OFF TOPIC - looking for opinions

Quentin Crisp said "I have a message of hope for the housewives of England. After four years it doesn't get any worse."

I can ditto the Dyson. We're very hard on vacuum cleaners (this family had LOTS of hair when kids lived here) and went through several. And the last one had to be fixed (belt replaced) about every 6-8 weeks, which fortunately DH could do, and eventually he was on a first-name basis with the vacuum repair store guy.

Since we got the Dyson - almost no problems at all. I think once we had to take the roller out to free it from hair and gunk. We've probably had it five years, and still works as well as the day we got it. (knock on wood! Last week was a *big* car repair and a dishwasher - thankfully still under extended warranty -- and I don't want a third!)

Lots of money up front, but in the long run, good value.

(and now I'd love to try one of the "ball"-based one. What a neat idea...duh!)

Sue

This looks like something the Ewings would have in their living room

LOLOL.It reminds me of a rocking chair my late husband and I found in someone's trash pick-up when I was pregnant with our first child......money was tight back then. It had a cowhide seat...but it was free, and I could nurse the baby!

Gill

Cheryl

Piggybacking on Susan's post because Ellice's post has disappeared.

Instead of the disposable Swiffer cloths(or their generic equivalent), I use the terry microfibre cloths you can now buy at most hardware stores. I just wrap it around the Swiffer and push into the holes exactly as you do with the disposable. I use both sides and when dirty just throw it into the washing machine. I find that they actually pick up more stuff than the disposable Swiffer cloths.

I have maple hardwood, and the microfibre cloths are wonderful. They are also great for streak free glass cleaning and dusting. I must have half a dozen of them that get used for everything. They are very gentle and don't scratch anything.

MargW

Do you have a brand name? Have not heard of these cloths. Sound like just what I need.

Dianne

That's a good idea, Marg. I have a huge pack of the microfiber cloths (yeah, Costco), and could try it. I have a microfiber large mop which I use for the damp cleaning.

Ellice

I think 3M makes most of them. I have a huge package of yellow cloths, they're sold for dusting - glass cleaning, etc. In the grocery store I've seen packages with a glass cleaning cloth and 2 dusters. For dusting, it's a dry cloth. Or you can dampen them if you need. I had never thought of putting them on the Swiffer head, but it's an idea.

Ellice

I bought a bag of them at BJ's for about $15 for 20. Dust, wash the floor. About the only thing they aren't good at is picking up large amounts of water. And I cut a few in half for the swiffer knockoff. Wash, use, wash again. Oh and at least one in the hockey bag and car, for cleaning glasses.

Cheryl

Just look for the words microfiber on the bag. I could toss one in the mail to you - 20 is too many even for this house...

Thanks, everyone. I'm on a mission, now, to find them. Gotta be cheaper than buying the disposables. I'm anxious to see how it will work with all the dog hair and grit we have here.

Dianne

Cheryl Isaak wrote:

Dianne,

I'll save you a little leg work and mail you one. I have plenty!

That's really sweet and means a lot. However, it's too late. I got on my bike, pedaled over to the local hardware store and bought one. I just finished three downstairs rooms. Lookin' good! When I get my breath back, I'm going to go over the rooms with a swiffer to see what it *really* did.

Dianne

I got a huge pile of those yellow cloths once, but I can't *stand* the feel of them. They make my skin crawl. The same way those little silver paring knives that used to be sold door-to-door or through youth group fundraising feel after they've been through the dishwasher a hundred or so times.

sue

I'm impressed. Three rooms. Went over again with a swiffer. Little new material caught up.

Sometimes the stuff we learn here just amazes me.

I cut mine in half, and I suppose I'll have to zigzag the raw edge so I can wash it.

My biggest amazement was I could shake it outside, do the next room, and it was still up to the job.

Now I need to get hubby to take the dogs to the park this week for two hours so I can mop my floors. :~)

Dianne

I agree about the weird kind of dry feel of them. But they work really well - so I tend to use them either with some polish, or damp. But, I'm going to try the Swiffer sub thing.

ellice

While you're on a roll - want to come do mine ;^)

I'm working up to doing the main level, as I did the upstairs recently. But, then for the mopping, send the pup outside... They don't really get that wet with mopping, as I use the Bruce stuff that I squirt down, then damp only mop. But, the mop then gets rinsed and squished in the bucket with a wringer thing.

What a pleasant thought - well, at least clean floors is.

Ellice

I used them today, wet, to thoroughly scrub the kitchen floor. It's cleaner.

Cheryl