Still, even the most ethical electronics come with an additional environmental impact, because of the mining of materials and the difficulty to dispose of electronics responsibly. Instead, we choose zero waste cleaning products to help mop away some of the mess caused by our consumption. Cut the “H” shape out of both your old towel and your cotton fabric.Pin the fabrics right side together, and mark on one of the sides about an 7-8 cm section, which will be left open.

Once the mop cover is dirty, just throw the item in the wash with your regular wash and tumble or air dry.

Another popular green alternative is the steam mop, which heats water in its chamber to release steam through a cloth or pad. Apart from loosening up dirt and grime, the high temperatures also aid in killing germs and bacteria from surfaces without having to depend on any harmful chemicals. Having said that, there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to truly transparent (complex) supply chains and reassurances against greenwashing. Between their zero waste storefront in LA and zero waste online store, they’re doing a good job of it.

Between the non-biodegradable plastic that is extracted from fossil fuels to use in refill pads and the toxins from the cleaning solutions, a Swiffer mopping routine simply isn’t worth the waste and risk.If it’s not natural, it should be durable. We made exceptions for lifelong reusable components like handles made of metal. However, I was less than happy at the prospect of throwing away all the disposable mop covers. Disposable swiffer pads can cost a lot of money and contain a lot of plastic. A pretty high price to pay on both count. So I decided I really needed to make myself some reusable pads that are machine washable in my domestic washing machine to ensure more green cleaning and save money. This option is especially appealing as it allows you to reduce waste by avoiding single-use cleaning products without changing the way you use your Swiffer. Sweeper Spray Mop Pads by Juniperseed Mercantile The All-Purpose Spray by the Home Farm is a sustainable floor cleaner (suitable for any surface) made from a blend of 100% non-toxic organic oils. Recommending plastic mops seems counterintuitive to a post about eco friendly Swiffer alternatives. However, a high quality steam mop can last a decade or more, and it eliminates the need to buy floor cleaners that come in single-use bottles. Bissell Steam Mop – Powerfresh Pet

Their 7-in-1 steam mop uses heat alone to clean all manner of surfaces with fewer products required.This means that you end up with a “H” shaped template, which is the pattern for your mop head cover. I am always looking for new ways to upcycle my old cloth. And one of the most useful cloths in my waste pile is old towelling. Every so often I have a clearout of my bathroom cabinet. There is always one towel that looks a bit threadbare and grey, and it goes in a (large) pile in the corner of my sewing room to be reused. And making a reusable mop cover is a perfect way of reusing this old towel. You could also use microfiber or terry cloth if you prefer to buy new cloth to make these. You Will Need These mops are very similar to the Swiffer, but instead of single-use refill pads, they clean with a washable microfiber pad head. Pair yours with a DIY or store-bought eco friendly spray and you’re golden. You can recycle used mop and duster pads through Swiffer’s free recycling program through TerraCycle, but few people utilize it or even know it exists.