You have a Swiffer Wet jet. The bottle of cleaning solution it came with is now empty and you want to fill it with your own cleaning solution. You go to unscrew the cap to refill it and realize ... it doesn't come off. Yup. Those Swiffer people are sneaky. Here's how you can be sneakier.
I have nothing against beer, I just don't want to wash my floor with it. And for some reason every time I used my Swiffer Wet jet on my floor (no this isn't a sponsored post) I could smell beer wafting up from my checkerboard kitchen tiles. Not such a bad thing but in a kitchen it meant I was constantly craving beer battered fish and chips.
At first I thought my beer loving mother Betty was sneaking in during the night to have one of her famous keggers, but as it turned out it was just the smell of the Swiffer Wet jet cleaning solution.
I love my Wet jet for doing quick cleanings of my floor but I'd been meaning to figure out a way to refill the container because a) I didn't like the smell and b) my VCT tile floor needs a very specific type of cleaner to keep it looking good. Also it angers me to no end that they purposely package the solution in a bottle that isn't refillable so you constantly have to buy new plastic bottles of cleaning solution.
My VCT tile floor needs a neutral PH floor cleaner and I need a lemony smelling floor cleaner. It just gives a cleaner scent than the Swiffer cleaner which smells like Oktoberfest farts.
My first thought was to try to pry the cap off of the bottle and refill it that way but they're done a really good job of making that impossible without breaking something. Either your hand or the bottle.
So I gave up.
It wasn't that important and I had other more important things to do like take care of my compulsion to cook bratwurst.
Then about a month ago it hit me that I was going about it backwards. I didn't need to pry off Swiffer's opening, I needed to make a new one.
And if you're wanting to make your Swiffer Wet jet container reusable it's all you have to do too.
Do Your Own Swiffer Wet Jet Refills
- Grab a cork and a big drill bit.
2. Drill a hole in the top of the Swiffer container. It's easiest to do this with the bottle still in the Swiffer because it holds it still.
3. Little bits will have fallen into the container. Remove the Swiffer container and shake it until all the plastic bits fall out.
If you use a cleaner that needs to be mixed with water, write on the bottle how much cleaner you need to add to the filled container. For me it's 4 teaspoons of cleaner to 1.4 litres of water (the amount the Swiffer container holds)
4. Fill the container with your cleaner and water. You might find it helpful to use a funnel. You might not. The GREATEST thing about this whole refilling tip is that when you mix your cleaner you can use HOT water to clean your floor.
5. Plug the hole with your cork or stopper.
5. Done!
HOW TO REFILL A SWIFFER WET JET.
Materials
- Cork or another type of plug
Tools
- Drill
- Drill Bit
Instructions
- Find a cork or plastic plug that you can use as a stopper in a hole.
- Drill a hole into the top of the Swiffer bottle that's the size of your plug.
- Remove the bits of plastic that fall into the container after drilling.
- Fill the Swiffer Wet jet container with your favourite floor cleaner.
- Plug the hole with your cork or stopper.
- Done! You now have a refillable Swiffer Wet Jet.
Notes
The size of hole you drill doesn't matter, it just needs to be big enough to pour cleaning solution and water into and you need to have a cork that will fit into it tightly.
If your cork doesn't fit tightly you can make it bigger by soaking it in hot water. An hour might be long enough, or 12 hours depending on how much bigger you need the cork to be.
If your cork is too big, you can shave it down with a knife.
Here's another Swiffer tip if you don't know it already.
Instead of buying their disposable cleaning pad, use a microfibre cloth. It will velcro right on the bottom just like the original Swiffer pad but it does a better job of cleaning and you can just toss them in the washing machine to reuse over and over.
ALSO I'm terribly worried you don't know that you can make your own diy foaming hand soap. You can. Here's how to do it. I mean if you're the kind of person who's into refilling your Swiffer bottles, chances are you're gonna want to know how to make your own fluffy, foamy soap.
By creating your own refillable bottle you're saving the environment, money and your nose from those Oktoberfest beer smells which you've replaced with the sunshiny scent of lemons.
Now if you'll excuse me I have a really strong urge to make a lemon curd.
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Thank you so much!!! I was wondering how to take the sealed end off - never thought about doing it your way. And yes - using hot water is also brilliant. Thanks so much!! I've gotten rid of almost all plastic from my house, this swiffer container was going to drive me nuts continuing to buy them. Thanks so much!!!
You're welcome! Happy cleaning. :) ~ karen!
Hey Karen,
This has made me nuts ever since I discovered I liked the Wetjet for quick cleanups (when my robot is tired). BUT I stopped using it when I realized that I could not refill the bottle with my own preferred cleaning solution.
This tip is genius, so thanks!!
Hey Heather. You're welcome! ~ karen
Thank you for this blog! I wanted to buy a Swiffer mop, but I refuse to use any of their cleaning solutions. A friend almost killed her expensive service dog because of the residue left on the floor. Much rather use eco safe products, which are pet & baby friendly.
Thank you for the boiling water tip. I don’t own a drill so I am going to try that.
I didn't read all of the comments but saw where one commenter said to hold the lid in boiling water for 15 seconds. This is what I did when I first got my Wetjet. What she didn't mention is that once you get the lid off (the boiling water softens it enough to be able to unscrew and when it cools, it hardens back up), take a razor blade and "shave" off the teeth from inside the cap that was preventing you from taking it off in the first place. Then you will have a refillable Wetjet bottle and you will never have to use the boiling water trick on it again because it will unscrew easy peasy from now on.
Just discovered your site and I love it so much!
Omg just found you. and it's like reading a blog I wrote my self. Much love
Rachel
Well I've been sitting right here waiting for you. Finally you've arrived!~ karen
You're a genius. Just bought my first ever Swiffer. I also got a Bona floor cleaner. It doesn't require batteries which is more eco friendly. It also has microfiber dust and mop cloths that are washable. I like your idea for a microfiber washcloth though. Both have a refill the bottle problem which you simply solved.
Happy to help. ~ karen!
Brilliant!!! Thank you.
You're welcome! ~ karen
Brilliant, but buying a Vileda is even easier!
I am equally perplexed by Betty Wetty's comment, but I scrolled rather rapidly past it (so I didn't read the rest of the comments) - only to make my own comment that......your socks are lovely (I hope no one beat me to it) ;), & I love the microfiber reusable cloth. But mostly.....your socks are lovely.
You always share the best hacks! BTW, I thought of you earlier today when I was refilling my foaming shower soap :D I've saved a ton with that hack! Thank you!!
Brilliant! Thanks.
Are we supposed to be mopping during Covid? I didn't think that was on the essential list :)) As always, thanks for the great tip Karen.
I like your idea. I make my own swiffer solution as well. Another way to refill is to take and boil some water in a pot and take the swiffer bottle and hold lid in for about 20 seconds, sometimes a bit longer. Take out and unscrew top.
I am definitely going to use the cloth idea for it. Thanks.
Hi Karen,
Your floor looks great without residue; what is the cleaning solution that you mix up?
I use ZEP neutral pH floor cleaner for VCT tile. And wax it with a ZEP floor waxer a couple of times a year as well. ~ karen!
OMFG I’m going to try this with my shark steam mop. It has the same stupid proprietary bottle situation. I cannot believe I hadn’t had the good sense to just drill a hole in it,
Thank you!!
#voidingthewrrranty #notgivingaf
Yes, I had the same feeling when the idea popped into my head. Like WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! Lol. And you're welcome! ~ karen
It’s actually better and easier if you hold it upside down get a pot of hot burning water. Hold it for about 15 to 20 seconds until it starts bubbling out the lid pull it out, remove the lid carefully because it’s hot, and you’re good to go. You have to do this every time you need it but then you don’t risk it spilling on the floor if you drop it with a drilled hole.
Thank you! This worked perfectly for me. I do not like the smell of the pre-mixed cleaners that are available for the Swiffer Wet Jet and prefer a Murphy’s oil soap and hot water mix.
Excellent! ~ karen