Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit® Review

Mopping is an unpleasant chore. Fortunately, manufacturers of household goods have created many devices over the years to make the task a little more bearable. One of the latest is actually an enhanced version of a product first introduced years ago. The product is the Swiffer Wetjet, a battery- powered mop that is ideal for simple, everyday cleanups.

Mop Commentary:
 
Swiffer Wetjet is a device shaped like a small vacuum cleaner, with a long, straight body and a swivel head. The swivel head contains a disposable cleaning pad specially designed to attract debris. Just above the swivel head are two jets that transfer cleaning fluid to the floor for mopping. The midsection of the mop contains a space where a bottle of cleaning solution is attached and the cleaning fluid is transferred to the jets by pressing a button near the top of the handle.  

Swiffer Wetjet has been around for a few years, but like I said above, this product is now new and improved. According to the manufacturer, the handle is stronger than before but the enhancement that you will notice more readily is that this version of Swiffer Wetjet has two jets instead of one, with a jet placed on each side of the head of the mop. A press of the button releases the fluid and the nice thing is that you have control over the amount of fluid that releases. A slight push releases only a small amount of fluid; a longer push releases more fluid. The fluid will squirt from the jets for the duration of time that your finger is pressing the button.

The cleaning pads on the Swiffer Wetjet help aid in the cleaning process. They do not just push the debris around. They help trap the dirt and grime and lock it into place. The fluid also helps because it breaks up dirt and dissolves away locked- in stains. The fluid that comes with the Swiffer Wetjet starter kit has a basic, chemical/cleaning fluid smell that isn't very pleasant, but there are other refills for this mop that offer better scents.  

Convenience is probably the main reason we use a mop like this so frequently. With the large amount of tile in my house, we don't have time to mess with a large, heavy mop or with a sponge mop that requires premixing water and cleaning solution in a bucket. We want to grab the mop, use it, and put it away in as few steps as possible. And the Swiffer Wetjet is really that quick and simple. About the only work necessary is to replace the cleaning pad when necessary and change the cleaning fluid when the bottle is empty. Other than that, there is little else to do. The fluid is used sparingly and is spread out so thin that it dries quickly.  

With so many positive points, are there any bad things to say about the Swiffer Wetjet? Well, there are a few and the most obvious is the mop's cleaning limitations. This mop is intended for use on cleaning jobs that do not require much scrubbing. True, there is a scrubbing bar on the front of the mop, but this is still not going to be enough for a dirtier than average floor. The other disadvantage is the cost of cleaning fluid and cleaning pad replacements. Both are relatively expensive compared to the cheap cost of basic floor cleaning liquid and an occasional replacement sponge for a sponge mop. The starter kit contains a bottle of cleaning fluid and two cleaning pads to get you started, but you will need to replenish your supplies in a short time and the cost does add up.   

Bottom- Line Viewpoint:

Mopping is an annoying chore, but it is an essential task and manufacturers have helped make the task easier with their many inventions. Swiffer Wetjet is a very good cleaning device that makes mopping as convenient as possible and while it cannot handle the really tough cleaning jobs, it makes a good choice for the frequent mopper who doesn't have time to mix and rinse.