Journal Entry #5

Swiffer Wet Jet vs. Libman Freedom Mop

I currently own a Swiffer Wet Jet and I can't tell you how many commercials I have seen lately for the Libman Freedom Mop.  Now I love my Swiffer Wet Jet, its easy, light weight, portable, and I thought economical.  Now that this Libman Freedom Mop has come out, it has made me question my loyalty to my faithful Swiffer Wet Jet.  The commercials for the Libman Freedom Mop portray a very similar mop to Swiffer, only the Libman claims to be better for the environment.  With my Swiffer, I have to purchase the pads, batteries, and the floor cleaner.  The Libman Freedom Mop only requires that you purchase the cleaning solution (of your choice!)  Well with a difference like that I just had to try out the alternative. 

Well after comparing the two...I am not so certain Libman is the best mop.  While yes, you are not purchasing multiple pads and the solution, you do still have the issue of cleaning the pads that come on the Libman Freedom Mop and with purchasing your solution.  The whole sale gimmick for Libman was that you save money and the earth by not having to keep buying the bottles of solution....

WRONG POINT #1
Unless I missed something, any type of floor cleaning solution you buy comes in a plastic bottle very similar if not almost identical to the Swiffer Wet Jet Refils.  So with that in mind you really aren't buying any less plastic with the Libman Freedom Mop than you are with the Swiffer Wet Jet.  







 WRONG POINT #2

Libman claims that their mop is more economical because you can re-use the cleaning pads.  Well I have a huge problem with that.  Anyone who is mindful of money and waste is going to re-use the Swiffer Wet Jet pads.  So the pads get multiple uses unlike how Libman likes to portray.  PLUS with the Libman Freedom Mop you are either required to purchase more pads if you don't feel like washing the old one or you have to wash the old ones.  By washing the pads, you are using money to buy the         detergent and money to pay the electric bill to power the washing machine and dryer. 

With these two points in mind, I would have to side with my faithful Swiffer Wet Jet being the more economical choice!  It just goes to say that advertising can be very sneaky in trying to persuade the consumer.