A few years ago, before I was enlightened about all of the nasty chemicals lurking in so many cleaning products, I bought a Swiffer. This was before the Wet Jet time, so it was just a good ol’ Swiffer that you used with the wet pads you can still buy in stores.
After a few uses I stopped buying them because of the smell. It had an “off” smell to me—Off enough that I didn’t dare step on the floor while wet, not because of getting it dirty, but because I was leery of what unknown toxic ingredients would be seeping into my foot. I guess I’ve always been a little granola at heart. And then when my floor would dry, it felt slightly sticky so I would never walk on my kitchen floor without socks. And then I decided that was ridiculous so I switched over to what I’ve been using ever since—My trusty 2/3 water, 1/3 vinegar solution mixed in with some essential oils when I’m feeling fancy.
Then it dawned on me.. Why not combine my favorite floor cleaner with the convenience of the Swiffer? And that’s how a star was born.
To make your own Swiffer wet pads you’ll need the following:
4 C distilled water
2 C white vinegar
10-14 drops of pure essential oil
(12) 11”x11” clean rags
an empty Swiffer pad container, or a 2 gallon Ziploc bag
Directions for making your own Swiffer wet pads:
Pour the distilled water and vinegar into the empty container or Ziploc bag. Add your essential oil. I chose to use lemon today because of its de-greasing properties. You can see how far up this solution fills my container, below:
Next, place your clean rags in, one at a time into the container. They should soak up most of the solution between all of them. I’ve found the “11 x 11” cleaning rags are the perfect size, and because their edges are already sewn, they’ll last through lots of cycles in the washer. Here’s what it looks like when all 12 rags are in:
Store with the lid on, or if using the ziploc bag, with the top zipped.
To use, attach a rag to your Swiffer mop, just like you would the other wet pads. Make sure the rag is pulled taught. And by all means, feel free to flip the rag over and use the other side.
Here’s what my rag looks like after just a few minutes of mopping, and I just mopped my floors last week!
We don’t wear shoes in the house, so this is just from regular living traffic. Moral of the story? It does the job. To clean, just throw the rag in with your other cleaning rags and wash in the washer.
How does our solution cost compare to what you would pay for a container of wet pads in the store?
Distilled Water: $0.22
Vinegar: $0.22 (I buy my vinegar in bulk from Costco for $3.49)
Essential Oils: $0.81 (I used 12 drops of Lemon essential oil)
I already owned the rags, container, and mop so my total cost is $1.25 per batch. A container of 12 Swiffer wet pads at my nearest Walmart costs $4.47.
That’s a 72% savings!!!!!
I’d be willing to save 72% any day, especially when you consider that our version comes sticky-chemical & residue free.
Ingredients
- 4 cups distilled water
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 10-14 drops of pure essential oil
- 12 11”x11” clean rags
- an empty Swiffer pad container or a 2 gallon Ziploc bag
Instructions
- Pour the distilled water and vinegar into the empty container or Ziploc bag. Add your essential oil. I choose lemon essential oil because of its de-greasing properties.
- Next, place your clean rags in, one at a time into the container. They should soak up most of the solution between all of them. I've found the "11 x 11" cleaning rags are the perfect size, and because their edges are already sewn, they’ll last through lots of cycles in the washer.
- Store with the lid on, or if using the ziploc bag, with the top zipped.
- To use, attach a rag to your Swiffer mop, just like you would the other wet pads. Make sure the rag is pulled taught. And by all means, feel free to flip the rag over and use the other side.
How about you? Are you in love with your Swiffer? Do you have any other hard floor cleaner favorites?
This may seem silly, but does it have to be distilled water?
My question exactly
Still no answer??? I’m waiting for a reply also. Curious as to why?
Distilled will help with bacteria I think more, if you don’t use up all the cleaner or wipes bacteria can get in there and grow, so you want all clean bacteria free agents as possible.
As a chemist/biochemist – This is complete nonsense!
I would think the vinegar would solve that. I would use water from the tap and call it a day.
I wouldn’t imagine it has to be distilled to use as cleaning solution. I tried this today actually and it worked perfectly with regular tap water, vinegar and a touch of lemongrass oil:)
Doesn’t the oil make the floor slippery or sticky?
As there is so little of the essential oil compared to the water and vinegar, there is very little chance of your floor becoming slippery. I’ve never had a problem using essential oils in this way with that much liquid that doesn’t have any other additives in it. I don’t think you’ll have a problem with it.
No becsuse essential is mot OIL. Its the essence of the fruit or flower. Not oil as in cooking oil.
Use tap water, the white vinegar would solve any problems caused by hard water. In fact, white vinegar and water is the best thing to get rid of hard water build up. I use this method with microfiber cloths or the white cleaning rags all the time and have forever. I also use the micro fiber mop with this solution. It works great, although I save myself the bother of making them up beforehand. I put some vinegar and water in a bucket, toss in the rags, ring them out and away I go. It seems easier to me, but personal preference I guess.
Thinking it has to do with other water having minerals in it. As someone with hard well water, water spots from mineral build up is life. If you want to prevent from spreading minerals all around your floor which build up over time, or seeing water spots, that’s probably why distilled water is recommended (distilling removes all mineral deposits).
because regular tap and bottle waters can have bacteria and other minerals. minerals that can leave your floors streaky and spotty.
Distilled water has less minerals in it and leads to less build up over time. That’s the only big difference I found. Hope that helps. If you are in a pinch the blue shop towels (a heavier duty paper towel, found in the paint isle at lowes) work really well and then can be disposed of.
Yes, distilled water is less likely to leave behind mineral deposits when it dries. You know how you get those water spots on your counter when you don’t wipe them up right away? The same thing can happen with your floors. Personally, I just use tap water (no vinegar or oils) and wring the rags a bit so they don’t leave lots of water spots and streaks. I don’t bother with making a package of cloths. Just keep them folded on my cabinet shelf and dampen as needed. Easy.
I tried the blue shop towels and the mop sticks to the floor, making it much harder to mop. Actually, can’t even drag the mop backwards, only in one direction.
No it doesn’t have to be distilled water. It’s work perfectly for me using just faucet water. If you are worried about any minerals or chemicals pour water into a clean jug and let it sit til next use is needed. It works when filling fresh water fish tanks.
Just my two cents worth
Distilled water will not leave mineral water marks when it dries. Hard water can leave marks.
No, for heaven’s sake! It doesn’t HAVE to be distilled water. I use good old tap water and it works fine. Think what she may be referring to are the minerals from tap water that CAN build up. They always say to use distilled water in an iron and I agree. I used tap water and eventually ruined an iron one time. But, she is telling us to throw the rags in the washer so to a point, she IS using tap water because of her washer. My DIY swiffer old white rags have held up fine using tap water. And, the vinegar should neutralize any minerals anyway.
No. The vinegar and essential oil will not allow bactetial to grow. Lavender is antibacterial and anti fungual…naturally. just make sure you use 100 % pure oils. Not synthetic crap. annieslavender.com
Once upon a time I had a Swiffer like you; I hated the pads for the same reasons you stated.
These days I have a FlyLady mop. It came with reusable rags and a dust mop head. You can purchase extra rags or use/make you own. It is much more sturdy & has an adjustable handle. I even use it for cleaning the outside windows (once a year whether they need it or not).
I use a reusable fibro mop and wet it and squeeze it well then a spray bottle with whatever cleaner you like and sweet and mop same time and then toss in the wash 🙂
I just used my last Swiffer wet pad last week. I’ve been dreading shelling out more money for another container. Very glad I came across your post and can’t wait to try it out!
What about for wood floors? Any suggestions?
Yes, I would like to know too.
My mom uses a mixture of murphy’s oil soap and water for her wood floors and it works great.
I use the murphys soap as well – I’ll be mixing some up with water for this reuseable swiffer reason! thanks!
DONT YOU HAVE TO RINSE THE MURPHYS SOAP OFF FLOOR
Vinegar water is the very best way to clean hardwood!
I just use water. I don’t like the residue that soaps leave behind. If there are tough spots on the wood floor, I get down on my hands and knees and use a microfiber and water and a little elbow grease. I think water is all you need. No chemicals. No vinegar.
I use this on my wood floors;
1c water (distilled or tap)
1 c rubbing alcohol
1 c white vinegar
3 drops regular dawn
Mix it in a spray bottle .
I sweep or vacuum my floors and spay the solution in sections and wipe with a soft cloth.
I have a dry mop with a detachable cloth that I can launder
It doesn’t any residue
That’s my recipe for my all purpose cleaner: tub surround (gets the soap scum fast), counters and floors. It also cleans mirrors and glass.
I love my spray Libman mop which comes with reusable and machine washable pads that last a very long time. I have had mine for 2-3 years and I am still on the 1st pad. You also fill the cleaner bottle with whatever you want and it sprays without the use of a battery. I have not made my own cleaner but I did buy a gallon of a non-toxic concentrated cleaner a couple of years ago from Home depot. I have only used a 1/3 of it so far because it is concentrated and despite the fact that I I have 3 kids and need to mop often.
Thanks! I love Libman products. Don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.
Where did you get the curtains in the photos? They are beautiful!
Can you use real lemons instead of the oil. I squeeze lemons and put them in ice cube trays for lemonade and when I need lemon juice for recipes. I have a lot of cubes.
Lemon oil is made from the rind of the lemon. I am not sure if the lemon cubes would work the same way but give it a try and let me know what you think! 🙂
After squeezing the lemon juice from the peel, I remove all the flesh from the peel and tear the peel into pieces and drop it into a jar of white distilled vinegar. Let it sit in the refrigerator for a week or so shaking daily. Strain into another jar or bowl. Keep it covered in the refrigerator. This is how I make my lemon or other citrus vinegar for cleaning.
I was so excited for this but it was a huge fail for me! There are spots all over the floor and the floor feels “tacky”. Not sure what I did wrong?
Is this how you mop? or do you have a water/vinegar ratio you fill up the ole’ mop bucket with and actually bust out a string or sponge mop and clean the floors occasionally? Looking for a more natural mopping solution for my tile floors… without the soap Lysol has in it that stains the grout.
I use these homemade swiffers for daily clean up. When it needs it I usually just use vinegar and water and a mop or the best tool–a rag and my hand! 🙂
I noticed you don’t use any soap – does vinegar and water actually clean the floor?
Yep! Vinegar is a great natural cleaner!
Where did you purchase your towels? Trying to find the best deal.
I think these towels were in a big bundle from Costco that I got years ago! 🙂
Dollar store.
For some who want to save money that’s a good way. A lemon in a close container with cut up lemon peel for a week will help with the lemon oil part. Thanks
Thanks for the tip, this should save me money cleaning houses.
Add a little rubbing alcohol, about 1 c for this recipe ratio. It makes the floor dry super fast with no spots.
I buy a Gallon of vinegar and pour about 1/4 out into another container. I then place the gallon into the pantry and anytime we eat an orange, grapefruit, lemon or limes, we discard the peeling into the vinegar. I shake it once in awhile and in about two weeks I pour the infused vinegar, straining with a cheesecloth, into a spray bottle, leaving about three inches, then pour in some alcohol. No need for a good smelling oil, it’s already in the spray. I then keep pouring vinegar and place citrus into gallon and start process all over again. There will come a time when you will need to take the old citrus out. I use this for cleaning and deodorizing.
Nice!
What about wood floors? water is supposed to be bad for them.
My mom uses a mixture of murphy’s oil soap and water for her wood floors and it works great.
I also have used murphy’s oil soap and water for my wood floors, but when $ was tight; I started using the vinegar with citrus peel as above, on the kitchen and bathroom floors they sparkly without feeling sticky on bare feet. However on the wood floors, I make sure the cloth is not drippy wet, but near dry. The results make me happy and less tired, I’m 74!
It would depend on whether your wood floors are sealed or not. I would recommend you test the mixture in an inconspicuous spot. I use this and other essential oil and distilled water combinations to clean my sealed hardwood floors all the time.
Can you mix some castile soap in with this mix? I bought my rags at Ikea they were so cheap just to try this out before buying some in bulk!
I don’y see why you couldn’t!
Don’t mix Castile soap and vinegar…one is an acid and one is a base so they cancel each other out and form a disgusting sludge :/ you’d think you’d get extra natural cleaning power but it makes a mess instead.
TAUT (meaning tight) not taught (meaning to teach).
I’m looking for a disposable version of this! Any Ideas on what I could use instead of the rag clothes? Im thinking paper towels wouldn’t be sturdy enough….?
Get the blue rags in the automotive section that are on a roll they are sturdier than paper towels and it is still way cheaper than buying the name brand Swiffer pads.
For my next batch, I’m going to put a few drops of chlorine bleach in my cleaning solution.
I used an old towel that was fraying on the sides for my swiffer reusable pads. I have about eight (8) pads from this old towel. I made the solution from above, placed the pads one at a time into the solution. By the time I got to my second pad, there were black spots throughout the remainning pads.And they were sticking together.
I was wondering if this was possible? Vinegar grows mother. Is it mother, or deadly mold spores?
Vinegar grows a “mother” when it is unpasteurized. Commercial vinegar from the grocery stores is pasteurized — can’t grow a “mother”.
Thanks
Has anyone had issues with the essential oils breaking down the plastic of the Swiffer pad container??
What about on slate and porcelain floors? I heard that citrus and vinegar are not good for them. Any reply would be helpful.
Dollar store.
For some who want to save money that’s a good way, a lemon in a close container with cut up lemon peel for a week.
Vinegar and Distilled water, will be ok with the stains or some kind of acid-base combination? Swiffer pads seem to have a long run.