Photo: Hugo Mauricio Lopez V (Shutterstock)
Swiffers are kind of weird. They are pretty expensive to begin with, not to mention that you have to keep buying pads and refill liquid for them—and a good old-fashioned mop is cheaper and accomplishes the same goal. There are some unusual uses for Swiffers that a mop can’t replicate, though; so if you’ve already got one, here are a few ways to get some extra use out of it.
Prepare your walls for painting
Buff up your walls to remove any dust on them before you paint—dust and dirt can cause paint to clump up, so use the wet and dry cloths, then give the walls time to dry fully before applying a coat.
Battle cobwebs and spiders
Dusty cobwebs and spiderwebs lurk in the highest corners of your home. But don’t knock them down with a broom and then have to clean them up from the floor—instead, use a Swiffer dry pad to collect them. The webs will stick right to it.
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Attack bathroom moisture
Mold, mildew, and water stains are common in bathrooms, and you can get rid of them—but you should use a Swiffer for the ceilings. Where you’d normally use a rag dipped in dish soap and warm water to get after stains, use a dry Swiffer pad dipped in the same mixture, then affix it to the handle and push it up on the ceiling.
De-lint the laundry space
Hunker also recommends getting at the lint hiding around your washing machine’s drum and vents and using Swiffer dry cloths to thoroughly wipe the inside of the machines every few weeks. The dry cloths attract lint, which is important: Lint buildup can cause fires. Good Housekeeping even recommends using a Swiffer sheet to to clean inside the lint trap.
Pack for a move
When you’re moving, use Swiffer dry cloths to pack valuables and delicate items, like dishes. They’re padded enough to stop these things from chipping on each other, plus you can use them to wipe down your shelving and floor when you get to your new place.
Wipe down plants
Plants need to be wiped down from time to time; instead of using a cloth for this, you should use a Swiffer pad, which attracts and holds dust instead of knocking it onto the floor—where you’ll end up still using the Swiffer to pick it up anyway.
