Friday, March 2, 2007

My Frugal Mop


Well, maybe it's a little more than frugal.

I found this old rag mop - a real rag mop that you put your own rags in (or buy one of those "rag" mops for). It was in an old abandoned house that was to be torn down and it was sturdy, like my Mom's old mop.

I've used it for a long time, something like 20 years. I know. They don't make them like they used to. Anyway, I thoght it was time to put an end to its misery when the bottom rusted through and the spring wouldn't hold it together any more. Maybe you can see the rubber band that's holding it together.

Sometimes I feel silly, being so close fisted, then I remember how much I've saved by not buying another mop or two or three or four over the years. Well, why should I? This one still works.

And that's your frugal lesson for today. Just don't ask me to explain it! :)

12 comments:

  1. DO you just ring it out by hand?

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  2. Yes, I do. I know some people balk at that, but it's really not a big deal. My hands will wash. :)

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  3. "My hands will wash" makes me think of the comment my husband always makes when they show those paper towel commercials. Every time they show how you can rinse them out and use them again, he says, "You can do that with wash clothes and then just wash them and use them again and again!"

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  4. Charlene, I laughed out loud at that one. Your husband is so right. How easy it is to forget our common sense when marketers start their spiels!

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  5. I am so glad that I found you here (thanks to Frugal Upstate) and that I finally figured out how to post to let you know. You are a voice of reason/wisdom/common sense/and a whole bunch of other good stuff, in a world that seems to be lacking in all those areas. Thank you, thank you.

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  6. Oh, now, you make me feel ancient, Helen! :) Actually they do still sell that type of mop, but only at places like janitor's supply stores.

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  7. Pat, I absolutely hate mopping the old fashioned way.

    I bought a new mop today. One of those fancy ones with the refillable bottle. Guess what? I'm going to make my own cleaning solution for the bottle when it's empty. And when the freebie rags run out, I think an old washcloth or hand towel will do the trick. At least it makes my son half-way inspired to help me clean! He was staring at me tonight like I was a woman from Mars - eh gad, what's that device?

    Great advice on the economy. Thanks! Terre

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  8. Thank YOU, lela5352. Such kind comments!

    And to Terre, to each her own. :) I don't think it's about mops as much as it's about the attitude. We all have things we hate to do, so a little money spent to make it easier is worth it at times.

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  9. Pat, How do you keep your grout looking so clean? Happy Homemaker in NH

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  10. Ah, the wonders of a good imaging program! I'm kidding.

    I use bleach in my mop water about every other time. But... in reality, what you see in the pictures is my bathroom floor. The day I wanted to take the picture, my kitchen floor... well, it needed a mop. ;)

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  11. Pat: I just love your mop. You are so resourcefull. You make me jelous! You have the same mindset my Grams had. Having been through two Depressions she never wasted a thng .

    My favorite thing in her kitchen was the long continus towel she had sewn together that hung on a wooden roller on the pantry door next to the sink. It was always fun to dry my hands then pull it down for the next short person, like Grams.

    Timothy T

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  12. I don't feel particularly resourceful, Timothy, I'm just old fashioned, maybe. :)

    I never thought about making a towel like that, but it would be nice to have.

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