle “Swiffer” mops/handles?
We’ve had an email from Kelly, asking about reusing a “Swiffer” handle:
I’m sick of having to buy Swiffer cloths so am swapping to a regular brush and mop instead. What can I do with an old Swiffer then?
Disposable branded cloths aren’t the only option for using with Swiffers and the like – there are lots of homemade alternative options, often reusing and recycling old fabric from clothes, which can be washed and reused like any household cloth.
Looking at the pictures on Google, they’re look like a pole with a flat bit on the end so I imagine could be used for various other cleaning purposes – gazing at our filthy window here, I could imagine using it to dry water stains off the glass.
The pole away from the base could be useful by itself – I remember an old thrifty decorating tip was to use wooden broom handles instead of curtain poles, I’m not sure if the Swiffer pole would work for that but maybe it would… Could the base be used as a sandpaper block when you want to lightly sand a large area?
Any other suggestions?
I agree, make reusable covers or buy them on Etsy- throwing away the perfectly usable mop kind of defeats the purpose. Using what you’ve already got is always the best option.
I used to have one of these beasts and gave it to Goodwill. ugh, talk about a Money Pit with all those refills! I was wondering though if the handle is standard so it could be fitted with a squeege for cleaning those hard to reach windows?
We use our Swiffer WetJet with microfiber shop towels and I refill the wash solution bottle with my own washing solution. It’s a convenient little floor cleaning tool that way! And the microfiber towels work well wet or dry.
I second Kara’s microfibre cloth comment. I loathed those disposable cloths: they were horribly perfumed and made me sneeze.
But the microfibre cloth is great. I dust with it, shake it out then put it on the mop and do the kitchen floor with one side, bathroom floor with t’other, shake it out again and stick it in the washing bin.
I made swiffer covers from old, way too old, white t-shirts. They work great. Once they are dirty, I just wash them.
Plus you can make an equivalent liquid and use that to refill the container again reducing the waste.
I used utility cloths (cheap washcloths) bought at Roses 15 for about $5.00 33cents each. I also use them for wash cloths, and made a vinegar based solution put them and the solution in am empty swiffer wet clothes works great and no sewing. My problem is that the rubber part that the cloths goes around comes off and/or deteriorates and crumbles even just useing there cloths so I have several darn handles