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HomeSafeHome:  To swift or not to swift? That is the question  |
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MaggieMB
True Blue Farmgirl
217 Posts
Mary
western
Pa
217 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 4:50:03 PM
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| Well, I was out running errands, with the intention of buying an economy model Shark. Our local Aldi store happened to have a steam mop for $39, so I bought it instead. I have to say, I am really pleased with it! I have an old oak floor in my kitchen that has a pretty worn finish and the steam cleaning brightened it up without saturating it too much. It dried very quickly and looked cleaner than when I mop it with vinegar water. I don't know if this inexpensive steam mop will hold up over time, but I sure hope it does! MaggieMB |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2011 : 5:40:31 PM
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| Sounds like you got a real deal, Mary :-) Let us know how it holds up. |
Edited by - Rosemary on Mar 26 2013 5:21:04 PM |
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dena beans
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
dena
danville
il
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2011 : 7:29:20 PM
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Wow..thanks so much for this thread...I had no clue. Our dog has suffered from hot spots and this kinda has me wondering...some days I feel like I have so much to learn!
Dena |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 4:32:54 PM
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I attach a regular wash cloth to my old swiffer and use a spray bottle of water and vinegar. I like it for the small areas like the laundry room.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com |
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MaggieMB
True Blue Farmgirl
217 Posts
Mary
western
Pa
217 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 8:32:15 PM
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| Farmdream, that is such a great idea! I just bought a little piece of fleece to make swiffer pads with. Never even thought of using washcloths! I use mine for dusting under furniture, etc. |
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thebyrdhaus
True Blue Farmgirl
520 Posts
Patty
Columbus
Oh
USA
520 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2011 : 06:29:07 AM
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I recycle sweat shirts into covers for my swiffer and use it with my own cleaning solution or use it dry. I love my swiffer MY WAY! And when someone throws their swiffer in the trash, I am there to pick it up, clean it up and re-gift it with some recycled swiffer covers made by me.
Patty #1840
A rind is a terrible thing to waste. Compost.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
-Jesus in John 6:12 NIV Bible |
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SRhea
Farmgirl in Training
42 Posts
Sue
San Angelo
TX
USA
42 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2011 : 07:08:18 AM
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| I have heard there are ingredients in the Swiffer cleaner that kills dogs and is harmful for children. I think the steam mop is the way to go. |
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2013 : 1:51:50 PM
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Bumping up this thread. Someone had mentioned they could not find it and wanted to know the dangers behind using swiffer cleaner.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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MtnGrlByTheBay
True Blue Farmgirl
171 Posts
Erin
Lexington Park
MD
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2013 : 10:23:36 AM
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Just like people having sensitivities, animals can too. I've used a swiffer for years, and have always had 3-5 dogs, a cat and 2 kids at any given time. No problems at all.
^^^I'm a RidgeRunner, and will always feel best when surrounded by the PA mountains.^^^
www.lastlapgang.com |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2013 : 7:48:39 PM
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| Linda, if you use a plain Swiffer without the cleaner they sell to use with it, you can totally control any dangers. As I've posted before, I just use washcloths instead of the Swiffer pads, and use either white vinegar with them. I'm also using a steam mop with success, and you'll see quite a few comments in this thread about them. They kill germs, and so a very thorough job of cleaning any kind of floor. Some models even have attachments for carpeting. If you're super-fussy about toxicity, you might want to look into them. |
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mjscanlan
True Blue Farmgirl
218 Posts
Mary Jo
Dennison
Minnesota
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2013 : 05:56:14 AM
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I clean houses and was told by several clients that the wet swifter products contain anti-freeze and that is why pets lick it. It can kill your pets if they ingest enough of it. The pets are attracted to it because it is sweet to them. I continue to use the dry sheets because they work awesome but I never use the wet ones.
"A City girl with a Country Heart." |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 9:43:51 PM
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When my granddaughter was crawling she was visiting a family member who used a swiffer and her poor little arms turned red and she had an awful rash. I don't understand why they would make such an unsafe pruduct. Very sad actually.
We can do it! |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 07:30:00 AM
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I saw this post awhile ago. I, too, have switched to making my own cleaners. Always loved my swiffer, so I use the swiffer portion but not the refills. I knitted my own covers and use vinegar. Anyway, read recently somewhere, I think on Pinterest, that Swiffers wet have antifreeze in them. I don't know if that's true or a rumor, but if it is a dog or cat would be compelled to lick the floors and could be toxic or deadly. I don't want chemicals anymore in my home anyhow, so I use vinegar, dish soap and baking soda if I use my heavy mop.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 07:30:54 AM
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Oh, I see MaryJo posted a similar paragraph. I'm not the only one seeing this around.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
Edited by - texdane on Apr 20 2013 07:31:17 AM |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 4:22:41 PM
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Girlfriends, always check Snopes.com about claims like this. They say Swiffer WetJet does not have antifreeze in it*. Even so, I see no reason to buy the product when our own solutions (pardon the pun!) are so much less expensive, effective and reliably non-toxic.
*http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/swiffer.asp |
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teacups
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
terri
bryans road
maryland
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 9:08:31 PM
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| I use my Swiffer with the dry pads, but I spray the floor with my own floor cleaner that I make. I saw an article about making your own pads out of old cloth diapers. When I run out of pads, I am going to do just that. I just bought the Swiffer vacuum. I love it. I will use the cloth diapers with it as well. |
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MaggieMB
True Blue Farmgirl
217 Posts
Mary
western
Pa
217 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 8:14:44 PM
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| I cut up an old fleece blanket into pads for my dry Swiffer and use a vinegar/water spray w/ it. |
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teacups
Farmgirl in Training
31 Posts
terri
bryans road
maryland
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2013 : 05:12:09 AM
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| My new Swiffer vacuum that I posted about on the 21st has died already. Good thing that I only paid a little for it by stacking coupons. Still, it seems it was a waste of money. It did work great while it lasted. |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2013 : 1:49:21 PM
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Thank you for posting this! I read the post and now I have some idea why my cat has been licking the floor, I thought that we had spilled something on it! Most times I scrub it with a vinegar solution, any ideas on what I can clean it with if I am using my Swiffer for a quick pick up before company ?
Thank you from my four legged family members.
Danyel
Farmgirl sister 4202 |
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Dapple Grey Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
725 Posts
Betty
Goodrich
Texas
USA
725 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2013 : 06:30:17 AM
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I had a problem with my dog getting sick after using one of those. She kept licking the floor too. It was like she could not get enough of it. Quit using it and she got better. Took awhile though.
~ Betty ~ |
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JerseyGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
181 Posts
Michele
Southern NJ
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2014 : 02:50:35 AM
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| I have Swiffer Dry, but I wash my floors with good old Murphy's Soap or sometimes Windex! I heard somewhere it was great for laminate floors and it is! |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2014 : 7:33:12 PM
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| If you have animals, be careful what you use on your floors. They get it on their paws, of course, and when they lick them, it gets ingested. I found this page online about Murphy's Oil Soap. Food for thought. http://www.blogiversity.org/forums/t/3641.aspx |
Edited by - Rosemary on May 16 2014 7:33:43 PM |
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star-schipp
True Blue Farmgirl
942 Posts
Starletta
Middletown
Indiana
USA
942 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2014 : 3:22:43 PM
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I no longer use the Swiffer wet cloths since I am working on my Cleaning Up - Going Green badge. Now I use the Flylady mop with micro cloths. I got a big glass jar and filled it with water, a little Dr. Bronner's and a few drops of whichever essential oil I am in the mood for. I soak the cloths in the jar, wring out the cloths and attach them to the mop. It is working out really great!
EstleSchippFarm.blogspot.com
If you can't feed one hundred people, then just feed one. -Mother Teresa
Star - farmgirl sister #1927
Master Food Preserver
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loribeck
True Blue Farmgirl
588 Posts
Lori
Alvordton
36
USA
588 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2019 : 7:29:27 PM
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I am a huge animal advocate. If something is going to make my furbabies sick, I won't use it. I also have used the Swiffer and threw it away when I heard what it can do to dogs. I make my own floor cleaners now and use rags to wipe my floor up. I no longer buy any floor cleaner from the store, no matter how safe the package says it is for animals. I don't trust the big companies because all they want is for the costumer to continue buying the products. I also detest the fact that so many companies use animals to test their products. That just sickens me. I have an old mop that used to hold the wet mop wipes and I just put a rag on it instead of the wipes and clean my floor with my own cleaner.
Lori Beck |
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HomeSafeHome: To swift or not to swift? That is the question |
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To swift or not to swift? That is the question
