Swiffer Hacks – Never Buy Refills Again
Like millions of other Americans, my husband and I own a Swiffer WetJet. We purchased ours four years ago when we moved in together and have since purchased handfuls of single-use Swiffer pads and cleaner refills.
As someone who is regularly trying to find reusable alternatives for disposable products, I was pretty excited when I discovered this Swiffer hack!
Never buy another Swiffer refill – use this trick to refill your Swiffer with non-toxic floor cleaner and mop with reusable cloths. You will save money and protect the environment!
Own a Swiffer Sweeper instead? No problem – I also listed hacks below for reusable dusting pads and mop alternatives.
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How to refill a Swiffer WetJet bottle
The makers of the Swiffer WetJet were clever when developing their design.
The cap of the cleaner reservoir is self locking and not easy to remove by pure force, but because it’s made from plastic, it can be softened in hot water then twisted off.
I loosely followed instructions from this Instructables article to refill my WetJet.
- Soften the cap in very hot water for 1-2 minutes
- Using a towel to add resistance, firmly twist off the cap
- Clip off the locking tabs from inside of the cap with nail clippers or strong, sharp scissors
- Re-fill the container with your own non-toxic DIY floor cleaner
- Replace the cap and re-attach the reservoir to your Swiffer WetJet
How to make your own Swiffer WetJet cleaning solution
Once you remove your Swiffer WetJet reservoir, the next question is what to refill it with.
I like this simple recipe I found from Heart Hook Home:
- 1 part water
- 1 part vinegar
- 2-3 drops of dish soap
What can I use instead of Swiffer WetJet pads?
I have seen hacks where folks attach reusable microfiber cloths to their WetJet using rubber bands.
If you want an alternative that is made specifically for your WetJet, then consider re-usable microfiber swiffer pads that are constructed to fit on your Swiffer WetJet.
Reusable Swiffer Sweeper Pad Alternative
Instead of using disposable sweeper pads, try using a fuzzy sock.
It will grab onto dust just like the sweeper pads do but you can toss the sock into the wash once you’re finished and use it again the next time you want to dust your floors.
Another option is to use a microfiber cloth made for dusting and attach it the same way you would attach a sweeper pad.
How to use a Swiffer Sweeper as a mop
If you have a Swiffer Sweeper, there is absolutely no need to buy a WetJet or wet mopping pads!
Instead, fill a spray bottle with floor cleaner solution (1 part water, 1 part vinegar, 2-3 drops of dish soap) and spray the area of floor that you want to mop.
Attach a microfiber cloth to the sweeper the same way you would attach the sweeper pads and push your Swiffer over the wet area of floor.
Repeat until you have cleaned the rest of the room!
What is the most eco-friendly Swiffer option?
If you are currently in the market for a Swiffer, I would recommend the sweeper because it is so easy to attach microfiber cloths that you already own (no need to buy special microfiber sleeves like you do for the WetJet).
The design is simpler than the WetJet and requires less plastic to produce (no plastic liquid reservoir).
Purchase the sweeper without the pads and you can reuse it with microfiber cloths for years!
With that said, the MOST eco friendly Swiffer alternative is a Cuban mop.
The Cuban mop is an inexpensive mopping tool more or less made from 2 large wooden dowels fastened together in a T-shape.
Because the entire mop is made from wood, it’s compostable! Use it by wrapping the base of the “T” with a wet cleaning towel and mop your floor just like you would with a Swiffer.
The reason I would like to use a non-disposable pad for my swiffer is to avoid microfibres, yet you are recommending a microfibre cloth. How can you call this green cleaning if you are releasing tiny bits of plastic into the environment?
Hi Melissa! No need to use a microfiber cloth with your flat mop – you can always use a cotton towel or rag to get the job done just as well (this is often what I use personally!).
@Melissa Holloway Bacon, VanDuck Reusable 100% Cotton Mop Pads that fit Swiffers are on Amazon. They fit around the entire head like a bonnet.
@alyr, yes!!!! I got 3 in a pack I think, washable, i’m sick of this disposable world that we live in, I do my best. I’m going to try the swiffer hack of refilling, if it does not work I have a large 32 ounce bottle that I will mix a mixture of water and Murphy’s oil soap for my floors, I love the smell of Murphy’s oil soap. Swiffer needs to become more ecological and more conscious about the earth.
This worked! I had to use pliers to twist off the cap, after softening it in very warm water.
Hi if using a cuban mop… can yo jus spray floor with homemade spray and use cuban mop to clean? Or does towel have to be wet? Or can it be dry
Good question – either method would work fine!