The Kitchen Staple You Can Use To Save Money On Swiffer Refills When You Run Out

There's 30 minutes before company arrives and you're scrambling to finish cleaning the house. Grabbing the Swiffer and the ominously lightweight box of replacement pads, you realize the box is empty. If you have a roll of wax paper, there's nothing to worry about. Outfitting the mop head with a piece of this kitchen staple is a quick, cheap, and eco-friendly way out of a bind. Even if you don't have a Swiffer, this trick works with other mops that have removable pads. If your floor is dirty and all of your reusable pads are in the wash, give it a try. Keep in mind, if your mop head doesn't have a smooth base that touches the floor, it might not work as well as it does with a Swiffer. 

The steps to make this clever wax paper hack happen are pretty simple. Cut a piece of wax paper that's about 3 or 4 inches longer than the mophead is wide. This should leave a 1½- to 2-inch tab along each edge to fold over. Place the wax paper on the head so that it curls around the edges, making it easier to attach. A couple of rubber bands (one at each end of the head) is a fast way to hold the paper in place. However, if the rubber bands are sticking to the floor or they're moving around as you mop, use tape instead. Apply the taped paper directly to the mop head rather than paper-to-paper for the best hold. Run the wax papered mop head over the floor, and check out the dust it picks up!

We here at House Digest hate wasting money, and the cost of single-use disposable mop heads certainly adds up. This is one of the drawbacks to consider before buying a Swiffer, but their convenience is definitely appreciated by overscheduled humans. Still, a roll of wax paper will set you back just a fraction of what a replacement pack of dust pads will. You might not be as pleased with the results as you would be with an actual Swiffer pad, though. While this trick can certainly get you out of a bind, it's smart for your purse and the planet to invest in some washable, reusable mop pads or concoct some of these DIY Swiffer pads for even more savings.

Lastly, your used piece of wax paper doesn't have to go into the trash. If you compost at home or have a local composting service, rip the wax paper into smaller pieces and toss them in the bin. If you don't compost but you have a wood-burning fireplace or outdoor firepit, waxed paper also makes a brilliant fire starter.