I love that thing, but lets face it throwing away the pads and cleaning with not so earth friendly cleaner each time isn't exactly Green. (Besides I hated that cleaning stuff for the Swiffer--it always left a film!!) My friend Mary mentioned she was using her Swiffer with washcloths so I decided to do it myself.
So what I did was take a washcloth and fold it in half and secure it with my old rubber bands for my hair on each side. My Swiffer had the Velcro on the back and that helps secure it in place. I walk around w/ a spray bottle of vinegar and squirt the offending spot and presto, its all clean again. I usually wet my washcloth just a little bit to catch dog hair and to really scrub the floor.
Of course this isn't the best way to really CLEAN a floor. But for quick jobs it does the trick. And I'm using an old thing and its like its new again! Plus I didn't throw it in the trash to replace it with a more eco-friendly option.
Thanks for your great idea Mary! Remember people that being green doesn't mean investing in expensive Green options. Really it means just thinking outside of the box and using what you already have. And you're being thrifty at the same time! (See previous post on being thrifty)
**Update: After using my redesigned Swiffer over the past 2 days I have discovered that its better to not fold the washcloth in half, but to instead just wrap it around the Swiffer. Makes it so the washcloth doesn't fold all over the place while cleaning.***
