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Upcycling: Re-filling a Swiffer WetJet Bottle

Jake von Slatt — Fri, 11/28/2008 - 11:13

From Wikipedia:

Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products. It is generally a reinvestment in the environment. "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." This process allows for the reduction of waste and use of virgin materials.

The term upcycling was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

It's a term that my photographer friend Libby Bulloff introduced me to and I hope to make "Upcycling:" a regular feature here at The Steampunk Workshop.  If you have a cool hack for "Upcycling:" please send it to me!

We bought this thing in an uncharacteristic flurry of consumerism in preparation for a huge family Thanksgiving dinner.  But you know what?  The damn thing works quite well and is really handy for spot clean-ups which seem to be the only kind of cleanups we ever do these days.

We quickly discovered that the bottles of cleaner were not meant to be re-filled, they have a lock-ring on the cap like some milk bottles, only this ring doesn't break away when you try and twist off the cap.

From Wikipedia:

Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products. It is generally a reinvestment in the environment. "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." This process allows for the reduction of waste and use of virgin materials.

The term upcycling was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

It's a term that my photographer friend Libby Bulloff introduced me to and I hope to make "Upcycling:" a regular feature here at The Steampunk Workshop.  If you have a cool hack for "Upcycling:" send it to me!

We bought this thing in an uncharacteristic flurry of consumerism in preparation for a huge family Thanksgiving dinner.  But you know what?  The damn thing works quite well and is really handy for spot clean-ups which seem to be the only kind of cleanups we ever do these days.

We quickly discovered that the bottles of cleaner were not meant to be re-filled, they have a lock-ring on the cap like some milk bottles, only this ring doesn't break away when you try and twist off the cap.

  • Libby Bulloff
  • Sustainability
  • Upcycling
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Alternate modification

Evilgamer13 — Sun, 12/07/2008 - 21:19

Given that there is a flimsy little gasket under the cap why not poke a hole in the base (top) of the bottle and use one of those plastic plugs thus avoiding the need to fiddle with the gasket to failure.

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Or better yet, instead of a

DiscoPanda — Tue, 12/09/2008 - 09:57

Or better yet, instead of a hole and a plug, cut the top off a milk jug or a coke bottle, cut a matching hole in the up-end of the Swiffer bottle, and use 2-part plastic-weld to attach the screw-top to the swiffer bottle where the hole is. Then just unscrew the new lid to refill. :-)

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if you don't have the means to weld plastic

kyrielslight — Sat, 07/31/2010 - 23:12

Do you think this modification could be done successfully with a hot glue gun?

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Where are you going to get

celeron — Sat, 11/29/2008 - 11:43

Where are you going to get your refills?

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An excellent question!  Stay

Jake von Slatt — Sat, 11/29/2008 - 22:12

An excellent question!  Stay tuned!

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Nice!

Dessgeega — Sat, 11/29/2008 - 02:34

I can't stop smiling when I see your faces plastered to the swiffer! It cracks me up! Well done though, and I'm really excited about the upcycling column proposed!

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So what do you refill it

GeekLady — Fri, 11/28/2008 - 17:31

So what do you refill it with?

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Vinegar and water for

Jake von Slatt — Sat, 11/29/2008 - 09:54

Vinegar and water for cleaning a Pergo kitchen floor in our case.

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