Swiffer pads are super easy to attach to the Swiffer classic sweep-mop handle device. However, it may not always be clear how exactly to attach the pads based solely on the packet’s instructions. If you need to know how to attach a Swiffer pad, you’ll be glad to learn you’ve come to the right place.
To keep your home sparkling clean by learning how to attach a Swiffer pad to a Swiffer brush, mop, or combo sweep-mop, just follow our carefully curated guide down below. For all other information, or if you have further questions, please see our FAQ section at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to attach a Swiffer pad

- Take a single pad from the Swiffer pad packet and place it on the floor in front of you with the enveloped split side of the Swiffer pad facing up
- Next, open the flaps of the Swiffer pad so that they fold back on themselves
- Take your Swiffer sweep-mop/handle and line the rectangular and rubber head of the Swiffer above the rectangular and open pad
- Lower the head of the Swiffer handle into the open flaps of the Swiffer pad so the green scrubber strip is at the top
- Fold the open flaps of the Swiffer pad back over the head of the Swiffer device
- Lock your Swiffer pad into place by pushing the corners of the pad into the four rubber pad grips at each corner of the sweep-mop head
- Clean to your heart’s content, and when the Swiffer pad is done with, dispose of it in the trash and replace it by following steps 1-6 again
And that’s how you attach a Swiffer pad. If you have any more questions or need more info, see our FAQs below.
FAQs
What is a Swiffer pad?
Swiffer is an American cleaning products brand which produces a wide range of cleaning products, mostly centered around the iconic Swiffer sweep-mop, to assist you in the cleaning of your home and/or place of work. Swiffer pads are what are needed to use the Swiffer sweep-mop.
Swiffer pads are disposable wet and dry pads to be used on the end of the sweep-mop handle you bought from Swiffer. These pads are specially designed for use with the sweep-mop, and so also specially designed to clean and remove dirt and grime from hard-to-reach and hard-to-clean home environments.
Swiffer pads look like rectangular double-sided wipes with one side slit lengthwise down the middle. This is the side the Swiffer sweep-mop head attachment slides into.
What do you do with Swiffer pads once you’re finished with them?
Swiffer pads are designed to be throwaway, disposable products. Thus, once you’ve used them to clean your home and are satisfied that you’ve got as much use out of one pad as you’re going to get (before it becomes too dirty to use without it being counterproductive), you simply remove the Swiffer pad and throw it in the trash.
Unfortunately, Swiffer pads are non-recyclable, meaning that all of the pads you throw in the trash will end up in landfill, or worse, in the seas. To prevent this from happening, it may be time to consider switching your cleaning equipment back to a traditional, far less wasteful, mop, bucket, dustpan and brush.
What can Swiffer pads be used to clean?
Swiffer pads are intended for use with the Swiffer sweep-mop, and thus can be used to clean anything which a sweeper (brush) or mop can be used to clean. Primarily, Swiffer pads are useful for the cleaning of non-carpeted floors around the home, however they may also be employed to clean tiled surfaces and walls, work surfaces, and even other pieces of furniture which might benefit from a good dust and wipe.
Is Swiffer a trustworthy cleaning brand?
Swiffer has been in operation since 1999, meaning that the company has over two decades of experience in producing and selling cleaning products. They are also an American brand, which may or may not influence your opinions as to the quality of their products. If you’re unsure whether to go ahead and buy Swiffer products, we’re afraid to say that we’re here only to instruct in how to attach Swiffer pads. We cannot reliably comment on whether Swiffer is trustworthy and quality or not.
What we can say is that the company operates on a “razor-and-blades” business model, meaning that they sell you the initial mop handle, but that you then need to continuously buy new pads to go with the handle. Any such business model is reliant on you spending money on a regular basis, and as such may become an expensive investment overtime. Whereas, you could buy a regular mop and bucket and use cheap soapy water to affect much the same degree of cleanliness around the home.