"hack" your swiffer and green cleaners

I really like swiffer wetjet. It is a handylittle cleaning machine. But it isn't economical or green.
First I ordered these from ebay:
( I know I know there are knit and crochet patterns but I have heard they don't work so well...)

Economically they are well worth the money. The swiffer pads are expensive!



I have already tried refilling my swiffer bottle and it was hard to do... You'd think they wouldn't want you to do that or something. Hee hee..Anyhow here is the "easy" way to refill the bottle.

Fill a bowl with hot, HOT water. Tap water probably won't cut it- microwave it or heat it on the stove instead.

Immerse the cap of the Swiffer bottle in the hot water for about a minute. This softens the plastic enough that the cap can be removed easily.

Wrap the dish-towel around the cap of the bottle to get a good grip, and twist hard. The cap should come right off.

Rinse the bottle thoroughly (you don't want to mix incompatible chemicals).

And check this out courtesy of Mary Jane's Farm:
Check out these amazing homemade cleaning supplies for every room in the house:

1. Powdered Laundry Soap
1 bar Castile soap, grated
2 cups Borax
2 cups washing soda
1 cup baking soda
Combine all of the ingredients and store in a covered jar. Use ¼ cup per load.

2. Lavender Laundry Softener
1 cup dried lavender buds
1 quart white vinegar
2-4 drops lavender essential oil
Combine the mixture and let it sit for a week.

3. All-purpose cleaner
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp Castile soap
1 tbsp Borax
Combine all the ingredients and add to a spray bottle.

4. Tub Scrub
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup salt
10 drops citrus essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil
Combine all the ingredients and store in an airtight tub.

5. Carpet Deodorizer
1 cup Borax
1 cup baking soda
10 drops essential oils

Combine and store in an airtight tub.

6. Oven Cleaner
1 small box baking soda
1 cup liquid Castile Soap

Combine ingredients and mix until smooth. Apply to a cloth and wipe clean.

7. Dusting Spray
1 cup distilled water
3 drops essential oils
Combine in a spray bottle and use with a cotton cloth.

8. Citrus Degreaser
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup baking soda
5 to 10 drops citrus essential oils
Combine to make a paste and use a damp cloth to wipe off.