Swiffer products are effective and easy-to-use cleaning tools around the house. However, no matter how good a product is at some jobs, there are some cleaning tasks when they aren’t the best choice.
We talked to experts and gathered 10 things you should never clean with a Swiffer mop or duster.
Meet the Expert
- Becky Rapinchuk is the owner and expert behind the cleaning website, Clean Mama.
- Carol Dinn is the owner of Hire A Maid in Canada’s Toronto and Durham regions.
Electronic Screens
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
While a fresh Swiffer Duster works great to remove dust from the screens of laptops and televisions, you should not use a wet Swiffer mop pad to remove fingerprints or splattered food from screens or keyboards. The excess moisture can damage the screen and even cause short circuits.
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Unfinished, Oiled, or Waxed Wooden Floors
Swiffer Wet Mops or cloths should not be used on unfinished, oiled, or waxed wooden floors.
“The mops leave a sticky residue,” Rapinchuk says. “A dust mop with a washable head is a better choice and produces less waste.”
Mix one gallon of warm water and 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to remove sticky residue from the cleaner. Damp mop (no excess water) with the solution and allow the floor to air dry.
Natural Stone Flooring
The Spruce / Jacob Fox
Natural stone floors are extremely durable and beautiful but they require special care. Using the right cleaning product is crucial. Any too-acidic or alkaline cleaner can permanently etch and damage the stone.
“Because the Swiffer Wet Jet has a pH level of ten, making it alkaline, it isn’t suited for any delicate surfaces like marble that require a neutral six to eight pH cleaner,” Dinn explains. Use a neutral pH cleaner formulated for natural stone like granite, marble, and slate.
Rough Textured Accessories
A Swiffer Duster glides easily over porcelain pieces, mirrors, and glass shelving. But if you have decorative accessories with rough surfaces, you will probably end up with tiny shreds of the electrostatic duster clinging to the surface.
Textured pottery, metal decor with sharp edges, and art with impasto finishes are better cleaned with a heavier microfiber cloth.
Carpets and Rugs
Studio Light and Shade / Getty Images
Yes, carpets and rugs get dusty and dirty. But a Swiffer wet mop, dry mop, or duster isn’t the right choice for cleaning these surfaces. The cleaner in the wet mop will leave a residue that attracts more soil.
The dry cleaning products will not trap enough soil to qualify the carpet or rug as clean. Use a vacuum with a good beater brush and stain-removing solutions to care for carpets.
Unsealed Ceramic Tile Floors
Unsealed ceramic tile and grout can freely absorb dirt deep into the pores, nooks, and crannies. A Swiffer Wet Mop does not have the scrubbing power needed to remove the dirt.
Deep cleaning unsealed tile floors requires a soft-bristled brush. The Swiffer cleaning solution can also leave a sticky residue that attracts more soil to the porous surfaces.
Wood Decks
Radoslav Cajkovic / Getty Images
Even a well-sealed wooden deck can cause the thin Swiffer mop pads to shred before you finish the cleaning job. Use a stiff-bristled broom or a leaf blower to remove loose debris. To thoroughly clean a deck, use a heavy-duty mop, scrub brush, or pressure washer.
Fiberglass Shower Stalls
Using a mop to clean the floor of a fiberglass shower stall makes the job easier and saves your back and knees. However, a Wet Swiffer mop won’t reach well into the contours of a shower tub floor and does not provide the gentle abrasive cleaning needed to remove soap scum and soil.
One of the best cleaners is an inexpensive paste of one cup of baking soda and one-fourth cup of white distilled vinegar.
- Turn on the hot water in the shower and when the vinegar and baking soda stop foaming, turn off the water and spread the paste on the warm floor and walls of the enclosure with a non-abrasive sponge.
- Allow the paste to work for ten minutes and then rinse the shower.
- Dry the surfaces completely with a microfiber towel to prevent water spots.
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood, especially when used as a decorative accent wall, is usually too rough to dust with a Swiffer duster. The texture will snag the thin material and you’ll find it clinging to the wall. Use a heavier microfiber cloth to remove dust from the wall.
Concrete Patios and Sidewalks
Once again, the thin pads of Swiffer mops won’t stand up to the rough surface of most concrete patios and sidewalks. The cleaning solution in the wet mops is not strong enough to remove the heavy soil and stains that accumulate on patios.
