green cleaning :: homemade swiffer cleaning solution
I’m not hardcore into green living, but I do try to keep our household chemical use (and spending!) to a minimum. Purchasing disposable replacement pads for my Swiffer WetJet – not to mention bottle after bottle of “Swiffer Juice” – became sorely irksome after the first 6 months. We have wood laminate (Pergo), linoleum, and tile in our house, so I loved Swiffer’s quick cleaning power…what I didn’t love was all the money I was shelling out, even buying in bulk.
These fab reuseable cloth pads on Etsy were just the inspiration I needed to make a switch! Priced at $6 each, I bought two. They require no special laundering – just toss them in the machine and wash on warm/cold and then tumble or lay flat to dry. I refilled my empty bottle of Swiffer cleaner with a simple homemade cleaning solution I made using items I already had in my cabinets.
Here’s the cost breakdown for one year:
Swiffer Solution (3 bottles): $14 at Wal-Mart
Swiffer Pads (36 disposables): $15 at Sam’s Club
Using washable fabric Swiffer pads and easy homemade cleaner cuts my yearly expense by more than half. You do have to push a bit harder using the fabric pads, but, hey! It burns more calories! I definitely feel like my floors are cleaner – partially because the cloth just works better…and partially because I’m willing to mop more often, instead of trying to conserve my disposable Swiffer pads!
2 tablespoons vinegar
After pouring the vinegar and dish soap (you can also use baby shampoo) into the bottle, fill it to the top with warm water. Give it a quick shake and you’re ready to go! As for a container, mix this solution in an old squirt bottle & spray it on your floors, or simply refill you Swiffer solution bottle. It won’t pop off on its own, but you can remove the lid by boiling a pot of water and then submerging the lid for about 60 seconds. I used an oven mitt to grip & twist the lid and it came right off! SO EASY!
You can find Erin from SuburbanUtopia on Twitter as well as on her blog!