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  1. Colleen says

    I bought my Swiffer when they first came out, but have never bought replacement cloths. I cut some remnant flannel to the size of the cloths, and have been using them ever since (20+ years?). Maybe Swiffer changed it’s design, but I just pop the corner/edges into the four catch slots, and away we go!

  3. kelly shank says

    No need to sew. Go to dollar store and buy fuzzy socks and pull over the swiffer. Works great for dry mopping.

  4. Judy Workman says

    I would like to warn people about what I received in an email describing the solution in the Swifer Wet Jets. The article contained the ingredients in the solution was almost that of antifreeze and people’s animals were being sickened and/or died after licking there paws from the floors that had been cleaned with this solution. Tests proved from the vet’s office that it came from the solution of swj. One molecule from being made into antifreeze. FYI

  5. kathy says

    I LOVE this idea saves money and it’s green! I’ve used paper towels in the past but, they fall apart

  8. Jana says

    This is a great idea but I think too much work (I don’t sew). I have a micro-fiber mop with detachable pads which you just throw in the washing machine. Anything and everything clings to them. I don’t actually mop with it, I swiffer my floors with it. I have washed those pads hundreds of times. Much more cost effective than the swiffer cloths. I got it from QVC.

  9. Katie says

    Ha! I seriously should have thought of that. I’d just been throwing the old cloth diapers on the floor and just pressing down really hard with the Swiffer to make sure the cloth followed with me as I mopped. 😛 I know what I’ll be doing now…

  11. jen says

    Is it just me that feels like for a few cents a piece I can use a swiffer cloth and be able to just throw that filty thing away? A few pennies well spent to me.

    • Jessica says

      @jen, The cloths are expensive though! Over 50 cents/each…and there are rarely coupons. Plus think of the environmental impact.

      I am still looking for a homemade cleaner that works as well as the Swiffer fluid…any “recipes” anyone?

    • Sandy says

      @jen, Yeah – I don’t want to put such a dirty cloth into my washer with other items either. Throw away is better for me too.

  13. lena parks says

    I love this idea! That’s why I love your blog, dear Crystal. You never dissapoint! I am going to cut an old towel right now, since I bought those $2.44 towels on Kohl’s recently! Also, that other blog, that you linked to has this great crocheting idea for swipper, wich inspired me to make one tonight (after clean my kitchen floors with brand new refilled for FREE sweeper! xexe). Here it is:
    http://gherkinsbucket.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/biffershrug.pdf

    I wish I could post a picture of the final project.

    • Linda says

      @lena parks,

      Hi would you be willing to make a couple of these crochet pads for my wet jet if I pay you? I would send you the money up front if you are interested. Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in doing.
      Thanks

  14. Stephany Hurst says

    Ok I see that it would be way cheaper but does anyone know if it works just as well? I love how the dirt really holds to the dry swiffer cloth, I wonder if it would do the same thing with a cloth diaper.

    • Emily says

      @Stephany Hurst, I’m thinking the dirt would NOT hold as well to a cloth diaper. I’m envisioning the cloth diaper working as an alternative to the wet refill pads with some of your favorite cleaning solution.

  15. Andrea says

    I think Rubbermaid now has the refillable bottle system with washable pads as an alternative to the swiffer. There were high value coupons a few weeks back. I guess if your swiffer is going to go soon (I have to replace the whole system every year), the rubbermaid would be a good alternative. And recycling diaper clothes and towels is definitely the way to go!

  16. Emily says

    I read this tip on a blog somewhere not too long ago, and I’ve been doing it ever since with my Swiffer. One of my biggest uses of my Swiffer (with the dry cloths) is to pick up all my hair that falls out during blow-drying and ends up all over my bathroom floor. I read to try used dryer sheets on the swiffer just like you would a dry refill sheet…….it works amazingly well. Since dryer sheets are shorter than a Swiffer, I just take 2 used dryer sheets (used as much as 2x in the dryer) and overlap them slightly on my Swiffer (sticking the ends in the little holders). I have tons of cloth diapers (used for changing pad covers), but I don’t use them anymore now that my son is potty trained. I may have to try using them instead of the wet Swiffer refills.

  18. Katie says

    I do the same thing with a microfiber cloth – cut it to size and use the holes on the swiffer to hold the cloth. No sewing required!

  19. Tabitha says

    My hubby took the lid off the liquid bottle on my swiffer so I can refill it with homemade solution now this will save me from buying those dollar store pads also .thanks

  20. Katiria says

    I already do that with the Swiffer dry one and some regular washcloths, they fit right into the little grabbers on the side and I don’t have to sew. Great idea for the wet jet ! Those things are expensive, I also was thinking of switching to one I saw in the store that you can use your own mix in the bottle and you dont have to buy their bottle, I think it was from Rubber maid but I haven’t been back to that store

    • Christine Lauren Walker says

      @Katiria,

      I saw that one you’re talking about at Target the other day and it was $28. I got my wetjet at Target on sale last week for $18.99 with a $5 coupon and a free refill bottle. So if you’re willing to do a little extra work to be frugal, the wetjet can turn out cheaper, even if you’re making extra pads and refilling the bottle with a funnel (which means you can use whatever cleaner you want!). Actually, the thing about the funnel is what I was thinking of doing and I’m glad to read it WORKS because I was really worried about that. I REALLY wish this post would have come yesterday though, because I JUST ordered a pad super similar to this off ebay for around $4. Just search “wetjet pad” if you’re interested in that route.

  22. Donna says

    For the Swiffer dry, I went to the dollar store and bought a couple of larger microfiber cloths. The width was just a little bigger than the width of the Swiffer so I was able to cut them in thirds. the swiffer dry has little pocket grabbers for the pads and they fit right in there like a regular dry pad. You can do the same with a dish cloth or old flannel sheet.

    • DeAnn says

      yes, I have been using an old wash cloth- it was the same size, and you just push it into the same little tabs as you would the swiffer pads.

  24. Rebecca says

    I LOVE this idea. I, too, have several of those cloth diapers hanging around. Thank you so much for posting!

  25. Heather says

    Make them in “minutes”?? If you know how to sew . . . . I think this would take me hours! But it is a good idea.

  26. nancy l. says

    This is such a timely post for me!! We are in the process of buying an older home with hardwood floors throughout. I was just thinking about how I was going to clean all the floors and realizing that a Swiffer would be the easiest to use. I love this idea and will be making my own stash of pads in the very near future!! Thanks so much.

  27. Jackie says

    This works great. I am lazy though, I just take a long dish cloth and secure it to the bottom with two rubber bands. This works for the wet jet but not sure how it works for the dry swiffer. Definitely do not spend money on refills!

    • Betty says

      Have it long enough to tuck in the little notch’s for the swifter dry and it should work fine

  29. whitney says

    i do something similar with my swiffer, i cut up the super absorbent, super clingy to dust microfiber towels that my husband bought to use on the car after a wash. i just wrap one around the bottom and then gather the corners and put a pony tail holder around them!

  30. Amy B. says

    While this is great if you have a Swiffer or something like it, I have to say I would never trade my Shark Steamvac for ANYTHING! No chemicals or sticky residue. Also, it sanitizes (which is great if you have kids that are on the floor all the time, like I do). I waited and waited last year and watched the prices. Finally, they fell to $59 for the basic model after Christmas time, around the start of 2010. I honestly can say, best $59 I have spent in a LONG time. HIGHLY recommend.

    I do wish this post would’ve been listed last year when I was still using my Clorox mop. I bought the cheap pads at the Dollar Tree and made do with those.