How to Use a Swiffer to Wash Floors

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/15/22
Reviewed by
Katie Berry
Katie Berry
Reviewed by Katie Berry
Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Swiffer dry and wet jet mops

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 10 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20-40

The Swiffer line of products includes electrostatic dusters, dry mops or sweepers, wet mops, and lightweight vacuums that sweep and vacuum. Each of these convenient and easy-use products have revolutionized cleaning. No more dusters or dirty mop heads to clean—just slip on a disposable duster or floor cleaning pad and toss it when you are done.

But are you getting the best results? Learn how to use a Swiffer the right way to wash your floors.

How Often to Wash Your Floors With a Swiffer

Clean floors at least weekly to remove grit and grime that can leave minute scratches. Of course, clean up spills as soon as they happen. If you don't have time to wash the floor, use a dry Swiffer to sweep up loose dirt until you can wash the floor properly.

Before You Begin

Before you purchase or use a Swiffer, decide which type of Swiffer and supporting products will best serve your needs.

  • Swiffer Sweeper: The sweeper is a basic cleaning tool with a flat head and long handle. The head can accept dry or wet disposable floor cleaning cloths. Available in two head sizes, consider the sizes of your rooms before selecting a product.
  • Swiffer Sweep+Vac: A lightweight cordless vacuum that uses a dry Swiffer cloth to trap small particles and a vacuum for larger dirt and crumbs.
  • Swiffer WetJet: The mop holds a bottle of cleaning solution distributed onto the floor through a battery-operated dual-nozzle sprayer. The dry disposable floor pad washes the floor and absorbs the cleaner and the dirt.
  • Swiffer Cleaning Solutions and Refill Pads: Cleaning solutions for floors are available for wood, vinyl, laminate, and tile. Refill pads are sold in various thicknesses for dry and wet floor care.
Swiffer WetJet Floor Spray Mop Review

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 Swiffer mop
  • 1 Swiffer WetJet

Materials

  • Swiffer disposable dry sweeping pad
  • 1 Swiffer disposable wet mop pad
  • 1 container Swiffer floor cleaning solution
  • Swiffer WetJet disposable pad

Instructions

Materials needed to clean floors with a Swiffer

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Wash a Floor With a Swiffer WetJet

  1. Know Your Flooring

    Do you have tile, wood, laminate, or vinyl flooring? Select the correct Swiffer cleaning solution for your type of floor. Using the wrong solution can leave the floor with streaks or feeling sticky.

    Warning

    Wet Swiffer cleaning products should not be used on unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden floors, non-sealed tiled floors, or carpets.

    Selecting the correct Swiffer solution for your floor type

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Get Rid of Loose Dirt

    If you haven't swept lately, the floor is probably covered with loose dust, dirt, and hair. Use a broom, vacuum, dry Swiffer sweeper cloth, or the Swiffer Sweep+Vac to remove loose particles. There is no need to push those around as you wash the floor.

    Wiping loose dirt from the floor

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Attach the Cleaning Solution and Mop Pad

    Select the appropriate cleaning solution and insert it into the WetJet. Attach a dry mopping pad with the flat hook and loop strip to the bottom of the mop head. The soft, absorbent side of the mopping pad will be on the floor.

    Attaching the cleaning solution and mop pad

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  4. Test the Spray Mechanism

    Press the large button at the top of the mop handle to distribute the cleaning solution in a fine spray. If no spray appears on the floor, replace the batteries in the compartment at the back of the mop.

    Lightly spray the floor before going over each section with the mop.

    Testing the spray mechanism

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  5. Follow the Grain or Grid

    When washing wood floors, follow the grain of the wood. If cleaning tile or vinyl floors, work in a grid around the room so you won't miss any areas. Do not walk on the freshly washed floor until it has dried.

    Tip

    If the flooring is very dirty or the room is large, you may need to use more than one pad for washing the floor. If you see that the flooring is not as clean as you'd like, put on a new pad.

    Mopping a wood floor with a Swiffer wet jet

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  6. Dispose of the Pad

    When you are finished, peel off the wet mop pad and dispose of it properly. The mop can be stored with the cleaning solution inserted until the next time it is needed.

    Disposing of the used swiffer wet pad

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

How to Wash a Floor With a Swiffer Dry+Wet Sweeper

  1. Dry Sweep the Floor

    Attach a dry sweeping pad to the Swiffer by wrapping it around the flat mop head and pushing the edges of the cloth into the four flexible grippers on the top of the mop head. Go over the floor to capture loose dirt, dust, and hair. Remove the dry cloth and dispose of it properly.

    Attaching a dry sweeping pad to a Swiffer

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Attach a Wet Cleaning Pad

    Attach a wet cleaning pad to the Swiffer mop head in the same manner as the dry cloth. Most pads have a green scrubbing strip that should be placed along the front edge of the mop head. Use it to loosen stuck-on messes.

    Attaching a wet cleaning pad to a Swiffer

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Wash the Floor

    Follow the grain of wood flooring or work in a grid to make sure you cover the entire room. Start in one corner and work your way out of the room so you will walk on the wet floor until it is dry. If you are not getting good results, replace the dirty pad with a fresh pad to absorb more dirt. Dispose of the soiled pad and allow the floor to dry completely before using.

    Cleaning the floor with an original Swiffer mop

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

7 Reasons Your Hardwood Floors Look Dull