Swiffer Wetjet Bottle Refill

My whole house has hardwood floors and ceramic tile, so my Swiffer Wetjet sees a lot more action than my vacuum.  Unfortunately, those refill bottles are Expensive!  I'd tried removing the cap in the past, but with little luck.  Turns out all I needed was some instruction on how to do it.  So, with a little help from Google, I found a way to reuse the solution bottles with a home made solution. First, removing the cap:

The Supplies:
Empty Swiffer Wetjet cleaning solution bottle(s)
A pot (optional)
Water
Something you can use to get a good grip on the cap
Nail clippers, and Exacto knife, or scissors

The Process:
You can put some water in a pot and boil it, then put the Swiffer bottle lid down into the water for a minute or two, as outlined here, or you can try just running it under hot water from your tap for a couple minutes.  I ran it under the tap and it worked just fine.

Once the plastic has gotten soft and a bit more pliable, use your glove/gripper and give it a good twist.  There will be some resistance, but then the lid should pop off.

Inside the lid there are little phalanges that lock the lid onto the bottle.  Simply use your clippers, knife, or scissors to trim these.  It does not need to be perfect.

You now have a Swiffer cleaning solution bottle that you can refill with your own floor cleaning solution.  You can use whatever cleaner you like (Pine-sol, etc).  Here is what I made:


Swiffer Wetjet Cleaning Solution Refill

The Supplies:
Empty Swiffer Wetjet cleaning solution bottle(s)
Water
White Vinegar
Murphy Oil Soap
Pitcher
Funnel (optional)

The Process:
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup Murphy Oil Soap into a gallon of warm water in your pitcher.  Stir well.  If you have one, use your funnel to help pour the solution into your Swiffer bottle(s), otherwise just pour as carefully as you can.  Twist the cap back on, load it into your Swiffer Wetjet, and you're all set to go!  Excess can be stored in an old jar or bottle until needed.

The Results:
This cleaning solution works at least as well on my floors as the Swiffer solution did (and I think it works even better), and it smells Much better!  I'll never buy those refill bottles again!