Dish Mop Hack - Baby Toy (made Safer)

Babies of a certain age seem to like this as a toy to wave about. You can buy a Dish Mop for £2 or so, on ebay. The only downside is that they come with a horrible metal clip holding the mop to the top. So in this instructable I'll tell you how to make that a bit more baby safe.

Step 1: You Will Need

Cheap Dish mop

Small cable tie (what else?!)

Pliers

Flat head screwdriver

Drill with a 3mm bit

Sandpaper or File

Step 2: Get That Horrible Metal Clip Off

Here you see the metal clip. You can lever it open with a flat head screwdriver, perhaps use your pliers to help.

Once you have opened the clip, you can take out half of the mop top and put it to the side. Then get that clip off completely and put the other half of the mop head elsewhere.

Step 3 - Drill Out the Handle and Replace the Metal Clip With the Cable Tie

I usually drill out the holes on the wooden handle to allow the cable tie to fit through (this time I didn't need to since the holes were big enough).

Put the cable tie in as shown, trapping first one half of the mop, and then the other (see picture).

Step 4: Tighten Cable Tie, Trim and Sand It Smooth

Use the pliers to get the cable tie good and tight. Then trim it off. Run your finger over the bit of the plastic tie you just cut. Normally it's a bit pointy and slightly sharp. Remembering this is for a baby! File that down a bit with a file or sand paper.

Now you're done. You have a baby toy. Let me know how your got on with it!