How to Make a Reuseable "swiffer" Pad

I finally gave up and bought a Swiffer mop thing. I love my old rag mop but there are times when I just don't have the energy to mop like that. So, I bought one of those units that you can put the disposable mop pads on. It made cleaning the floor easier and faster. I bought a box of generic pads at Big Lots and cringed a little but thought I wouldn't use it all the time, so maybe,..

Nah. My frugal nature won't let me. I have one pad left and I just can't  make myself buy more pads to be thrown out after one use.

I made a washable Swiffer mop pad from an old hand towel that was pretty much see-through on the ends, but the middle was still good. I cut the pad generously and it worked out very well. I will make several more to have on hand.

Here are the exact direcetion.

Materials needed:

• Terry cloth or other soft, thick and absorbant material
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or hand sewing needle and thread

Cut a piece of material 10 by 9 1/2 inches, then cut another piece 4 1/2 by 9 inches. Put the smaller piece in the center of the larger one and sew it down on all four sides. With a machine, run a zigzag stitch around the entire outer edge of the larger piece.

If you're sewing by hand, you can turn a narrow hem or you can blanket stitch around it.

That's all there is to it.

The piece you added to the middle is on the wrong side, so use it inside the pad when you put it on just like the disposable pads. When you're though, take it off and toss it in the wash.

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! :)