The Crumbs Remain
October 14, 2011 4:51 PM Subscribe
I have a small, tile, kitchen floor (small space, largish tiles). What is the best swiffer-type product to use after sweeping to get the last bit of dirt and crumbs that are left? Or is a traditional mop still the best bet?
A swiffer is better for dust, like you get on top of cabinets, and hair or pet fur. A stick vacuum is what you want for crumbs or larger dirt like gets tracked around by shoes.
posted by anaelith at 5:20 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by anaelith at 5:20 PM on October 14, 2011
You want a Shmop. They are huge, 5X the size of a Swiffer, but the head folds flat against the wall so you can hang it flush. They cost about $25. A dozen terry cloth mop heads cost about $20, and the microfiber dust mop heads cost about $5 each.
Dry Shmop = broom. Wet Shmop = mop. Dry Shmop first.
When mopping with the Shmop, the trick is, don't dunk. Fill your sink/basin with water and cleaning solution, and put your terry heads in it. Wring one, put on Shmop, use until dirty, then repeat. Once mopped, use one more dry terry head. Then use a microfiber head.
No more crumbs.
posted by Leta at 5:48 PM on October 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Dry Shmop = broom. Wet Shmop = mop. Dry Shmop first.
When mopping with the Shmop, the trick is, don't dunk. Fill your sink/basin with water and cleaning solution, and put your terry heads in it. Wring one, put on Shmop, use until dirty, then repeat. Once mopped, use one more dry terry head. Then use a microfiber head.
No more crumbs.
posted by Leta at 5:48 PM on October 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
We have wooden floors so we don't sweep with a broom, but dry swiff/wet swiff(mop). We mop only occasionally, swiff more often. A vacuum is a necessity. I am always looking enviously at dust busters (hand held vacuums)
posted by titanium_geek at 7:07 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by titanium_geek at 7:07 PM on October 14, 2011
I'm a barefoot at home kinda gal, and I cook heaps, so this is my question!
If you can find this little gem ($20!) that's your new broom. Dearly love that thing, does my whole house better than (and much quieter than) a regular vacuum. And yes, I've owned other small and large vacuums. This one ROCKS.
After the big bits are up, a Wet Swiffer does the job, but I am careful in the corners because I am a messy chef. I work in one direction, pick up the bits with the swiffer cloth at the end with my hand - done.
I am a messy chef. It took me a while to dial this system in. I used the wet swiffer on its own, but somehow sweeping or vacuuming first turned out best.
I am not a representative of either Bissel or Swiffer. Just a messy, neurotic chef that likes a clean damn floor.
YMMV.
(I do take a scrub brush to the corner crevasses every few months because my floor sounds poorly installed next to yours. And I hate gunk. But the main bit stays spotless (to my bare feet) if I do this once per week.)
posted by jbenben at 7:26 PM on October 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you can find this little gem ($20!) that's your new broom. Dearly love that thing, does my whole house better than (and much quieter than) a regular vacuum. And yes, I've owned other small and large vacuums. This one ROCKS.
After the big bits are up, a Wet Swiffer does the job, but I am careful in the corners because I am a messy chef. I work in one direction, pick up the bits with the swiffer cloth at the end with my hand - done.
I am a messy chef. It took me a while to dial this system in. I used the wet swiffer on its own, but somehow sweeping or vacuuming first turned out best.
I am not a representative of either Bissel or Swiffer. Just a messy, neurotic chef that likes a clean damn floor.
YMMV.
(I do take a scrub brush to the corner crevasses every few months because my floor sounds poorly installed next to yours. And I hate gunk. But the main bit stays spotless (to my bare feet) if I do this once per week.)
posted by jbenben at 7:26 PM on October 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
There is a swiffer with a vacuum. That worked for me to get the crumbs and the dust.
posted by Monday at 7:58 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by Monday at 7:58 PM on October 14, 2011
I don't understand why anyone would sweep a floor unless they can't afford a vacuum. Sweeping is an exercise in futility. Vacuum that sucker, and then hit it with a Sh-mop or something similar. Done in 5 minutes.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:04 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:04 PM on October 14, 2011
I have a shoulder-strap vacuum similar to this little guy. I use it on all our hard floors, including the kitchen. I think the fact that there's a hose between the vacuum body and the business end makes it easier to maneuver into tight spots.
posted by lakeroon at 8:15 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by lakeroon at 8:15 PM on October 14, 2011
In my experience swiffer products work best on linoleum or wood floors that are flat. For me a regular sponge mop works nicely on tile and grout.
posted by Swisstine at 9:44 PM on October 14, 2011
posted by Swisstine at 9:44 PM on October 14, 2011
I've recommended Hairpin in other contexts (seriously, the How to be a Girl series is great), but they also have an Ask a Clean Person series that goes into great depth about cleaning floors.
posted by hydrobatidae at 8:07 AM on October 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hydrobatidae at 8:07 AM on October 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DrGail at 5:12 PM on October 14, 2011 [1 favorite]