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In Search of "The Swiffer" "Dumb and Dumber" by Nikki Willhite It began over a year ago. My husband and I saw the commercials for "The Swiffer." We were tired of crawling on the floor and cleaning it with a rag. We knew we had to make a change. The swiffer was enticing. Our knees were getting sore. We wanted one. Oh, how we wanted one. We were willing to spend the money. Yes, it was "our time." I had done my frugal research. I knew the substitutes for the replacement pads. I was ready to use dryer sheets and to tie rags around the base to save money. So, my husband and I put "The Swiffer" on our shopping list.  We could hardly wait! When we would be shopping at the hardware store, Walmart, Fred Mayer, etc., we would take a few minutes and walk over to the mops and see if we could find it.   Much to our surprise, no matter where we went, they didn't have it!  How hard could it be so hard to find something so heavily advertised on television? We found lots of other mops, but our hearts were set on "The Swiffer."  We knew it was advertised to be an awesome product, but where did you get it?   Why the heck wasn't this miracle mop being carried in every store? I can't recall how many times we were out shopping, had a few minutes, and trekked over to the cleaning product aisle. Oh how our hearts were broken. No one, but no one was carrying "The Swiffer." We could have purchased another mop, but our minds were made up. We were going to swiffer, or we would stay on our knees. We would find it....eventually.<grrrr> Then one day in November, when we shopping and we had a little more time on our hands than usual, we finally realized our dream. I remember that day. It was warm for November. The sun was shining, in Seattle.  At first, we thought we had failed again. "The Swiffer" was no where to be found.  A sales clerk passed by, and my husband did the "unthinkable."  He asked for help. "Why don't you have the Swiffer?" he inquired of the sales help. "Oh, but we do carry it," was the reply. "Let me find it for you." We watched as the salesperson walked up and down the aisle. Then, stopping in front of some cleaning products down the aisle, she bent down, and came up with a carton no bigger than a shoe box. "Here you go," she said.   My husband and I looked at each other, sighing and letting go of our sudden burst of hope. Obviously those were only replacement pads. "No," my husband said, "We are looking for the mop." "It's in the box," she said. It's in the box? What is she talking about? Is she nuts? We took the box, and started reading the labeling. The box claimed to be the "starter kit."  It claimed to have "The Swiffer" in it. That was when we decided to take a leap of faith. We would buy the box, take it home, and look and see for ourselves. We hurried home in the car and into the house. After putting away our other purchases, my husband carefully opened the package- so that he could return it if necessary. Oh good grief!  There it was. The poles that made the handle of "The Swiffer" were collapsible and in pieces. They slid together.  Hence it was able to be put in a very small box. My husband pulled out all the sections, and then got out his screwdriver, and per the instructions, assembled the product. Ya think someone could have mentioned that in the commercial??? Rather a big OVERSIGHT! I notice now that "The Swiffers" are sold like other mops. They are easily seen with their long handle with the bright green cardboard packaging. As stupid as I feel for not finding it sooner, I have a feeling that there is a marketing company somewhere that is even DUMBER!!!  Note:  The best substitute I have found for a swiffer dry or wet pad is a piece of leftover quilt batting.  It is a fiber magnet, and great for picking up dust.  The "warm and natural" batting works well wet, and can be washed.  If you know a quilter...ask for their scrap pieces.  Many quilters just throw them away. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

 

 

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