Easy Ways to Refill Automatic Mop Bottles

Many new and innovative products have made cleaning an absolute breeze. One tool that I particularly like is an automatic mop that uses absorbent pads and bottles of cleaning solution that conveniently pop on and off. It is far better than the old fashioned ringer variety of decades past. As a person with neck and back problems, I take advantage of every available tool that makes cleaning easier. However, I do not condone unnecessary waste. The automatic mop bottles have tops that do not easily come off, and like other disposables, they add to the problem of waste. It still takes energy to recycle, and it is almost always best to reuse products when possible.

Costly Refills That Are Not Meant to Be Refilled

The companies that manufacture automatic mop bottles advise against attempting to refill them. After all, if people could refill automatic mop bottles, many would not buy the costly refills. Profits would dwindle because people would add their own cleaning solutions. Companies that make bottles that cannot be refilled are contributing to the problem of unnecessary waste.

I chose to ignore label warnings and refill my automatic mop bottles, and my technique worked flawlessly. Unless the bottles become damaged, I will never buy them again. Find out how to refill automatic mop bottles, and save money while doing your part to reuse products that are still in good condition.

Precautionary Statement

Although I have not personally encountered problems with refilling my automatic mop bottles, proceed at your own risk. As previously mentioned, the companies that manufacture the mops and bottles of cleaner advise against it. Harsh cleaning products could damage the inner workings of the mop. Use mild products that have the same consistency as the original cleaner and you should not encounter any problems. Follow product label directions for best results.

How to Remove the Permanent Cap

After trying to remove the cap of the automatic mop bottle without success, I wondered if it was glued in place. Strong adhesive would stop it from opening and keep people from attempting to refill it. I decided to try and soften the glue – if it was in fact glued to the neck of the bottle.

I brought a pan of water to a boil, and I dipped the cap in the boiling water for about eight seconds. I used a rubber grip for opening jars to grasp and turn the lid. It came right off! I was able to refill all of my automatic mop bottles with my own cleaning solution. My solution was far cheaper than the original bottles. Best of all, they smelled great and worked just as well as the high priced refill solutions.

Source: Green Living and Product Reuse Experience