Swiffer Wet Jet - Vinegar refill

[arminnie]

I have a Swiffer Wet Jet that I really like. I ran out of the solution pretty quickly so I used a small funnel and refilled the container with vinegar and water. I think it works even better with the vinegar and is MUCH cheaper.

 

[pearlieq]

Can you explain exactly how you refilled the bottle? I've been wanting to try something like that for a while now, but I wasn't sure how.

Thanks!

 

[arminnie]

I pulled off the bottle - kind of hard but you have to do this even if you are just replacing it with a new one.

I thought maybe I could get the cap off - but it seemed pretty stuck. When you put the bottle on the Wet Jet it punctures a small hole in the top. I used a small funnel and pushed it down into this hole in the top of the bottle. Because my funnel was small I had to fill it (and let it drip in) about 5-6 times. A bigger funnel (if it would fit in the hole) would probably be better. I did kind of squeeze the funnel on the sides to make it go in faster.

I used a combo of white vinegar and water - more water than vinegar. Then I just pushed the bottle back on the Wet Jet and was in business. The room smelled like vinegar for a few minutes but that didn't bother me. The odor did not last long at all.

Vinegar is a great cleaner - much safer than trying to use a bleach solution, and it also sanitizes. Heloise goes on and on about the virtues of vinegar.

 

[pearlieq]

Thanks! I'll have to give it a shot!

By the way, I found the coolest things at WalMart last week. They're basically reusable pads for your floor cleaners. They're made by Orange Glo, but they fit on the Swiffer Wet Jet just fine. They're a microfiber that you can use wet or dry. When you're done you just toss them in the washer and then let them air dry.

They were $5 each--not bad compared to the disposable pads!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to give this a try. I'd been trying to figure out a way to refill the bottles.

I read somewhere that to get rid of odors (specifically cigarette smoke) you should simmer vinegar and water on the stove or put a bowl of it out on the counter, which works more slowly.

 

[arminnie]

By the way, I found the coolest things at WalMart last week. They're basically reusable pads for your floor cleaners. They're made by Orange Glo, but they fit on the Swiffer Wet Jet just fine. They're a microfiber that you can use wet or dry. When you're done you just toss them in the washer and then let them air dry.

They were $5 each--not bad compared to the disposable pads!

I'll look for those. I really don't like to use "disposables". Just seems wrong to throw something away after a single use (of course I try to use my disposable pads more than once anyway.)

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for the tip! I am so frustrated with mine because the cleaning solution keeps evaporating on me Maybe I should stop storing the wet jet in the laundry room but I have no where else to put it I will definitely try the vinegar idea

 

[justplaingoofy]

Sounds great

Just make sure you are not using Vinegar on hardwood floors. It will clean it well, but will dull it....

 

[sukhakuli]

I use vinegar for all of my cleaning. It's safe, it doesn't give me a headache from the chemical smell and it's cheap. If the smell of vinegar bothers you, you can put lavendar or orange essential oils in it.

 

[KJMAX1]

OK I tried this...Didnt have a small enough funnel so I used a Turkey infusor. I knew that would come in handy for something!! Anyway, did anyone notice this left wet marks on the floor?? I am wondering if the Swiffer has some drying agent in it?? My house smelled clean once the salad smell was gone, but I still had streaks...BTW, we have the cherry wood looking ones...

Ideas?

 

[tinatark]

where do you get essential oils? I've been using vinegar and water in my scooba floor cleaner - not crazy about the scent!

 

[sukhakuli]

I get them at an organic store, like Whole Foods or Wild Oats. You can get lavender in Walmart sometimes with the vitamins. Walmart usually has Tea Tree oil, which is antifungal, andtibacterial, and so on, but it has a smell you may need to get used to.

I've never had streaks with vinegar. I use it on my windows and mirrors and it works better than Windex. What was your water/vinegar ratio? Are you using them on hardwood floors? Vinegar is a mild acid and it will strip wood. Hope that helps.

 

[Sammy]

I got tired of paying for new bottles of cleaner too. I may have to try the refill option, but what I have been doing is mixing **** N Span with water in a spray bottle, then just spraying on the floor myself. If I can get the solution into the Swiffer bottle, it would be so much easier! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[my3kids]

I read somewhere that to get rid of odors (specifically cigarette smoke) you should simmer vinegar and water on the stove or put a bowl of it out on the counter, which works more slowly.

If you are cooking a stew or soup or anything with onions that smells the next day, keep a bowl of vinegar on the counter beside your stove during the cooking. It really does work, although I have no idea how or why!

 

[puggymom]

I have used Vinegar and water for my wood floors for a while now. Recently I had service master in to clean my carpet and tile floors. He told me I should use the vinegar and water for my tile too. He was right, my tile floors still look great even with the pugs. And vinegar is so cheap, no fancy, expensive cleaning products needed.

 

[becca011906]

I used a wrench of my dh's to get the cap off the swifter bottel once you unscrew it once it will come off with ease the next few times!!! i used vinagar and TTO and water as well. works wonders~

 

[justplaingoofy]

I have used Vinegar and water for my wood floors for a while now. Recently I had service master in to clean my carpet and tile floors. He told me I should use the vinegar and water for my tile too. He was right, my tile floors still look great even with the pugs. And vinegar is so cheap, no fancy, expensive cleaning products needed.

The vinegar will dull your finish on the wood floors.

 

[mjbaby]

A weak concentration of vinegar should be good (I always use white vinegar, 5%- which is pretty weak as it is, but then dilute it even more). Certainly not more destructive than anything with bleach in it!

Plus, adding tea tree oil - although a PP is right, you need to get used to the smell - will add to the disinfecting properties, and you only need a drop or two. I usually use a few tablespoons of vinegar in six or more cups of water, along with just a couple drops of both tea tree and lavender oils. Shaken or stirred well, this makes a wonderful all-purpose cleaner.

And, now, apropos of nothing, my son would like me to add this:

 

[arminnie]

My house has a LOT of tile (den, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, large entryway, breakfast area) so that's where I am using the Wet Jet. I didn't have a problem with streaks on my beige tile. The wet jet does make cleaning so much easier than using a mop. I do it more often (and better) with the Wet Jet.

 

[ticktock]

Totally OT - I had a hardwood floor refinisher tell me that after I have my antique hardwood floors refinished I should ONLY use vinegar and water on them. This way when they get a little scratched up the refinisher (or I) can just do a light sand and a refresher coat of polyurethane instead of having to sand it all the way down.

He said anything other than vinegar and water will leave a residue that will get into the cracks of the floor (this is for real wood floors, not Pergo etc.). If you only do a light sand and refresher coat of finish whatever product residue is in the cracks and crevices will make the new finish bubble.

Stripping floors down to the wood is a PITA. This wil be a lifesaver, even if it dulls the finish. I don't like a shiny finish on oak or mahogany anyway. My living and dining rooms where finished with a gloss coat before we moved in. I've been after dh for years to refinish them in a matte finish.