Do you "swiffer" or too expensive?

[eclairemom]

Thanks

I just bought one of these a couple days ago and I absolutely love it! Here's what I like about it:

It heats up extremely fast (30 seconds) and it's easy to assemble and refill.

I have a bad back, but I was able to use this without any problems.

It's a non-chemical way of cleaning.

The pads go right into the wash and can be reused over and over.

I used it on ceramic tile and hardwood floors. It did a perfect job on the hardwood--it barely gets the floors damp, but the finish looked perfect when I was done.

It also did a great job on the tile, but it isn't able to get into the grout. However, there was some food that was really stuck to the grout and the steam loosened it up so that it was easy to get off.

I couldn't believe how filthy the pads were when I was done My floors feel the cleanest they have in a long time.

I bought mine at Sams Club, and it included a hand steamer as well. I haven't tried that yet.

 

[tinker&belle]

I have a swiffer, but it never seemed to do that great of a job on the tile. I just got a Mr. Clean mop and it is REALLY great at tile. It also does well on our laminate. I'm not sure how long the 'eraser' part will last, but I think it will work out to be less expensive than the swiffer. It definately works better for us!

 

[NicksMommy]

Yeah the swiffer is more expensive, than a mop and water. I just finished swiffering my whole house and I used a bottle and a half! But it is still a good value to me buying it 3 bottles at a time!!!

 

[Mickeyorbust]

Not to hijack this thread, but we have hardwood in 90% of our house (smaller than yours at 1500 sq. ft.) and we just had the old hardwood refinished. It looks gorgeous - I never thought it would look so good! My question is, what do I use to clean it? I have one of those Target terry mop things but I never got a solution before. My floor guys said anything but Murphey's Oil Soap is good but to spray it on the terry, not on the floor directly. Any tips? TIA!

I saw somewhere on the Budget Board months ago that someone used vinegar and water to clean their hardwood floors. I thought it was worth a shot and tried it. Man did it make a huge difference. I hadn't realized how much residue the cleaners "made for wood floors" were leaving behind. My wood floors were shiny again! I used 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water and mopped with a sponge mop.

 

[disneyin2008]

I absolutely love my Swiffer system but it seems to be getting more and more pricey. Between the swiffer pads, the swiffer "juice" (spray), and batteries....not to mention the entire system to boot, it seems to really add up just to mop the floor!

What do you do for your floors and if you Swiffer how do you make it less expensive?

I sewed up some wash cloths with straps and put those on instead. It's not perfect, but it does the job and is cheap and I just throw it in the washer with the rest of the towels (if there was something icky that I mopped up, I'll rinse it in the sink first)

 

[flakypuff]

I use the Swiffer vacuum for 'sweeping' and I have a Shark SteamMop (with the reusable pads) for 'mopping'.

Do you like your shark steam mop? is it easy to use and does it do a good job?

I just bought one of these a couple days ago and I absolutely love it! Here's what I like about it:

It heats up extremely fast (30 seconds) and it's easy to assemble and refill.

I have a bad back, but I was able to use this without any problems.

It's a non-chemical way of cleaning.

The pads go right into the wash and can be reused over and over.

I used it on ceramic tile and hardwood floors. It did a perfect job on the hardwood--it barely gets the floors damp, but the finish looked perfect when I was done.

It also did a great job on the tile, but it isn't able to get into the grout. However, there was some food that was really stuck to the grout and the steam loosened it up so that it was easy to get off.

I couldn't believe how filthy the pads were when I was done My floors feel the cleanest they have in a long time.

I bought mine at Sams Club, and it included a hand steamer as well. I haven't tried that yet.

I was wondering too. It sounds like a great deal if you get the hand steamer included. That was what I needed....both so it may be a great idea.

I sewed up some wash cloths with straps and put those on instead. It's not perfect, but it does the job and is cheap and I just throw it in the washer with the rest of the towels (if there was something icky that I mopped up, I'll rinse it in the sink first)

This is a great idea!!! Wow your pretty creative... I like the idea of the swiffer because its fast...I dont like cleaning but I like a clean house. But, if its just as easy to use the solution you made.... I only have wine vinegar in the house...I guess thats not the same

 

[JayTuk]

I still use the mop...

 

[Kycha]

I will use the swiffer dry mop on my linoleum flooring. But for mopping, it's down on my hands and knees with a hot bucket of water and ammonia or Armstrong floor cleaner(smells really good). Only about 30% of my house is tiled/hardwood, so it's no big deal. But, I would probably still mop this way even if my whole house were tiled.

 

[Robmom]

I use a "permanent" swiffer type of mop that I bought from QVC a few years ago. The cloth cleaning pads velcro on then can be thrown in the laundry. Cheaper in the long run and better for the environment. If you go on QVC.com and search on Don Aslett Mop you'll see a bunch of selections. I don't see my exact one anymore, but these all look similar.

I have the same one. I also have the H2O steam mop, which I like as well. I use that when I have to do deep down cleaning.

 

[jjenniboo]

It's not necessarily a cheap alternative but I bought my mom the irobot scooba. I think it was $200 but it can use vinegar (what my mom uses) instead of a regular cleaner. She keeps it charged and everyday she just sets it in the room she wants cleaned and turns it on. It vacuums, washes and dries the floor for her. Pretty sure she uses it on the hardwood floor too since it almost immediately sucks up the dirty water.

 

[may06orbust]

I've been using a Clorox wet jet mop with the flat Swiffer cloths for over a year now. I refill the mop with a solution recipe that I googled. I also wash the flat swiffer cloths in the laundry--they're generally good to wash about 9 mo to a year.

 

[flying_babyb]

What do you do for your floors and if you Swiffer how do you make it less expensive?

I heard the wet swiffers can make your pets sick if they step in the wet and lick it off there paws. Due to this im a mop and sink kinda girl (who uses a bucket? thats for being sick in)

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Another vote for vinager and water in a spray bottle for wood floors. I use the swiffer mop stick and use wash cloths dedicated for this purpose. I usually wet the cloth and mop, but if there are spills I will use a squirt directly on spot. the floors feel really clean when you are done. Sometimes I have to use two cloths, and always have to rinse out in between. I wait till I have a bunch of cloths then wash them on smallest amt of water possible and air dry. Read about the vinager and water on the Dis and it really works. No smell either afterwards. Grammy

 

[neatokimmo]

I use the red mop from walmart where you can take off the heads and throw them in the wash (not the lidmens (sp) but the other one). At the house I use it on tile and hardwood with no issues. The wringer sleeve does a great job and my hardwood doesn't get too wet. I also use vinegar and water

 

[sherry7]

Not to hijack this thread, but we have hardwood in 90% of our house (smaller than yours at 1500 sq. ft.) and we just had the old hardwood refinished. It looks gorgeous - I never thought it would look so good! My question is, what do I use to clean it? I have one of those Target terry mop things but I never got a solution before. My floor guys said anything but Murphey's Oil Soap is good but to spray it on the terry, not on the floor directly. Any tips? TIA!

My mom had the hardwood floors in her house refinished a few years back. The guys who did the work told her to NEVER use any type of cleaner on it. They said to use plain water, with a small splash of white vinegar. Also, they said to wring the mop out very well.

Her floors look awesome, so it must be working.

 

[akersten]

Not to hijack this thread, but we have hardwood in 90% of our house (smaller than yours at 1500 sq. ft.) and we just had the old hardwood refinished. It looks gorgeous - I never thought it would look so good! My question is, what do I use to clean it? I have one of those Target terry mop things but I never got a solution before. My floor guys said anything but Murphey's Oil Soap is good but to spray it on the terry, not on the floor directly. Any tips? TIA!

Our floor guy said just a little vinegar (1/4c) in a gallon of water to clean the hardwood floors and not to mop them more than once or twice per month. We have a Poly (oil-based) finish. I spot clean with water and either Sweep or dust mop with a Swiffer (no solution, just the Swiffer dust mop). If I mop the floor, I dry it with a towel after.

I buy the Swiffer dry mop dusters at Sam's club.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

I use the swiffer for everyday cleanups. And on a weekly basis I use our Hoover Floormate - which I LOVE!! It vacuums, washes and dries the floors. It awsome!!

 

[neatokimmo]

I should of mentioned that too, I scoot around the floor with a towel on each foot and dry them about 90% of the way.

Our floor guy said just a little vinegar (1/4c) in a gallon of water to clean the hardwood floors and not to mop them more than once or twice per month. We have a Poly (oil-based) finish. I spot clean with water and either Sweep or dust mop with a Swiffer (no solution, just the Swiffer dust mop). If I mop the floor, I dry it with a towel after.

I buy the Swiffer dry mop dusters at Sam's club.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Do you like your shark steam mop? is it easy to use and does it do a good job?

Yes, I love it! I have vinyl flooring and the steam mop gets them SO clean. And, it's easy to use.

 

[I love OKW]

Not to hijack this thread, but we have hardwood in 90% of our house (smaller than yours at 1500 sq. ft.) and we just had the old hardwood refinished. It looks gorgeous - I never thought it would look so good! My question is, what do I use to clean it? I have one of those Target terry mop things but I never got a solution before. My floor guys said anything but Murphey's Oil Soap is good but to spray it on the terry, not on the floor directly. Any tips? TIA!

Did they say why?? I thought Murphy's Oil Soap was good to use? That is what I use on my wood floors, so now I am nervous.