How to Remove the Cap on a Swiffer Wet-Jet Cleaner Bottle.

In this, my first instructable, I'll show you how to remove that pesky cap on your swiffer wet-jet bottle that makes it impossible to refill and causes you to buy their overpriced solution. All you'll need is a pair of fingernail/toenail clippers and a pot of boiling watter (and the bottle of course).

Step 1: Removing the Cap

In a small pot, bring just enough water to cover the cap to a boil. Once you've brought it to a boil, place the bottle, cap first, into the water. After about a minute and a half, remove the bottle from the water, and give the cap a good, hard twist. It should pop right off as the boiling water will have softened the plastic cap.

Step 2: Making the Cap PERMANENTLY Removeable.

When you get the cap off, you'll see that it has a number of prongs which cause it to catch on the bottle. With a pair of finger nail clippers, remove these prongs. You could also use an exacto knife, or even a razor blade, but I had a pair of clippers sitting around when I thought about doing this.

Step 3: Refill the Bottle

Now you're ready to refill the bottle with your cleaner of choice. Vinegar and Water, Pine-sol, or anything else you may want to clean your floors with. Place the cap back on the bottle firmly and you're good to go.

Hope this saves you some cash in the long run.

Comments

[JoeM3]

Forget the hot water, just use a pair of ChannelLock [or similar] pliers to twist off the cap. That partially destroys the locking tabs, so just refill and recap.

[BW Duerr]

Thanks for the assistance. I didn't see this before I removed with softening with boiled water, but easily done for 2nd opening. Hoping I'll be able to repeat many times on the same Swiffer bottle. Wish me luck. 😆

[Angel2someone]

I was killing my hands trying to get this cap off. Thank you! This worked like a charm. The only thing I did different is using hot water from my keurig and then a pair of pliers

[BeccaC1969]

Worked just like the instructions. Thank you for the tip!

[aprilbanavage]

Great tip! Thank you. I wasn't strong enough to twist the top off after boiling it so used another's suggestion to use pliers and it worked.

[skaizun]

Why do the prongs inside the cap need to be removed?
Aren't they necessary to keep the cap on the bottle after it is refilled?

[cpd_trigger]

The cap and bottle also have regular threading like most bottle caps. The prongs are not necessary for the cap to stay on, only to keep it from being twisted off.

[Mazikeen Monster]

My cleaning solution for everything except hardwoods and granite: in a large mason jar pour 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup isopropyl alcohol, and a few drops of blue Dawn. Then you can either add the essential oil of your choice, or citrus peels. If you add citrus peels, let the solution sit in the fridge for 24 hours to absorb the fragrance, and minimize the vinegar odor.

[HJFrisbie]

A channel lock wrench also works really well to remove the cap. A good adjustable wrench would probably work as well, as long as it locks. Now to make the solution, I'm thinking I want to do bleach (as grandma would say..."if it don't smell like bleach it ain't clean")

[emjoesmom]

Bleach is so bad for you, though!!! I use some awesome stuff called tough and tender and also Sol-u-mel. Smells great and cleans awesome!

[emjoesmom]

This is fabulous! Can't wait to do it on mine so I can use my sol-u-mel and my tough and tender to get my floors clean!!!

[shaunadx3]

Refilled bottle but nothing is coming out. What am I doing wrong?

[Boobear51]

Soaked lid in boiling water for 2 mins. Used pliers to unscrew, no luck. I guess I'll have to buy a new bottle.

[dondonoldc]

Thanks, is there a way to remove it while it's full of the swiffer liquid? I don't have a swiffer mop but want to use it elsewhere

[IrinaYaz]

Hi! Thanks so much for this! Everything worked great until I inserted the bottle back and I’m not sure what wrong, but the new solution is just coming out from somewhere. Any ideas?? Thank you!!

[Pookalooky]

You sweet sweet beautiful angel you.....😭❤🙏🏻

[aslblue42]

This is brilliant! I almost threw away the last bottle and was like let me try.... then searched online and found this. Worked perfectly and now I can make my own safe cleaner!

[acfrancobecerra]

I was hoping someone had an answer for this! Thanks it worked! I’m going to be saving some $$$!!

[growithme7]

I purchased the Swiffer wet jet kit hoping that I could refill the bottle with my own (cheaper and better) solution. Of course the company would make the bottle un-openable so they could get people to continue buying more of their expensive refill bottles. I’m so glad I found your tutorial! I used some nail clippers and it worked perfectly! Thanks! 😊👍 #winning

[berylpa]

Great job! We had to use a pliers, but with that, it came off easily after heating. Thank you for saving everyone $ and helping us to recycle. I know why Swiffer locks it, but does greed have to run the world?