If you’re like me and you hate throwing money in the trash with disposable cleaning products, you’re going to love this: You can make washable “Swiffer” dusters!
Click here for the directions to make your own washable “swiffer” dusters from microfiber cloth. (Thanks Little Dear Tracks!)
You can order these Microfiber Cleaning Cloths from Amazon.
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I just made the floor cloths by cutting leftover yellow fleece from another project into 8 X 10 inch pieces and tucked into the tabs that are in the rectangle already. I tried in on the hardwood floors and it seems to pick up pretty well. hopefully it will hold up in the wash. Thanks for the good idea.
Great idea! Thanks!
I just made the floor cloths by cutting leftover yellow fleece from another project into 8 X 10 inch pieces and tucked into the tabs that are in the rectangle already. I tried in on the hardwood floors and it seems to pick up pretty well. hopefully it will hold up in the wash. Thanks for the good idea.
Great idea! Thanks!
I made these with microfiber towels from the dollar store but there was too much fluff & shedding. Has anyone tried fleece or flannel? Or something else?
I have wanted to try making these since I re-pinned this about a year ago! I just haven’t gotten around to buying the fleece or microfiber cloth. I was going to try felt to see if that works since I have a ton of it, but I also wondered about flannel as I have a ton of that too.
Any idea on how flannel would work?
I would think that flannel would work better than felt. Let me know if you try it.
Can felt from a craft store work?
I am not sure about that Katie. The fleece and microfiber have a different texture. I don’t think that the felt will pick up the dust.
I was going to try felt, too. I think if I spray it with pledge, the dust should stick. Felt is cheap and I have a ton if it. Its worth a shot, I think.
I love this idea !!! Heading for the Dollar Tree !!! Thank you sooo much!!! Great Stocking stuffer idea !!!
You are very welcome Ronnie!
To make your fleece last longer wash it but don’t dry it. Fleece dries fast. If you dry it it make it bally (if that is a word) and can melt the fleece. Hope this helps.
Praise! I appreciate your giving credit to the original blogs for questions you can’t answer & for providing feedback to your readers! Well done & love anything that re-purposes!
Thanks, I love anything that can be recycled. I also crochet my own Swiffer dusters.
Thank you for these directions. I made one today with some leftover fleece. It was so easy, and when the 3yr old boy woke up, he couldn’t stop “cleaning things”.
Anything that makes your kids want to clean is a great thing, right?! 🙂
Does this actually pick up the dirt like a swiffer or does it push it around like a feather duster?
It depends on the material you use. Microfiber cloth will pick up the dust. You can also “help” out any duster by using a spray on product like Pledge. 🙂
I loved this idea! These work better if you use fabric that has been washed a few times. You can use old tee shirts, cut slits and gently tug on each slit until it curls slightly…this will keep it from raveling. If you use fleece, that again works better if it’s older, softer and already been washed. I don’t care for the micro-fiber, but that just me. Used fabric saves lots of money and makes this project even better. If you want to make these for gifts, I suggest buying new fabric but wash it before you make any cuts to prevent shrinkage.
Thanks for the tips Bevely!
Thank you very much for this. I have a cleaning business and am tired of buying stuff I can make myself..
I tried one with fleece and it worked great, but when I washed it, it shriveled up and was useless, will try again with microfiber though because I love the idea
Thanks Patricia. That is helpful to know. 🙂
I am having trouble with the 3rd step. In the picture it looks like you have multiple layers together, but in step 2 it says sew 1 small to one large. I guess I am just dumb. Can you explain the steps further?
Thanks, it is such a great idea!!!
Donna, this is actually re-posted from Little Dear Tracks. You can contact her to ask any questions because I have not made these myself. 🙂
I made mine out of a torn sweatshirt. No dust. Pinking shears are the best!
GREAT IDEA!! Wow I will try making one from an old sweatshirt!
thank you for a very useful idea. I love it !!Thank you for sharing.
I made one of these using a microfiber cloth, and it sheds too much fluff for it to be useful for me, but I think I am going to try the fleece and see if that works better. 🙂
Ordering some. I clean houses and these l
ook great! Smart!
Could you please provide more complete details how to sew this item? Sorry, can’t understand the sewing instructions?
Hi Sandy! I actually shared this from another blog. Here is the link: http://littledeartracks.blogspot.com/2010/06/better-than-swiffer-dusters.html. Maybe you could contact her and ask her.
I’m going to make these for the classroom so the kids can help keep it a little less dusty! They LOVE to help clean! 🙂
maybe you could alter the pattern to make slots for little hands so the kids can wear these and help clean.
what did you use as the wand?
These are actually from a different website (click the links to go to the websites) but I imagine that you could use any kitchen tool or cleaning implement that has a handle. You could look at the dollar store for something that would work.
You can make them from microfiber cloths found at dollar tree. :o) I love, love, love dollar tree microfiber cloths!!!
Ah, makes sense! Thank you! 🙂
OK, dumb question, but what do you make them out of? 🙂
Not a dumb question at all Angie! From what I have read you can make them from fleece or from microfiber cloth found in the automotive department of stores like Walmart.
Thanks for asking that, Angie! I was wondering myself… And thanks for the answer, Kimberlee! Fleece or Microfiber…
LOVE this!!! I absolutely cannot stand to throw things away and this is a perfect solution!! Thank you so very much for sharing!!
You are very welcome Linda! 🙂
How well do they compare to the disposables?
I haven’t made mine yet Tiffany, so I don’t know but I do know that the disposable ones cannot be washed.
I have washed them and they can be reused for some time.
Love it!!! I hate buying throw away cleaning products!
Thanks for this great idea!
You’re welcome Patti!
This idea is AMAZING!!!! I am totally making sets of these for Christmas!! Thank you so much for a fun, frugal, and useful gift idea!!
Thanks Amanda, but Aimee at Little Dear Tracks is the real genius for figuring it out! 🙂