The Best Swiffer Hacks for Sweepers and WetJets
A few years back, I received a string of emails from various readers asking if I knew of any cheaper or greener alternatives for the disposable cleaning pads and solutions for two popular Swiffer brand cleaning tools, the Swiffer Sweeper and the Swiffer WetJet. The cost of buying more disposable cleaning pads for the Sweeper or WetJet every few weeks can add up fast, so it’s no wonder those readers were looking for alternatives!
Lucky for all of us, it’s possible to take advantage of the ease and convenience of your Swiffer Sweeper or WetJet while saving money and cutting down on waste. All you need are a few simple Swiffer hacks, and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this post!
Check out my best money-saving hacks for the Swiffer Sweeper and the Swiffer WetJet below.
Related: These 11 Cleaning Hacks Will Make Your Floors Sparkle
Check out these swiffer hacks in action in my VIDEOS below!
3 Swiffer Hacks That Save Money and Reduce Waste
1. Use Reusable Sweeper Pads
Rather than using the pricey disposable sweeper pads, here’s a DIY reusable Swiffer pad alternative — a fuzzy sock! Just slip the sock onto the base of your Sweeper and use it just like you normally would.
The fuzzy material works like a charm for picking up dust, dirt, and hair. When you’re done sweeping, you can wash the sock with the rest of your laundry, and use it again and again!
Or if you’re willing to spend a few dollars, you can get this set of two washable microfiber cleaning pads for the Swiffer Sweeper on Amazon. No matter which reusable Swiffer pad you choose, you’ll save yourself a lot of money in the long run!
VIDEO: Make Your Own Reusable Swiffer Dusting Sheet
2. Use Reusable WetJet Pads
You could use a fuzzy sock on your WetJet like I mentioned for the Sweeper, but you would only want to use it for mopping up spills or splatters. If you’re mopping large sections of flooring, you’ll need something more absorbent, like a microfiber cleaning pad.
I found this set of two reusable microfiber cleaning pads for the WetJet on Amazon. As with the reusable Sweeper pads, if you make the switch to reusable Swiffer WetJet pads and you’ll start saving money almost immediately!
3. Refill WetJet Bottles With Homemade Swiffer Solution
But cleaning pads are only one part of the WetJet equation — the other is those pricey bottles of cleaning solution that snap into the mop. The good news is that it’s easy to make a homemade Swiffer solution at home, which I’ll show you how to do here (plus I’ll share how to refill Swiffer WetJet bottles once they’re empty!)
DIY Swiffer WetJet Cleaning Solution
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 3-5 drops dish soap
Directions:
Add the vinegar, water, and dish soap to a small bowl, stir to combine.
More Ideas You'll Love
To get this homemade solution into the special WetJet bottle, you’ll need to loosen the cap with the help of some hot water first.
Bring a small pot of water to a boil on your stovetop, then turn off the heat. Submerge the cap of the bottle completely in the hot water and hold it there for about 90 seconds.
Next, remove the bottle from the water, place a towel or cloth over the cap, and twist — it should come right off!
Pour your prepared cleaning solution into the open bottle, then replace the cap. Shake the bottle gently to make sure everything is mixed up, then click the bottle back into your WetJet mop. How easy is that?
For more information about Swiffer products check out their website.
Do you use a Swiffer Sweeper or WetJet to clean your floors?
PERSONALLY I USE THE DUSTERS, BUT THE SWIFFER I DO NOT LIKE! THE LIQUID WAS STICKY AND I KNEW IT HAD TO BE LEAVING A BUILD UP ON FLOORS! IT HAS A STICKY FEELING TO IT, NOT IMPRESSED!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for sharing this. I was just cleaning my kitchen and ran out of swiffer solution. You not only saved me money but also time since I didn’t have to run to the store to get another bottle. I’m glad to see I’m not the only person who felt the swiffer solution left the floor tacky. I’d get out my steamer and go over the just mopped floor to get rid of it so this gets bonus points for being a time saver.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.OK, most of you will think that I am just a crazy old lady, but at 83 with no arthritis, I use Fablouso (sp?) and water in a bucket and get down on my hand and knees to scrub my kitchen floor. I take a microfiber cloth and wash the kitchen floor. It is Linoleum, and I do the same in my two bathrooms, one has a tile floor, which I love, and the other has a Linoleum floor. The kitchen floor gets 95% of all the foot traffic, so it takes several washings once a week. I suppose if I did this twice a week there were be less dirt.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My dear husband of 61 years, will not use the door mat to wipe his feet before entering the kitchen or rug that I have just inside the door, thus all the dirt.
For my hardwood floors that we had coated with Polyurethane fifteen years ago, when we bought new furniture, I use the Swiffer and I use the Swiffer cloths that go with it. I find that they do a much better job than the microfiber cloths. The floors are still shiny and bright.
Not crazy, Carla. I still do my floors by hand, and maintain with swiffer use between cleanings. A housecleaner taught me the best and fastest way: Use two buckets (one with cleaner, one with plain water), two rags (one for each bucket), and a squeegie. And a soft brush. Kneel down and scrub a “square” of flooring you can comfortably reach (2-3 sq ft) with the rag dipped in cleaner, use the soft brush if needed. Squeegie the “square” and wipe up the excess with the wrung-out cleaner rag. Now use the plain water rag to give a good rinse, squeegie that up to dry the floor. Done with that square and move to the next. You can cover a large floor very quickly once you get the hang of this.
I’ve been crocheting my own reusable swiffer pads out of the same cotton yarn thst I knit my dishrags with and they are great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi do you have a pattern written you use? I can eyeball it, but it will take a few rough trials, I wondered if you wrote down how many rows, and do you single crochet, double or triple? I love triple because it goes so fast.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for any help.
Hi! I’m kinda of skeptical of the vinegar solution. Although I use it all the time in a spray bottle for my household
Please log in or create a free account to comment.cleaning I need to replace my spray bottles quite frequently. I think that after awhile the vinegar eats through the mechanism of the spray bottle. Any suggestions? I did try it a long time ago in a swiffer and it seemed to do the same thing, after awhile it just wouldn’t spray. Any one else have this problem or am I just getting lemon spray bottles and swiffer?
I’ve been using vinegar in spray bottles for a while and notice they stopped working. Thought it was just me!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Purchase chemical resistant sprayer tops. Most janitorial supply companies have them, I get them for less that $2.00 each and they last a long time. I finally dropped one and it broke.
I also purchase microfiber cloths at a warehouse store. You get a couple dozen for $18.00. I cut them in half and they fit my dry swiffer just fine. I also spray the floor with vinegar mix (adding a few drops of essential oils) and zoop it around the floor so the “dry” swiffer does double duty.
Fresh, clean, easy. Super low annual cost.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes a few drops of Lavendar Oil will help keep things rust free
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The Rubbermaid Reveal is a great product I recently purchased. It comes with 3 washable microfiber pads and 2 refillable bottles. I keep homemade laminate solution in one bottle and hardwood solution in the other. Much greener and cheaper. I highly recommend!
Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEBARJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rcnQybVBYTDCZ
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sarah, can you share the recipes for your hardwood and laminate cleaning solutions? Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m with Sarah C! I LOVE my Rubbermaid Reveal. You can was the microfiber cloths, and switch out the two refillable bottles. For my (almost entire house) hardwood floors, I use what the installer recommended. Purchased in concentrate and I mix my own bottles. I think I’ll have it forever!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000Z4KUK6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487698415&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=polycare+floor+cleaner+super+concentrate&dpPl=1&dpID=41EU8lX%2B2kL&ref=plSrch
What is your laminate floor cleaner made up with.thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use this solution for my Swiffer Wet Jet all the time…I can’t handle the sticky the wet jet solutions leave on the floor with Vinegar and dish soap you KNOW it’s clean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, the Swiffer formulas have ingredient(s) that are bad for pets like cats and dogs that self groom after walking on the floors. I *know* vinegar and a little soap won’t be damaging their nerves or building up in their organs. That’s worth some bottle replacement.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does the swiffer mixture work on wood floors also?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! It is safe for wood floors, but depending on your finish it might leave the floor looking a bit dull.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you have a good wood floor cleaner that won’t leave your floor looking dull or a residue on the floor, and that won’t ruin the finish on the wood floor?
does this really clean of is it pushing dirt around?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It definitely cleans! Vinegar cuts grease, eliminates odors and disinfects :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You still have to sweep or vac beforehand to keep from pushing dirt around, just like with a Swiffer-product. It would probably keep dirt from build up, as a bonus, since there isn’t any waxy stuff like the commercial version. It would smell heavenly with some lavender and cedarwood EO!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tips. I like my Swiffer Wet Jet but hate buying the cleaner and the pads. Bad for the environment as well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, the swifter solution is poisonous to pets!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Recently I had a new linoleum kitchen floor put in. The owner of the flooring store told me that if you use the wet Swiffer solution it voids the warranty. He said use plain water. However in a kitchen you do need more than plain water so he said white vinegar is good. He also recommended a product by karndean called One Step.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a white vinegar, baking soda, Dawn dish soap and water to clean my kitchen linoleum floor. It cuts through the grease and leaves it shiny and looking fresh!
You do not need a “fuzzy” sock.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use my husband’s and son’s worn out white socks.
Just turn them inside out and use the nubby side.
I use the same solution but add about 10 or so drops of tea tree oil , I have it in a separate spray bottle and use it for all sorts of cleaning , does a bang up job too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I got a big package of microfiber cloths in the automotive area of walmart (less expensive than the ones in the household aisle ) and sewed a plain piece of scrap fabric into the same pattern as the original dust mop thingy .
All I did was fold the micro cloth to make it fit, double sewed around and voilà ! Have lots of extra pads .
Seems to me that the microfiber in the auto department are thicker since the purpose is for cars . Might just be my imagination tho!
Now, getting the top off that bottle , that IS genius ! No more spray and mop!
Thank you for the tip .
Awesome idea…really loved your post
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m trilled. I tried just last week to remove the lid from a bottle. And the sock is a great idea. THank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.OMG, I could give you a BIG hug and hi-fi for THIS helpful information. We own one of these for cleaning our floors, you are right it does get pricey buying the disposable pads and solution. Thank to you, we will save $$. You are so awesome! Thank you, thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Ivory :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another genius idea. I love all the cleaning tips from this website. I added essential oil (another Jillee tip) because I don’t like the smell of vinegar.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the fluffy sock! I will definitely do that. Thanks for the idea!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So THAT’S how you get that bottle cap off! I’ve tried and tried, knowing I could save so much money by refilling it. Thank you so much!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you need to heat and soak the cap every refill or does the first time work forever?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.you only have ttosoak it once!! isnt that great!? ive been doing mine like this for years
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for all the help. Will put this to work.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I bought a bunch of microfiber cloths and cut them up to use. The velcro on the swiffer allows it to cling without having to get the ones with elastic and a lot cheaper. And I can easily pull them off when they are dirty and throw them into the washer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The solution I use with my Rubbermaid Reveal mop is one part water, one part white vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol and a few drops of blue dish detergent. This works brilliantly on my laminate and hard wood floor. It dries quickly with absolutely no streaking!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If any of you have read Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell, you know the swiffer idea has been around for longer than The swiffer has been on the market. He sells ones with larger heads and longer handles. Lowes also sells larger ones. They both sell the cloth pads to go with them. And when they wear out, terry cloth in the form of cheap hand towels or wash cloths work well also, though you may need to put elastic on them to hold them on. Though I have found the swiffer ones easier to handle in small rooms, especially the bathroom. Use speed cleanings recommendation of putting the cloths in the water and taking them off after a once over the floor, and using another clean one to go over again until the last cloth is clean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Dollar General also has wet pads that fit on your swiffer duster. I also use microfiber cloths.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Link to the fuzzy socks shows some actual socks for feet, not the one like your picture.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Those are the socks she is talking about. Super fuzzy and super stretchy. They fit the Swiffer just fine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.CJ – about the fuzzy socks: Do you know if Jillee uses the the ankle length fuzzy socks or the taller ones? Thanx.
Either one works :-) This one is ankle length.
That’s right – it’s just a regular fuzzy sock for actual feet :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.