Crochet Swiffer Pads

A while back, I discussed the cleaning supplies I use, which brought on a discussion about the Swiffer. It really is a lovely system, but the pads for it are just too expensive.
I had stocked up on a few of each type I used (both sweeping and mopping styles) when they were on sale over the summer, and was close to being out of the wet/sweeping cloths, so I knew it was time to get to making my own.

First, I will say, these are not pretty. This is functional, and not something I would suggest you make for the sake of being proud of how it turned out. They will take a beating, and they will get gross, and they will fade. So if you pick out fantastic yarn, realize that it won't stay that way long! And no, I don't hide my ends/yarn-tails, because they are not to be pretty. With as rough as I am with them, the tails will probably come out of their hiding places at some point. I have cloths that I've been using for about two years that haven't come undone with un-hidden tails, so it does not worry me!

Second, cotton yarn. It soaks up both cleaning solution and is good for scrubbing. Also, it washes really well. I'm fond of Lily's Sugar 'N Cream yarn for cotton, as it's cheap, it feels good when I work with it, and the skeins are just the right size for this kind of project.

Third, there are plenty of ways to go about doing this. Lily themselves have a pattern for Swiffer cloths, which can be found here, and there are a ton of them on Pinterest as well. I wanted to make my own pattern, and I wanted it to sort of resemble the actual pads (as I didn't want to fuss with trying to shove the ends of the mop-head into the cover!).

In making my own pattern, I relied heavily from this dishcloth pattern (from Lily as well, as it was on the back of one of the skein labels I opened recently!).
I used a size G hook (or size 6, or 4.25MM, and follow US terminology.

Ch 41
Skip first ch, sc in next ch, continue till end (for a total of 40 sc), turn
ch 1, sc 40, turn * 5 (which will give you 6 rows of single crochet)

Follow dishcloth pattern until you have 17 rows of the loop-style pattern (ch 2, sc in 2nd space).

Ch 1, sc in both of the chains of the 17th row of the dishcloth pattern (so you are skipping the single crochets) - 40 stitches. Turn.
Ch 1, cs 40, turn * 5 (again, 6 rows of single crochet).
Tie off.

This is what I ended up with. Yes, the edges kind of go a bit wonky, but I already said it wasn't going to be pretty, right?

This is the important part, though, the "ribbing", so to speak. In order for these to do anything, they need something to scrub with, right? Not just flat and even. So all of the ridges that this pattern gives is perfect.

It may not look like much, but I got a LOT of pet hair from just a quick pass through the kitchen - especially considering I had just cleaned the floors two days prior, and the dogs aren't allowed in there!
And, same with the Swiffer cloths - these do not grab crumbs. They push them around like a broom does. But it does grab the pet hair, which a broom does not do (at least I've never had luck with that!).

I also tried these for mopping. I soaked one cloth overnight in a vinegar + Dawn solution (half and half - it's my favorite cleaner right now!) and while my floors weren't dirty, I know that if that stuff will clean my shower, it will clean my floors. I do not recommend soaking these, though, as I did. It was too much. I had to wring it out, which stretched the cloth a bit too far, and was just way too much liquid. As I normally keep the vinegar + dawn solution in a spray bottle, I will instead just spray a cloth before I go to mop.

And ff course, I had to wash them, to see how they turned out, out of the wash.
You may have noticed that the pad is much larger than the actual Swiffer head itself is. The reason for that is these first pictures are the fresh-off-the-hook pads. And this cotton yarn shrinks and/or pulls in on itself, even though I don't use hot water to do laundry.

On the left is one fresh-off-the-hook, and on the right is one that has been through the wash. The holes aren't as pronounced, and it is slightly smaller than the other. It still stretches like the other does, and still fits the Swiffer head, but it is not the same size any more (even though it had a cold water wash).

There isn't much difference, but it is there. I'm fairly certain that's just how this yarn works (all the other washing cloths I've made have done this as well).
Putting them through the wash will, as I said, make them fade a bit, and they may warp a little as well (I have a few plain cloths from about two years ago that are not quite in their original shape!), but they still work fine. They clean well - always coming out smelling like cotton yarn - but that could be my laundry detergent, as well.

This is a MUCH cheaper option that buying the real Swiffer cloths. A skein of Lily Sugar 'N Cream yarn normally goes on sale for 3/5$ here at Michael's every month and a half or so. A skein of yarn will make you one pad. Vinegar is cheap, and a small bottle of Dawn can be found at the Dollar Tree.
Whereas a box of pads will cost you at least 7$ for 8 or 16 (depending on whether they are dry or wet cloths). And each pad can really only be used once.

Plus, you get to choose what "chemicals" you put on your floor, you're throwing less away, and you never have to worry about running out!

Are you a fan of homemade cleaning supplies? What is your favorite?

~Havok

{edit: Linking up to Your Designs This Time and Off the Hook Monday and One Project at a Time}
{edit: 2/3/15: Linking up to Dream.Create.Inspire. and Moonlight & Mason Jars}