One Place You Should Be Using A Swiffer To Clean Besides Inside The House

The Swiffer mop has been a godsend since it hit store shelves in the late '90s. It essentially eliminated the need for buckets and those messy string mops, saving people time on household chores and, more importantly, helping them use less water to keep their floors clean — an easy way to conserve water in your home. Between its compact size and ease of use, plus the fact that you can swap out cleaning pads between uses while traditional mops could be holding onto bacteria, it's no wonder so many people have ditched their old mops for a Swiffer. And while it can handle just about any floor in your home, from wood to tile to laminate, there's actually another spot you could be using it besides indoors — your garage.

A Swiffer is generally safe and easy to use on all finished floors. That means any surface that has been sealed or treated with a protective coating, such as staining or sealing. Wood and tile, for example, require that protective layer so cleaning solutions don't absorb into the surface, cause stains, or trap moisture that can lead to mold growth. The same goes for garage flooring, which is usually made of concrete and should be sealed to prevent water and other liquids from soaking in and causing damage. But before you grab your Swiffer to tackle the garage floor, there are a few things you'll want to know about using it in this space.

Swiffer mops can safely be used on garage floors, but only if the floor has been sealed with a protective layer, such as epoxy, to prevent the cleaning solution from soaking into the concrete. Concrete is porous, which means it acts a lot like a sponge. So, when it comes in contact with moisture, it can seep in, cause the material to expand and, over time, even develop cracks. Swiffer mop pads come pre-soaked with cleaning agents designed to loosen and lift dirt and grime, and the Swiffer WetJet lets you spray solution as you go. Both can leave the surface pretty wet, and without the right sealant, that extra liquid may absorb into the floor instead of staying on top where it can do its job.

That's also why you'll probably go through more Swiffer mop pads in the garage than you would indoors. If the floor isn't sealed, it's going to soak up the liquid more quickly, leaving you swapping pads more often. And even if it is sealed, garage floors deal with tougher messes so it takes more solution and scrubbing power to get them clean. If you're tackling your garage with a Swiffer, start by giving the floor a thorough sweep to remove dust and debris that could clog the pad. For stubborn spots, like paint, oil, grease, or even rust, apply a concentrated cleaner safe for concrete before going in with your Swiffer for the finishing touch. Once you power through that first deep clean, maintenance should become much easier, and you may be able to rely on fewer pads the next time.