The Museum of Hoaxes Forum star
our sister site - The Mad Science Museum
About
facebook twitter rss
Swiffer Wet Jet Pet Rumor
image Teresa wrote in to ask about the truth of that email rumor going around alleging that the Swiffer Wet Jet cleaning fluid contains antifreeze and can be fatal to pets (you can read the full text of that email rumor here). Swiffer itself addresses this rumor on its corporate website, so it can be pretty easily debunked. It's totally false. But since I'm on the subject of Swiffers, I've got to note something about them that I find incredibly annoying... how you can only use Swiffer brand cleaning fluid with the Wet Jet. And, of course, the Swiffer brand fluid ain't cheap. Out of frustration, I ended up carving a hole in the top of the Swiffer brand bottle and pouring generic cleaning fluid into it, but that didn't work well at all since the fluid kept splashing up out of the bottle whenever I moved it too vigorously. So yes, Swiffer may be innocent of killing pets, but in my books they're still guilty of selling overpriced cleaning fluid. Yeah, I could stop using the Wet Jet entirely, but I don't want to do that because I like how the Wet Jet works. I just don't like being forced to buy only Swiffer brand fluid to use in it. (Sorry about the rant).
Categories: Animals, Email Hoaxes
Posted by Alex on Mon May 10, 2004
Comments (124)
I have been cutting a hole, actually a square flap, in the swiffer bottle for quite a while now. But let me give a fantastic use for the swiffer wet jet: While housebreaking a puppy, I refill the swiffer bottle with the Pet enzyme solution you are supposed to clean up accidents with to hide the urine smell. It made clean up so much easier than using paper towels. I would just blot with paper towels and spray the solution all over the area and mop. The sprayer is also great when you have to apply to carpet, although you can't use the mop.
Posted by AMK  on  Fri Nov 11, 2005  at  06:17 AM
I am having a problem. I need to get the battery part open so I can change the batteries. Does anybody know how to do that? I have been trying to open the damn thing for a month. I saw that there was a little screw in there so I went and bought a tiny screwdriver to open it.. but turns out thats not how you open it. Anybody have any clue?????? I am getting so frustrated.
Posted by Alicia  in  Vancouver,B.C.,Canada  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  04:20 PM
If you can't figure out how to change the batteries on your Swiffer, it's because you have lost the battery compartment althgether.

Check the floor of your cleaning closet where the swiffer lives when it's not in use.
Posted by Todd  in  Jersey  on  Sat Feb 25, 2006  at  08:42 AM
July 16, 2007
Last week our new puppy (11 week lab) started vomiting repeatedly and stopped drinking water! We took her to the vet who ran tons of tests and kept her on an IV overnight. They couldn't figure out what was wrong. We scoured the house looking for anything she may have eaten of gotten into. There was nothing. No one could figure out what happened.

I just heard about this link between Swiffer wet mops and puppy sickness, and I feel that this is most likely what happened to our pup. I used the Swiffer wet mop right before she got sick! and she was constantly licking the cabinet we store the Swifers wet pads in, she was very attracted to the taste.

Luckily she is now doing fine. I strongly feel that there should be a warning on this product, I never would have used them if I had know about this issue before. This was all so preventable if we had know.
Everyone Please Beware you don't want to go through what we went through, and subjecting a small puppy to a myriad of tests and so much discomfort is just horrible-!!
Posted by RKL  in  New York  on  Sun Jul 16, 2006  at  12:56 PM
Anyone who is claiming the wet-jet is unsafe because it is
Posted by Ashley  in  Ohio  on  Fri Aug 04, 2006  at  12:26 PM
Thank you Todd for posting how to replace the batteries. The battery compartment was right there on the floor where you said it would be. You are a credit to the internet!
Posted by Sharon  in  Sacramento  on  Wed Oct 04, 2006  at  12:05 AM
Thank you Todd from Jersey (Feb 06). We just went through "the battery doesn't work, how do you change them" There was the compartment, right on the floor.
Thanks. MCL from Hilton Head Island
Posted by Marcia  on  Sat Nov 04, 2006  at  09:05 AM
Thank you TODD - I've spent 3-days trying to figure out the battery, and presto, right on the floor where you said to look. I did a little dance for you!!
Posted by Jill  in  Farmington NY  on  Sat Nov 25, 2006  at  09:16 AM
Todd is the man! We have been trying to replace batteries that were not there since they were on the floor in the laundry room. We thought we were just two senile senior citizens (well, maybe we are), THANKS TODD
Posted by Pam  on  Sun Dec 31, 2006  at  03:11 PM
Todd, you need to work for the R&D department at Clorox. They obviously need to redesign this portion of the swiffer. How about a screw secured compartment with a battery logo on front, idiots. My wife had the swiffer in the closet and had been complaining that the swiffer isn't working any more. But I found the part in this midst of other items in the closet. You win the Handy Man of the year award, even if we are only in January.
Posted by Dr. Park  in  Columbia, SC  on  Sat Jan 13, 2007  at  10:49 AM
Okay you guys - finally bought more fluid for the Swiffer. Spent an hour trying to figure out how to change batteries. Read your remarks!!

Oh yeah battery pack was in closet on floor - jeeze. Started mopping. Too bad I forgot to buy more pads.

I will have to wait until the next trip to store again....
Posted by Cathy  in  Ohio  on  Tue Feb 13, 2007  at  04:13 PM
I wish people would have paid attention in science class. It's over 90% water. Do you think that the BIG old GOVERNMENT would allow something with anti-freeze be allowed to be exposed to kids and pets?
Posted by Roger Nelson  in  Oklahoma  on  Sat Feb 24, 2007  at  06:37 PM
Ha,ha,ha! Too funny! I'm sitting hear frustrated that loosening all the screws on my swiffer, did not produce a battery compartment...and low and behold...I fell victim to the same phenomenon: My closet floor sucked the battery pack right off my swiffer...it was right there just like the others! Kudos, Todd!
Posted by JSV  in  Ypsilanti, MI  on  Wed Mar 07, 2007  at  09:48 AM
I used the Swiffer only once before deciding it might be too toxic to use with cats in the house. The cleaner had a wax-like consistency (thickness) and was sticky. The fragrance was overwhelming. I did not want to chance poisoning my cats, so stopped using the mop with the Swiffer Cleaner. To use the pads (two or three boxes) I bought, I used more-natural cleaners ("earth friendly"), spraying it from a spray bottle, onto the floor, and then "swiffering".

My concern was not only with the Swiffer Cleaner itself, but also with chemical reactions that might occur between it and pet shampoos, flea powders, carpet shampoo -- any other chemicals that I might use in the home. Besides combinations of chemicals becoming lethal, it might be possible that the build-up of chemicals in a pet's body would, at some point, become too much for the pet to pass off or recover from. (Swiffer's thick and sticky nature would make it more difficult to pass through the body quickly (thus doing serious harm), seems to me.)

My Swiffer is in the garage -- and the only thing stopping me from selling it at a garage sale is that I don't want to contribute to someone else going down that "wrong path" -- using it with pets or small children in the house.
Posted by Clar  in  Florida  on  Sat Mar 10, 2007  at  12:18 AM
I've just amazed my grandparents by giving them Todd's advice (more Swiffer owners whose battery compartment was sitting in the floor of the closet while they searched for a key to open the mystery compartment). They wanted me to extend their thanks to Todd!!
Posted by Lori  in  New Jersey  on  Tue Mar 13, 2007  at  06:50 PM
thank you!!! Found my battery compartment on the floor like everyone else!! At least I am not alone in this! smile
Posted by caroline  on  Sun Mar 18, 2007  at  08:41 AM
Can anyone tell me if the Chlorox Readymop cleaning fluid has been linked to the pet sickness problems like Swiffer has? Just got a new puppy and she started to foam at the mouth soon after I used it. I do not want to jump to conclusions because the vet says she will be okay. Thank you.
Posted by Amy  in  Mexico Beach, FL  on  Wed Mar 21, 2007  at  02:07 PM
I also was disappointed in the Clorox mop because it was so flimsy and loved the Wet Jet mop. However, when I saw what the cleaning fluid did to my floors, I was angry. Why would any company produce a product that left floors sticky and streaked? I wouldn't even mind paying exorbitant prices for the cleaner if it worked! Thank you for the suggestion to remove the cap with vice grips. I did that and replaced the fluid with my the Clorox cleaner. Now I have the best of both worlds.
Posted by Janice Spiech  in  Juneau, AK  on  Fri Mar 23, 2007  at  10:14 AM
Ah! I have a 6lb chihuahua that has never ever been ill....3 days ago I used a generic swiffer wet type product....my dog is acting very strange now...$308 at the emergency vet clinic, they could find nothing in his bloodwork or x-rays to explain why he is in so much pain, dehydrated, not eating.....I'm beside myself with worry and now GUILT. Will this pass, or have I killed my baby?!?!?!
Robyn in Wichita
Posted by Robyn Garrison  in  Wichita, KS  on  Thu Mar 29, 2007  at  01:09 PM
My boyfriend has a 6 yr. old Japanese Akeda, and it has been having skin problems since they have moved(about a year). The house has wood floors, and never having wood floors prior, the swiffer was a new product to the dog. she likes to lay funny on her stomach with her legs spread, and the exposed(let furry)parts of her underside is what has been affected most.... they have spent alot of time taking her to the vets, and only getting suggestions of fleas, hotspots, allergies, so on, and nothing has takien it away.
I took the concern to a homeopath/naturealist practitioner. Describing the scaly skin that had blackened from what used to be pink. She thought first of parasites, but knew that discolouration has smething to do with the liver disfunctioning.
I just asked her what she used for cleaning the floor, and she uses swiffer wetjet. remebering the so called 'romour' e-mail. I decided to search, and as i am hearing the same thing from articles calling it a hoax... i am not convinced... to me, saying that there is not enough to harm it... is like saying one peanut is not enough to harm someone with peanut allergies. Everyone, and everythings bodies react differently to whatever we expose them to. If there are this many people able to link the introductino of the swiffer wetjet, and there pets health, especcially the re-occuring liver failure claims, there has to be some truth in it.

And in responce to someones commment about 'do you thing the govn't would allow it, if it had those things'... yes... why is there msg in our foods, why is there an allowable puss percentage in milk, why do we use aspertame as a sweetener?
Posted by Tanya  in  Ontario  on  Thu Mar 29, 2007  at  09:03 PM
Todd has made a lot of people happy - myself included. I can't believe the whole compartment was missing and I didn't even notice LOL!!!!!! Exactly where you said it would be too - you are a genius

Thanks Todd!!!!
Posted by Kathleen  in  Southern California  on  Sun Apr 15, 2007  at  05:59 PM
i bought 2 swiffer wet jet's in less than a year your product is not strong enough and it cost to much to go threw every 5 to 6 months. it sucks. what will you do to enforce the handle and get my customer satisfaction. joanne lemire
Posted by joanne lemire  on  Wed Apr 25, 2007  at  08:47 AM
Nothing, because this is the Museum of Hoaxes, which isn't affiliated with Swiffer in any way.
Posted by Boo  in  The Land of the Haggii...  on  Wed Apr 25, 2007  at  07:41 PM
Hi Everyone,

Think god for this web site. If it haden't been for this site I would never have located by battery compartment in the bottom of my closet. Glad to know I'm not the only idiot out there.

Thanks
Posted by Lou Wall  on  Sat Jul 21, 2007  at  09:58 AM
After using Swiffer Floor cleaning sheets, have discovered our 4 year old (indoor) cat, after numerous vet tests, has a problem with his liver and they diagnose "some kind of poison" was ingested. He is not eating and is wasting away despite antibiotics from the vet. Illness came on about 36-48 hours after floor cleaning, wjhich, of course, cats walk across wet floors. At first, he was just lethargic the next day, then sitting hunched but not vomiting...now although his disposition seems better and not such a howl cry, he is not eating or drinking and for a cat that wwas extremely vivacious, he is very docile and seems to be just "waiting" this out. We also have a 4 month old CHILD so I was PARTICULARLY appreciative to receive the email! I don't believe it is a "hoax" although the company would like to promote such in order to continue to sell their poisonous-should-be-banned product. Will be reviewing all cleaning products and reverting back to vinegar/water.
Posted by Nancy  on  Wed Jul 25, 2007  at  08:04 AM
I am not familiar with this site, but I googled "swiffer battery replacement" and it directed me here. I thought the response from Todd was sarcastic.....if you were dumb enough to not be able to change the batteries, it must just not be there. But I kept reading all the positive responses, and finally went to the laundry room where swiffer lives....lo and behold, there it was. I really didn't think anything was missing! My dd and I had worked for days trying to figure out how to take the thing apart and replace the batteries! I had just forced the tab off, and broke it when I resorted to the internet. Fortunately I am able to tape the thing back together.
Poor design.
Posted by Tricia  in  nc  on  Sat Jul 28, 2007  at  04:06 PM
HAIL TO TOD!!!!!!!!!!!! Right on the closet floor like you said!!! Thank you Tod! I'm glad I'm not the only one that had this problem!!
Posted by Peg  on  Sat Aug 04, 2007  at  09:44 AM
What does the battery compartment look like?
Posted by sara  in  little rock  on  Sat Aug 04, 2007  at  10:28 AM
I just purcahsed this wet mopstarter kit. With this came this almost toxic smelling cleaner. All I did was take it out of the plastic bag. Immediately it mad my throat uncomfortable. I love the idea of the wet vac. I think though the cleaner is a chemical poison. I hahe fibromyalgia. The effects of these cleaning products can flair it up. I have used natural cleaning products for years that clean very well. Why on earth would they use something that smells like chemicals. Lots of them. Did someone say that you could use vice grips to remove the cap? Can you then replace it with your own cleaner? I love the concept not that cleaner. I have never smelled something that just smells dangerous.
Posted by Mona  on  Sun Sep 02, 2007  at  02:56 PM
Someone also said that the cleaner is sticky and streaks. I have a natural hardwood floor that I have just used water on. I think I will take this back for a full refund. Does this company think that comsumers are satified with this leathal cleaning fluid that doesn't even work.
Posted by Mona  on  Sun Sep 02, 2007  at  03:01 PM
Comments: Page 1 of 5 pages  1 2 3 >  Last ›

Note: Comments by non-members are all checked by a moderator before appearing on the site. This may take a while. If you're not a spammer, you can join here.




Smileys