Miscellany: Swiffer WetJet

You may not have any idea of what a Swiffer Wetjet is, so here's the television ad that prompted me to try it out (complete with Blondie hit "One Way or Another"):



The WetJet cost 20 bucks from the grocery store, and it was a neat little display of compact packaging when I finally unloaded it. It was very plasticky to be sure, and undoubtedly made in some factory in Guangzhou. Putting the thing together reminded me of assembling a rifle, and not in a good way. For instance, the darn thing requires 4 AA batteries just to squirt out its cleaning solvent.

I was definitely skeptical, and at first it looked like it was just pushing dirt around. You have to apply a decent amount of solution (about a 3 second blast) to clean correctly - one bottle will only last for about 8 or so medium size rooms. Furthermore, they recommend you vacuum before using the WetJet, otherwise you start getting the hair and stuff on the floor wet.

It was quick, though, and the actual mop itself is designed well, with a swiveling head that maneuvers easily. It won't replace a good old-fashioned mopping, but it's good enough for spot work and day-to-day touchup cleaning (by the front entrance floormat, for example).