How to Refill Swiffer Wetjet Bottle, My Easy DIY Process

If you use your Swiffer Wetjet a lot, you probably go through bottles of cleaning solution pretty fast. I use my Wetjet all the time for my hardwood and tile floors, and I know that the bottles of solution don’t last forever.

If you’re trying to save money, or you want to put your own custom cleaning solution in your Swiffer Wetjet, you might be wondering whether Swiffer Wetjet bottles are refillable.

Although Swiffer doesn’t officially support refilling your cleaning solution bottle, there’s an easy DIY process that I use to refill my Swiffer Wetjet with my own cleaning solution in about 5 minutes and for just a few cents per refill.

If you just want to buy Swiffer refills, you can get those on Amazon.

Here’s my step-by-step process. You can also watch the process in this video that I made, showing each step.

Remove the Lid from an Empty Solution Bottle

Your first step towards refilling a Swiffer solution bottle is obtaining an empty bottle. The easiest way to do this is to use up a full bottle of the solution. When it’s empty, press the button to eject it from your Swiffer.

Take a look at the top of the bottle. You’ll notice that it has a lid, but the lid is designed so that it’s nearly impossible to unscrew by hand.

Lid of the Swiffer solution bottle

We need to get that lid off, without damaging it!

Take the bottle to a sink, in case there’s any cleaning solution left in it. Next, grab a pair of pliers or an adjustable wrench, and grip the lid of the container securely. I like to use my Leatherman multitool for this step.

With a firm grip on the lid, carefully rotate it counterclockwise. You might hear a snapping noise, as the tabs that keep the lid on snap. Once that happens, you can easily unscrew the cap by hand.

Use sturdy pliers or a wrench to remove the lid carefully

Make sure not to grip too hard, or you might break the cap itself.

There are other ways to get the lid off, too. Some people like to submerge it in boiling water to loosen it. I think my way is more direct, though.

Add In Your Own Solution

Next, fill up the Swiffer bottle with your own solution, or any other cleaning solution refill. Remember, doing this might void your warranty, since Swiffer only supports their own cleaning solution refills!

In choosing a solution, make sure to pick something that won’t damage your floors, and is thin enough for the Swiffer Wetjet to actually spray.

I like to mix a little Murphy’s Oil Soap with water and use that. It has a pleasant, mild smell and is super cheap.

I like to use Murphy’s Oil Soap to make my own Swiffer solution

Homemade Swiffer Wetjet Solution Recipes

You can also mix up your own solution. Here’s an easy recipe.

Homemade Wetjet Cleaning Solution

  • 1 part water
  • 1 part vinegar
  • A couple drops of a biodegradable dish soap

My Murphy’s Oil Soap recipe

  • Fill the Swiffer Wetjet bottle nearly to the top with water
  • Add in 1-2 tablespoons of Murphy’s Oil Soap, depending on how dirty your floors are

The simplest recipe? Pure water! Yes, you can use pure water in the Swiffer if you want the simplest cleaner imaginable.

Reseal, Replace and Use

Once you’ve made your cleaning solution, just pour it back into your empty Swiffer Wetjet bottle. You can use a funnel for precision if you want.

With your bottle full of cleaning solution, replace the lid. Since you already freed it from the bottle, it should now be easy to simply screw it back in place.

You don’t need to use pliers to replace it–hand tight is totally fine.

Finally, invert the bottle and check for leaks. You might want to give it a shake if you mixed your ingredients right in the bottle. Insert the bottle back into your Wetjet like you normally would, giving it a solid push to seat it back in the device.

Pop the refilled solution bottle back in

Test the solution by pressing the spray button on your Swiffer Wetjet. Solution should spray out the front like it normally would. You might get some suds at first, but they should subside over time.

You’re done! You should now have a working Swiffer using your own refilled solution.

Disclaimer

Remember, you’re doing this at your own risk! Swiffer does not officially support refilling their devices, and your DIY cleaner could potentially damage your Swiffer or floors.

That said, I’ve used my own cleaner in my Swiffer for years with no problems. But as with anything DIY, your mileage may vary!

Other Tips and Ideas

Here are some other ideas for using your DIY Swiffer refill:

Enjoy your DIY Swiffer refill and clean away!


Here is the simplified process broken down for you:

Time needed: 5 minutes

How to Refill a Swiffer Wetjet Bottle at Home

  1. Remove the Lid

    Use a pair of plyers to gently grip the lid of an empty Swiffer Wetjet bottle and turn it counterclockwise. Once it comes loose, you can unscrew it by hand.

  2. Fill With a Cleaning Solution of Your Choice

    Fill your empty Wetjet bottle with a cleaning solution. I recommend using 1-2 tablespoons of Murphys Oil Soap, mixed with enough water to fill the bottle nearly to the top. When you’re done filling the bottle, replace the lid.

  3. Insert the Bottle Into Your Wetjet

    Invert the bottle, give it a gentle shake, and then re-insert it into your Swiffer Wetjet. Keep in mind that refilling bottles isn’t officially supported, so this may impact your warranty. Once the bottle is re-inserted, press the button on your Wetjet, and the solution should flow as normal.

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