I use cloth rags for cleaning that are I make by cutting up old ratty t-shirts and sheets. I wash them in the machine, and keep them in a box in my linen closet. If one gets particularly yucky, I’ll throw it out, but I never seem to run out.

With the addition on dog #3 hair was starting to take over our floors in a whole new way (who knew that such a little pug could shed so much hair?!!)A broom never really cut it for us, but we made due until now. We recently went through the “to swiffer or not to swiffer” debate, but the whole use-it-and-toss-it thing didn’t really sit well with us either. There are a TON of reusable cloth pads on etsy made just for swiffers, but we ended up buying a simple dust mop for our tile floors and it works like a charm! The pad it came with has microfiber nubbies on it, it is washable, and you can buy replacements at Target.

We also recently got rid of paper towels. We are still weighing the pros and cons since we seem to go through a lot of cloths that require laundering, but so far it hasn’t been too bad! We’re not brave enough to try reusable cloth for toilet paper (so very very gross) but we did switch to stuff made from 100% post consumer waste and we haven’t looked back.

For those of you who don’t live near a whole foods or sprouts, I found that Walmart has started carrying a few 7th Generation products, and we are switching our cleaners to Watkins stuff (biodegradable, phosphate free, plant based, awesome awesome awesome!) I found mine at our local Target and I am totally sold on this line!

I switched from using disposable cloths to the OXO microfiber duster with the handle. It’s a lot easier to use, the cloth’s detachable and it’s washable too.

the cloths at trader joes are better than the ones you posted.

My mom got me a box of ShamWows from Target for my birthday. They have drastically reduced the number of paper towels I use!

I’m new to your blog and absolutely LOVING it!!! I, too, use microfiber cloths for cleaning and they are great. One tip, they are great to use on stainless appliances. I have 2 preschoolers who feel a need to put what seems like hundreds of hand prints on the refrigerator every day…one quick wipe down with a barely damp cloth and it looks brand new again.

Great idea. We try to recylcle as much as possible and although we don’t go through that many swiffers, I never thought about buying reusable cloths to attach to my swiffer sweeper. Thanks for the tip!!!

I heart you guys. I’m integrating more GREEN in my CLEAN each day. So, thank you for the tips because I’m taking them to heart (and home).
HUGS.

I’d strongly recommend the flylady products – http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop.asp – she sells a thing called a rubber scrubba and one on a stick called a rubber sweepa. They’re very cheap and are amazing at picking up dust, crumbs, dog hair etc from floors/furniture. She also sells microfibre clothes that are supposedly better than the ones you buy in stores and cheaper too.

There’s also a mop that comes with reusable microfibre cloths.

Way cheaper than swiffer products and refills.

No association with flylady, just a tip

I use them all the time too!

I converted to microfibre cloths a few years back and have been singing their praises ever since. I would also recommend the special glass/mirror cloth that you can buy with them as that works a treat to keep your shower screens clear and smear free, without any products at all. Just give them a quick wipe down after showering and our glass still looks brand new 2 years on.

Oh and they also work brilliantly on stainless steel appliances without any products whatsover, and on glass halogen hobs too. I could go on for hours!

We’ve switched to microfiber cloths and washable dish cloths for all our cleaning needs, it feels much better to wash something and reuse it instead of tossing it away. Plus the cloths get softer over time so it’s much nicer for the hands!

I’ve been thinking about making this switch for a while – your post convinced me. I’m really enjoying these eco-friendly cleaning posts, keep them coming!

Kudos for switching!

I realized a few months ago how many paper towels we were wasting on day to day cleaning. So I bought a few dishcloths, and now instead of spraying down the counters and wiping with a paper towel I dampen the cloth and then rise it after I use it. I can already tell how much less paper we’re going through, and it was really easy to switch. Plus, think of all the trees it saves!

I have been using cut up t-shirts and diapers to dust with for years, just spritzing with a little water…that is what my mom has always used so it was just natural to me. I’m sure when I was a kid we did it because of saving money but it is funny how it is also considered eco-friendly now. And we haven’t purchased paper napkins in probably 20 years or more – we use cloth and besides not wasting paper, it just makes a meal at home feel more special. I even pack one in my lunch bag and bring real utensils and plates or bowls to eat from. So if I have to eat at my desk and work through my lunch hour at least it is a little bit nicer.

plasic baggies and paper towels… two things that my mom only bought on occasion and I’m starting to understand why. They can both add quite a bit to the grocery bill (if used with reckless abandon) and to the trashcan.

I use old yucky washrags, dishrags, towels, etc and cut up tshirts in place of paper towels for cleaning- keeping a roll of paper towels under each bathroom sink for cleaning the toilet.

And instead of baggies in the kitchen, I use plasic and glass containers. Glass for anything that will need heated in the micro and plastic for everything else. And I try to reuse plasic bags as much as I can.

Currently, I’m trying to think of a way to do away with the millions of paper napkins we use. But nothing seems convenient and they’re pretty cheap so…

I recycle and re-use as much as possible around our house. I have switched to washing dishes with small knitted squares instead of wasting sponges, we use old t-shirts as rags too and I’ve always dusted with a towel and spray. My boyfriend had a swiffer wet jet in his studio apartment but I have since gotten rid of it. For floor cleaning I use a broom daily and if it needs a thorough cleaning I just get down on my knees and scrub (with a rag of course).

My latest find, and new love, are biodegradable ‘poop bags’ for pet waste. They were created for dogs but I use the large size bags for my kitty litter (which I’ve also switched to a natural non-clay formula recently). I feel much better about owning 3 cats now that their litter isn’t sitting in a dump for years. : )

Great timing! We just made this switch about a month ago and I’ve been curious as to what the ‘average’ person uses. We too used the Swiffers and hated the waste (trash-wise and money-wise). We bought these at Target:

http://www.target.com/Evercare-Mircrofiber-Cloths-4-pk-Pastel/dp/B001QD8ZZ2/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

And I LOOOOVE them!!! There is one for furniture, one for normal dusting, one for glass and one for bathrooms. It’s not only eliminated my use of Swiffer dusters, but it’s also cut back on my paper towel waste!

Ok, you’ve convinced me. I will definitely look into a reuseable rather than the swiffers. We have two dogs and hardwood floors so I just need something that I can easily sweep up the pet hair each week or before guests come over. So I’ll definitely give it a try!

I’m kinda yo-yoing with swiffers. I have an unhealthy addiction to them, and I find that when I try to use microfiber, they stick too much to the floor. I may have to try to pick up a different type of microfiber cloths (maybe flylady from the commenter above?) I like the concept, but I still have a soft spot for swiffers. So, I’ve tried to just phase them out and I have been buying them less and filling in with microfibers. =)

Hhhmm. I think I would have to start dusting in order to justify the purchase (kind of kidding; I don’t dust as mush as I should). Although, great idea. I just use a very damp rag to dust and then wipe off the excess water with dry rag. I have been wondering what items I could use to dust where the dust actually sticks to the cloth. Thanks for the tip. What I am secretly wishing fore is a maid for whom I could buy the microfiber cloths so he/she could dust. Pipe Dreams…(sigh).

I gave up Swiffer last year and have been using an old fashioned duster to dust with. It’s made of lambswool and I got it at Home Depot. Also, I use old rags (tshirts, etc) to clean with and wash those or toss them if they were used to clean something particularly nasty. I have microfiber cloths, also, but tend to use the rags more.

we just recently stopped using sponges to wash our dishes and invested in Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Natural Bamboo Cleaning Cloths. They’re washable and bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants (at least that’s what i hear) so it’s a natural and sustainable way to clean your dishes in the sink.

i’m in the process of switching over too (i’m also using up the last of the swiffer box) – and i’m so excited to try the micro-fiber on the stainless appliances – 2 small kids equals lots and lots of muck on them at the 3 foot level. :)

We made the switch to microfibre and love them! :D A couple other things we’ve done is switched to using dryer balls (from Bed Bath & Beyond) instead of dryer sheets and started using ShamWow’s instead of paper towels and sponges.

I’ve been using them for years. If you avoid washing them with softner and keep them out of the dryer, they will work even better. I also really like the bar towls for everyday kitchen cleanup. They are really absorbent and are also lint free.

I’m the same as you — the “use em up before you get something new” kind of person — a long time ago I was using paper towels for all of my cleaning (and things like Mr. Clean and Ajax! EGAD!) but I rummaged around the house and found some old rags to use instead. Now I have a basket in my linen closet with dish cloths and towels on one side and rags on the other that I use for cleaning. I also have two trusty bottles of vinegar and water (one for upstairs and one for downstairs because I’m that lazy :)) that I use for pretty much everything from windows, to sinks, to surface cleaning… I will be purchasing some of those lovely microfiber cloths as well I think because I’m finding there is a lot of dust in my house and I need a way to keep it at bay; vinegar isn’t so hot for wood surfaces…

We use them too! I think the only thing that sorta bugs me is they can sometimes cause dust to get on the front of the shelves if you just wipe from front to back. Gotta catch all that dust (and we have a LOT)

I’m still trying to find a solution for my wood floors – I have a bona dust mop/mop combo that works okay, but I’d like to try something better. I might try buying my own microfiber fabric and making a little cover myself! Any suggestions?

One day we were in the car care section of Walmart, and they had a pack of 8 microfiber cloths for $5. They’re great for lots of things, including polishing faucets and mirrors. I have one that I use to attach to my floor swiffer to dust mop and then wet mop. I keep old towels and rags, too, for extra messy spills/issues. I will look into those bamboo cloths, too.

Awesome choice! We have those same towels, but in orange. They’re so easy to throw in the wash. Same with cloth napkins – we have maybe 10-12 that we just cycle through for every day use. They aren’t in the best shape, but for just the two of us it works a lot better. The only thing we use paper goods for cleaning are for really nasty messes that we don’t want going into our washing machine.

I have microfiber cloths that were made for Swiffer-type brooms. They are the same size as the Swiffer disposable dusters and they attach exactly the same way – you stick the edges of the cloth into the little grabbers on the back. They are awesome – I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves their Swiffer but wants to make the switch for environmental (and cost!) reasons.

I couldn’t find the ones I own online (I bought mine many, many years ago) but they are these cloths, only sized to fit the rectangular head of the Swiffer:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AQOAP/ref=nosim/10191459-rg2507-00-20

You could probably find the bigger cloths in a Walmart or Target but if for some reason they don’t make them anymore, you could always use 2 of the smaller ones or even sew 2 together into the right shape, using the disposable Swiffer pads as a template.

i don’t use any paper products. i have super cute cloth napkins and tea towels which i just throw in the washing machine as i go and they get washed with whatever load of clothes go next. no extra laundry for me! i have had the same foil in my pantry for over 2 years. when people notice nothing paper or disposable (other than TP) in my house they are a little weird-ed out but i just tell them to add up money saved/spent and then tell me i am strange!

oh ya and i save paper napkins from take out and use them for some crazy gross mess which might happen that would ruin my cloth napkins/tea towels.

I keep a microfiber cloth in the glove box of my car. I can quickly wipe down my dusty mess super quick if I’m going to be giving someone a ride. Or if I’m waiting in the car and get the itch to clean!

I have to comment about the microfiber re-usable clothes (as opposed to swiffer)- I don’t think they work very well. I find that dust and dirt just gets pushed around on the surface with the re-usable towels. The towels pick up alittle dust, but leaves alot behind too. Swiffers are better- and even better than that is just a damp paper towel. That’s just my experience.

Silly question, but when you use the MF cloths as a Swiffer, do you shake them out before you wash them? It doesn’t seem like a great idea to put all that dog hair (in my case) in the washer…

I use Barmop cloths for dishcloths. You buy them in packs like your microfibre cloths. They are white terry and easily cleaned and although I never used sponges for dishes, much nicer to have a fresh one out daily.

Cloth diapers are great for more than just covering a baby’s bottom. They’re cheap–the non-fancy Gerber brand ones are a steal and can be found everywhere–and also super durable. Use them for dusting, mopping floors, cleaning mirrors, soaking up spills, etc. We don’t even buy paper towels anymore, we just keep a supply of cloth diapers in a kitchen cabinet.

I use rags and cloth diapers on the swiffer too. Also gave up paper-towels and paper napkins. I find lots of cute (lightly used) cloth napkins at yard sales and Goodwill. We save the matching ones for company :)

I did the same thing about a year ago. I was sick of buying and throwing away the Swiffer pads. I also don’t like to use Pledge, so I decided to use the microfiber clothes. I love them. Just dampen them a little bit and I’m ready to go. I own 3 of them and even let my 2 year old help! I’m teaching her young! :)

I love microfiber cloths! Sam’s Club has a pack of 24 for $9.99. Use them to wash the auto’s, regular cleaning, etc. My Mom uses them to clean her windows without any cleaner, and she says there are no more smears or smudges.

I also picked up a Swiffer type (the kind with a handle and two prongs) duster at Walmart for $2.99 that has a microfiber head that you can take off and wash. I bought two of them so I could switch between the two.

So glad you made the switch! I moisten a microfiber cloth with hot tap water and attach it to the Swiffer sweeper. It picks up everything and leaves my floors with a mirror shine! I bought mine cheap (6 for 9.99 but they are huge and I cut them into forths) from a cloth-diapering store http://www.cottonbabies.com with the intent of using them on my son. They are the best (most absorbent) I have ever tried. The secret to laundering them is to wash them by themselves or with fabrics that do not pill or produce lint. The microfiber will grab onto everything and ruin its cleaning power. Happy cleaning!

I have used microfiber cloths for dusting for over a year now and I really like it but what i love it the rag I have for glass and mirror you can clean it without anything on the rag and it cleans well but for really dirty mirrors like the one where kids brush teeth I get the corner wet to go over the mirror and then just clean with the rag it is clean , and no streaks I love it. it shines all your faucets up great also.

I am Mom to a very hairy almost-four-year-old Puggle, plus we have hardwood floors. It’s not fun, but I love my floors, so it’s worth the cleaning. Getting those cloths has been on my list for quite some time, but we are doing the same thing- using up the Swiffers before we buy anything else. I think everyone should do this! Why not, right? I’ll be adding some green tips to my blog as well. Lots of good tips!

http://elbowgreaseandstilettos.blogspot.com/

I loooooove microfiber cloths….They are THE best!!

I get a pack of five or six at the dollar store. And then just was them in the washing mashine when they look gross.

Just FYI for Costco shoppers – they carry a 54 pack of microfiber cloths for about $30. I can’t find it online, but a while back I also bought a large pack of white terry cleaning cloths there as well. Between those two purchases, I never have to use paper towels again.

I have done the same thing! Felt bad about all the Swiffer’s. We have hardwood floors, so went thru a ton. I stocked up on micro fiber cloths from the Dollar Tree! I love them, esp great for flat screen tvs! I did buy a pack of Method biodegradable swiffer like cloths, but probably won’t buy more when they are out.

I’ve been using cheap rags I bought at Value City a few years back to clean my floors. I have my mom’s old Swiffer-type thing (I think Clorox made it) that has the bottle built in the handle. I filled it with a mix of vinegar and water and used it to clean my kitchen floor. I just bought a new house, though, and refinished the hardwood floors in most of the rooms. Since vinegar isn’t a friend of hardwood floors, I bought a big pack of 24 microfiber cloths from Home Depot for $12 to dust the floors. I just get them a little damp and they clean up lots of dust on the floor without any waste! It’s so easy and cheap, and I don’t have to throw any Swiffer cloths away when I’m finished!