I bought a swiffer doodad at Habitat for Humanity because it was cheap. I love the wand but don't want to continually buy the cleaning cloths. I use the microfiber towels for dusting but you cannot use fabric softerner with those. Or so the directions say. I am thinking of using Velcro on the wand as it bends in all different directions and attaching my microfiber cloth. I can easily take that off to wash when needed.

I saw on DIY that if you use dryer sheets you should take your filter out to rinse it off, if the water does not flow thru the filter clean it with warm water and dish soap. Who knew that dryer sheets could cause a build up in your
dryer.

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Thanks for passing that info along LO, I did not know that about dryer sheets and the filter. Thanks again.

The swiffer doodad you bought has little holes where you attach the use and toss cloths. I have 15"x15" microfiber cloths that I just push the cloth into these holes. For dusting I move the cloth closer to the edge and dust flat surfaces such table tops, walls, the side of things. Then I move the cloth over towards the other end of the cloth and continue. Then take off the cloth fold it over and finish dusting with the clean side. The flat surface covers more area than the flat of your hand does so dusting gets done faster.

Then I go on to do the floors. Use another cloth if you don't want to dust and do the floors with the same cloth. If you want to know what you used for want mark the tag with a D or F so you don't mix them up later. IMO the microfiber cloths grab more than a dust mop or the disposable cloths that are designed to used with them. Just be prepared to be grossed out as they pick up chunky stuff too.

Thanks s t good news about the swiffer.

I use old bathcloths that are in the ragbag on my swiffer. then I wash them and get another one

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Becky56,

quote:

Originally posted by still tryin:
The swiffer doodad you bought has little holes where you attach the use and toss cloths. I have 15"x15" microfiber cloths that I just push the cloth into these holes. For dusting I move the cloth closer to the edge and dust flat surfaces such table tops, walls, the side of things. Then I move the cloth over towards the other end of the cloth and continue. Then take off the cloth fold it over and finish dusting with the clean side. The flat surface covers more area than the flat of your hand does so dusting gets done faster.

Then I go on to do the floors. Use another cloth if you don't want to dust and do the floors with the same cloth. If you want to know what you used for want mark the tag with a D or F so you don't mix them up later. IMO the microfiber cloths grab more than a dust mop or the disposable cloths that are designed to used with them. Just be prepared to be grossed out as they pick up chunky stuff too.

still tryin: that is too funny. Thanks for the

Fabric softening sheets can cause dryer fires and have burn down many homes where people don't know about washing filters weekly or monthy and cleaning them every load of lint!

I leaned the facts last year.

Am I odd man out, or does anyone else find this topic odd for an enviornmental forum?
Most "disposable" products aren't eco friendly

Personally I'm not crazy about the swiffer sweepers or mops for a variety of reasons.

I certainly don't like the disposable aspect of it's use. Secondly though, the product just isn't well made IMHO.

I've purchased two other mops that do a variety of chores. One is the Sh-mop and the other is like the Star Fiber mop (flat and the microfiber pad velcros to the bottom). I've got extra terry and microfiber mop heads for both. I use them for dusting, wet mopping, spot cleaning, walls, cobwebbing and ceiling fans. Yes, the mops and heads were a bit of an investment up front -- but I haven't purchased special cleaners or refill heads at all. Both ecologically and financially, I'm ahead of the game.

The swiffer handle just always felt flimsy in my hands. I can use as many cleaning mop heads as I need without feeling like I'm adding to landfill. I can also use whatever cleaner I need at the moment.

Great ideas, I love the microfiber cloths and use them with my swiffer handle. It helps me get into those places I could not reach etc.

I have not used a swiffer mop, I use my foot and a cloth to clean our ceramic tile floors in the kitchen and other areas.

I do use dryer sheets but read that you must wash out your filter with soapy hot water to make sure you don't get a build up on the lint filter from the dryer sheets. It's the norm to always clean your dryer filter after each use.

Too Much Stuph, I wash my microfiber cloths and reuse them I had swiffer dusting mop but found the cloths, wasteful to say the least and they are expensive. I use mine the same way as you use your mops except I push the cloth into the litle holes that were meant for the disposable cloths. Didn't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. My dh already had microfiber cloths he had purchased and I grabed some of his that he never used. Naturally if you don't like the feel ot the mop handle why bother.

I also use/reuse the microfiber cloths to do all that you do with yours. Plus I take the cloths by themselves and moisten them to damp dust or clean the windows inside the house.

Rags have their uses too. What I also like about the microfiber cloths is that you can wash them using cold water setting on your washing machine or handwash, (and yes I should say I am washing them with soap), and they come clean very easily.

To save more energy I find they are better than using the vacume cleaner when I don't need too. More waste in trash and more energy used unnecessarily is what I am trying to avoid.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: still tryin,

Instead of drying your micro-fiber cleaning cloths with dryer sheets, you might want to consider getting the blue knobby balls that have been advertised on the infomercials. They have worked very well for my terry towels.

The ball manufacturer recommends reducing the heat setting and shortening the time in your dryer when using the dryer balls. They work by encouraging the clothes or towels in the dryer to separate as they drop off the drum, thus exposing more of the fabric to the air.

I believe they were about $10 for a pair of balls at Walmart or my local drugstore. I found they do not work well with underwire bras or fabrics containing high percentages of nylon (they get very static-y), like lingerie and socks. Those garments I still run in the dryer with a dryer sheet.

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