Back over the summer, Kristien and I visited our friends in Philadelphia. While staying at their house, I was introduced to the Swiffer Sweeper with wet pads. My girlfriend used the Swiffer in-between deep cleanings to pick up dirt, dog hair, and crumbs. I, of course, wanted to try it (you guys know how I adore clean floors) and was blown away by how well the Sweeper worked. I went home and bought one immediately.
LOVE! Complete LOVE. Obsession, really. I couldn’t get over how easy the Swiffer was to use. I appreciated that I could use a clean wet pad for every part of my house – unlike a mop, which just transfers the dirt around. Most of all, I loved how I didn’t have to get down on my hands and knees with a rag to do my once-every-two-days wipe down (told you that I loved clean floors).
The one thing that I did NOT love was the chemicals. Obviously, I knew going into this that Swiffer wet pads contained a lot of junk (this blog has a good explanation of the ingredients). I kind of overlooked it because no one (furry or human) in the house seemed to react to it, and I never let anyone walk on it before it was dry. Plus – it cleaned so well.
Recently, however, I’ve been trying to switch back to greener cleaning products. I really didn’t want to give up my Swiffer pads, but I did want something more natural, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly.
Here’s what you’ll need:
A 2.5 galloon ziploc bag
100% cotton washcloths (I had a pack of eighteen 11 by 11 white washcloths)
6 cups water
4 cups white vinegar
1/2 tablespoon dish soap
Optional: a few drops of essential oils (like Lavender or Orange) <— Edited to add: a few readers pointed out essential oils can be toxic to cats. Here’s a list of oils that can be toxic to cats {list is not all-inclusive}. Thankfully, my solution didn’t include any oils, so I can rest easy knowing this didn’t cause Pippa’s death, but I would hate for someone to unwittingly hurt their pet.)
A Swiffer mop
In the bag, combine the water, vinegar, and soap. Add in a few drops of essential oil to make it smell nice, if you wish. Mix thoroughly. Add in washcloths (which will soak up most of the liquid) and seal. Move bag around to ensure all the washcloths get wet.
To use, put on your Swiffer as you normally would (the 11 by 11 inch size was perfect). And Swiffer away!
I think this method cleaned just as well as the wet pads, AND you can flip over the washcloth and use both sides (which the wet pads aren’t technically designed to do).
When you’re done, just rinse off any large dust bits or doggie hairs and toss the washcloth in with the rest of your laundry. The rest of the wet washcloths will keep in the ziploc bag until you’re ready to clean again (just be sure to seal it tight). Side note: The vinegar scent completely disappears after the floors dry.
Why vinegar?
White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical. (Source)
I have a few other homemade cleaning product posts coming this week, so stay tuned!
What’s your preferred method for cleaning your floors? I used to love The Shark but the Swiffer has taken it’s place – it’s just so much more easy to use.
I do this….sort of…We go over the floor with the swiffer with a microfiber cloth from the automotive department to sweep it….then I use my steam mop to steam clean the floor without chemicals.