How to Make a Fabric String Mop Head
Recycle old socks, T-shirts and sweatshirts too damaged to repair by making them into fabric string mop heads for your mop. This simple solution can save you money every year because instead of buying new mop heads you can just make your own. You can wash these mop heads in a washing machine and use them over and over again. When the mop heads get old, go searching through your closet and fire up the sewing machine to make more. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Old socks, T-shirts or sweatshirts
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Sewing machine with thread
- Mop handle dowel
- Large rubber bands
Instructions
-
-
1
Wash old socks, T-shirts or sweatshirts in the washing machine to remove all dyes that could stain your floor. Use scissors to cut the old socks, T-shirts or sweatshirts into 24 or more 1 foot long by 1 inch wide strips.
-
2
Lay the strips side by side so the tops all line up. Sew across the tops of the strips about 4 inches down from the tops. Sew four more stitches across the strips from the 4-inch stitch up to the tops of the strips. This will make sure the strips hold together after being washed in the washing machine.
-
-
3
Wrap the sewed end of the strips around the bottom of the mop handle dowel. Keep wrapping until all the strips are around the dowel.
-
4
Secure the strips to the dowel with large rubber bands. Wrap large rubber bands 4 inches down from the top of the strips. Keep wrapping the rubber bands around the strips until they are tightly against the dowel.
-
5
Use the mop as needed. Hang the mop up to dry or unwrap the connected strips from the dowel and throw into the washing machine to clean.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Used cotton or fleece old clothes to make the strips for the best absorbency.
If your mop handle has a screw end or ruff end then saw it off so it does not scratch your floor while you mop.
Fabric string mops hold a lot of water so they can warp wood if used on wood floors.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
