Swiffer Sweeper vs. Swiffer WetJet: Which Is Better?

The Swiffer Sweeper and Swiffer WetJet are two of the most popular mopping systems on the market.

Both are convenient, effective, easy to use, and inexpensive.

However, they have several key differences you need to know before deciding which to buy.

In this comparison of the Swiffer Sweeper vs. Swiffer WetJet, you’ll learn how they differ in setup, use, performance, price, and more.

I cover the pros and cons of each system, so you get the complete picture.

So, if you’re thinking about buying a Swiffer but aren’t sure if the Sweeper or WetJet is right for your home, keep reading.

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Use the links below to navigate this comparison:

• Swiffer Sweeper vs. WetJet: Comparison Chart
• What Is Included
• How It Works
• Performance
• Downsides
• Price
• FAQs About the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Swiffer Sweeper or WetJet?

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Swiffer Sweeper vs. WetJet: Comparison Chart

To get an overall idea of what the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet systems can do, refer to this comparison chart: 

	Swiffer Sweeper	Swiffer WetJet
What’s Included	1 mop, 7 dry pads, 3 wet pads	1 mop, 1 bottle of solution, 5 pads, and four AA batteries
How It Works	Attach a disposable pad to the mop base and start cleaning	Install batteries, insert solution, add a mop pad, spray solution, and clean the desired area
Performance	Dry pads effectively lift dust and minor debris. Wet pads are ideal for minor spills and light mopping.	Cleaning solution breaks down sticky messes. No streaks. Can handle more substantial messes than the Sweeper.
Downsides	Mop handle is not sturdy. Not ideal for large spaces or heavy messes. Mop pads detach easily during use.	Too many replacement products required. Solution doesn’t last very long. Need to sweep first; otherwise, you’ll push debris around.

What Is Included

Although Swiffer manufactures both the Sweeper and WetJet, they’re unique cleaning systems that come with their own starter kits and accessories. 

The Swiffer Sweeper Starter Kit comes with the standard mop, four heavy-duty dry cloths, 10 dry sweeping cloths, three heavy-duty wet pads, and two wet mopping pads. The wet pads are soaked in a cleaning solution and ready to use immediately.

For larger homes, Swiffer offers the Sweeper X-Large Kit. The mop head featured in this kit is one and a half times wider than the original.

Additionally, you can purchase Heavy Duty Pet Cloths, which boast over 30 thousand 3-D fibers to trap hair, dirt, and other debris your pets leave behind.

The Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit comes with the mop, a bottle of cleaning solution, five mop pads, and four AA batteries.

If you have wood floors, you’ll want to get the Swiffer WetJet Wood Starter Kit, as the non-wood floor mop can damage hardwood surfaces. The kit is the same as the Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit, except the solution is designed for wood floors, and the pads are a bit softer and gentler.

How It Works

Assembling the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet is easy.

The Sweeper assembly requires attaching the mop head to the pole and handle by snapping each piece together.

Then affix the wet or dry pad onto the mop head by “stuffing” the pad’s edges into the grooves on the top of the mop head.

After you sweep or mop, discard the pad.

Please note that you shouldn’t store the mop with a pad affixed, as the pad will either dry out (if wet) or attract dust in storage (if dry).

The WetJet assembly process requires first sliding out the battery case and inserting the four AA batteries included in the kit.

Then, put the two mop poles together and affix the bottle of cleaning solution to the labeled section on the back of the mop by pushing it down in the direction of the arrows (you’ll hear a “click” when it is in place).

Next, put the mop pad on the floor with the Swiffer logos facing up and press the mop head onto the pad. The bottom of the mop head has small hooks similar to Velcro that will attach to the pad.

To mop, press the spray button on the top of the handle, then run the mop over your floor.

The solution dispensers, located on the left and right of the mop head, spray towards the center, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where you want the cleaner.

You’ll need to replace the spray bottle as it gets low and change the mop pad once it gets dirty. Swiffer designs the cleaning solution bottle so you can’t easily refill it (they want you to keep buying more bottles).

Overall, both kits are well labeled and extremely easy to assemble.

Performance

When it comes to the Swiffer Sweeper’s performance, you have to differentiate between the wet and dry mop pads.

The dry pads are useful for collecting dust, lint, dander, and small debris — you can even use the Swiffer to dust ceilings, walls, and light fixtures (though you should exercise some caution).

The wet pads are great for deep cleaning and polishing. They last for about 300 square feet before they dry out, requiring you to change the pad.

The Swiffer Sweeper is best for flatter surfaces and doesn’t perform well on tile floors since the pads aren’t thick enough to reach the grout lines.

The Swiffer Sweeper is easy to maneuver thanks to its pivoting head, and if you choose the larger 1.5x version, you can cover a larger surface area more quickly.

While the Swiffer Sweeper effectively picks up dust, dirt, and minor spills, the Swiffer WetJet is a tool for deeper cleaning and more substantial messes.

Since you can spray the cleaning solution as you mop, the WetJet makes cleaning larger areas easier — you won’t have to stop to change the pad like with the Swiffer Sweeper.

The dispensers spray the solution about 14 inches in front of the mop head, and 9 inches wide.

This provides decent coverage, but not nearly as much as the WetJet’s biggest competitor in the spray mop category, the Bona Premium Spray Mop, which sprays solution two feet forward and 30 inches wide.

The cleaning solution that comes with the WetJet does a great job of breaking down sticky or hard-to-wipe substances. And you have complete control over how much cleaning solution you apply.  

The WetJet is significantly heavier than the Sweeper, which provides more leverage for stubborn stains but makes it slightly more difficult to maneuver. The WetJet is not designed to clean walls and ceiling like you can with the Swiffer Sweeper.

Overall, both perform well and are highly rated. 

Downsides

As with any cleaning products, the Swiffer WetJet and Sweeper systems come with downsides.

First, neither is environmentally-friendly due to the disposable pads. Both require consumers to purchase refills of pads, cleaning solution, or both.

The WetJet cleaner and Sweeper wet pads have a harsh odor. Keep kids and pets away when you’re cleaning, and make sure the room is well ventilated.

When it comes to the Swiffer Sweeper, there have been complaints that the mop handle is flimsy. Use caution when using it. It’s a light clean-up tool, so don’t put undue pressure on it by attacking heavy messes that it isn’t designed for.

The pads are also known to come detached during use, and the pads are prone to drying out and quickly becoming dirty.

The Sweeper seems budget-friendly at first, but because you’ll continually have to buy refills, the costs can quickly add up. 

The WetJet isn’t without its flaws.

You’ll need to replace pads and batteries, as well as the cleaning solution. Furthermore, many customers complain that the WetJet doesn’t fit under furniture as easily as the Sweeper.

Another common complaint is that the spray bottle is too small and runs out of liquid quickly. Others complain that the solution leaks or the sprayers dispense the solution unevenly.

Finally, the WetJet’s performance suffers if the floor hasn’t been swept beforehand — rather than cleaning the debris, it merely pushes the mess around.

Price

If you compare the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet starter kits, the WetJet costs a bit more, but both are relatively inexpensive.

Use the links below to compare the current prices of both starter kits:

• Swiffer Sweeper on Amazon
• Swiffer WetJet on Amazon

The real expense with these products comes with the replacement items.

In both cases, you’ll need to buy replacement pads. Compounding it, with the WetJet, you’ll also need to buy a replacement cleaning solution.

Swiffer designs the WetJet bottles so that they can’t be refilled — you need to keep buying Swiffer solutions. However, many folks on YouTube have figured out how to remove the bottle caps, refill the bottles, and re-attach the caps without leaks.

Although the cleaning solution isn’t expensive, refilling the bottle will save you money long term.

Another way to save money is to buy Swiffer-compatible washable microfiber cleaning pads. For example, this pack available on Amazon is compatible with the WetJet.

FAQs About the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about these two Swiffer systems.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Swiffer Sweeper or Swiffer WetJet?

Now that you understand the pros and cons of the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet, you can now decide which system is best for your needs.

To recap, the main differences are:

• The Swiffer Sweeper is easier to maneuver because of its simple, lightweight design. But both systems are straightforward to assemble and use.
• The WetJet is better suited for cleaning larger messes, such as spilled drinks or sticky substances, whereas the Sweeper is more useful for everyday cleaning, dusting, and light messes.
• The WetJet is roughly 2x the price of the Swiffer Sweeper and requires batteries and cleaning fluid refills in addition to replacement pads.

To sum it all up, if you need a product that can replace the bucket-and-mop systems of the past, the WetJet is your best bet. If you want an easy-to-use tool for daily cleaning akin to a broom or smaller sponge-mop, the Sweeper will do the trick. Ultimately, it can be helpful to have both in your home.

You can read more reviews and check out both products on Amazon at the links below:

• Swiffer Sweeper on Amazon
• Swiffer WetJet on Amazon