Swiffer WetJet® Review

I don't know many people who like house cleaning.  I certainly don't.  But, since I'm home a good deal of the time, I do what I can.  Our housekeeper you ask?  Well she went the way of our 401ks and IRA's recently which is to say "some things just gotta change!"

Now, from the title of my review, you might think that I don't especially like this product.  Well, you'd be wrong...but then you'd be right too.  I have  mixed views on this product.

When it's Good

It is oh, so good.  It really does a great job on shiny white ceramic tile besmirched with paw prints.  No arguments here.  It's terrific for those rushed moments after I've cooked a dinner for guests who are about to show up at our door at any moment.  I can give the floors a quick once-over and make the room smell pretty good all at the same time.

But When it's Bad

There's an awful lot of supplies to keep on hand.  You really need some organizational skill here.  You're going to need 4AA batteries, Wet Jet Cleaning Pads and of course, Wet Jet Cleaning Fluid.  Knowing myself, I can count on myself to be out of at least one of these three at any given time.  What were they thinking?

The Gillette Strategy

Early in the 20th Century, Gillette came up with a brilliant strategy.  Give away razors for a nominal price and then sell the consumer razorblades for the rest of his/her life.  Pure genius!  That's the entire marketing strategy behind the Swiffer Brand.  And, if there's a marketing organization in the world that can outdo Gillette, it's none other than Proctor & Gamble, the organization generally credited with developing modern Product Management.

But back to Gillette for a bit, because this is really good.  You see, Gillette saw the potential for supplying consumers with the alkaline batteries we seem not to be able to live without.  So, in 1996, they purchased Duracell.  Smart move right?  You bet.  Proctor & Gamble certainly thought so, because in 2005 P&G bought Gillette!

So you see, all the supplies you need for your Wet-Jet are P&G products.  The pads, the cleaning fluid and the batteries.  In hockey this is known as a "hat trick".  In product marketing it is known as brilliance.

Listen Closely Here

The Cleaning Pads and Fluid are excellent.  But they are costly.  I can help you do it for less.  Let's first replace the pads.  You know those yellow synthetic chamois clothes you see at home/car/boat shows?  At these shows they cost about $10 for 3 of them.  Go to any flea market and you can buy them for $1.00 each.  Each of the chamois cloths can be cut into 8 pads suitable for the Wet-Jet.  No need for Velcro, because the male Velcro on the Wet-Jet loves to stick to chamois.  What's even better is that when your chamois pads get dirty just put them in the washer and dry them flat.  They can be used over and over again.

The cleaning fluid?  Great yes, but so is Glass Plus and all its imitators.  You can purchase 64 and 128oz. Glass Plus refills for chump change at any warehouse club.  Although P&G claims the Wet-Jet bottles are single use, trust me.  With a pair of vise grip pliers you can open the bottle.  Snip the little plastic thingies inside the cap and it's a perpetually re-usable bottle.  This Wet-Jet is looking better all the time, isn't it?  The batteries?  Hey you're on your own here, but do a little shopping around.

My Viewpoint

The Swiffer Wet-Jet is a very effective floor care product.  Use as directed or use my cost savings tips.   If you have tile or laminate flooring you won't be disappointed by the Swiffer Wet-Jet.  I recommend it.

Rudi