What is a refillable cleaning concentrate?

How the system works

The idea is to ship less water. Instead of buying a full bottle of ready-to-use spray, you buy the active part of the product and add tap water at home. The reusable bottle often comes in a starter set, and later purchases are only the refill.

Formats vary. Some brands sell tablets that dissolve in water, others sell a liquid you measure into the bottle, and a few sell a capsule that you drop in. The packaging for each should show how much water to add, and it is worth following those directions carefully, since a mixture that is too strong or too weak may not clean as intended.

What to compare before you buy

• Cost per bottle of finished cleaner, not the price of the refill alone. Our guide on unit prices explains how to compare on a like-for-like basis.
• Whether the starter bottle is included or sold separately.
• The mixing directions and the surfaces the product is meant for.
• The ingredient disclosure, and any third-party mark such as the EPA Safer Choice label.
• Packaging type for the refill, and whether it can be recycled where you live.

Safe use at home

Label each bottle with its contents and the date you mixed it, and keep it out of reach of children and pets, as you would any cleaner. Do not mix different cleaning products together, and do not reuse a bottle that held a different product unless the directions say it is fine. Use the bottle supplied or one the maker recommends, because some concentrates are meant for a particular bottle or spray head.

The product label and the maker's safety data are the authority on dilution and handling, so follow them over general advice.

Is a concentrate right for you?

It suits households that clean often and are comfortable measuring, and it can cut down on single-use plastic bottles. It is less convenient than grabbing a ready spray, and the savings depend on the products you compare, so check the numbers yourself. For ideas on what to look for in an everyday product, see our eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner guide.

Sources

• EPA Safer Choice program
• Manufacturer directions and safety data sheets