12 Clever Ways You Never Thought Of To Repurpose An Empty Swiffer Container In Your Home

A household mainstay for over 25 years, Swiffer's family of products has helped us get our floors clean. While the dry sweeping cloths come in easily-recycled cardboard, not every product's packaging is eco-friendly. The plastic containers that house your wet pad refills keep the cleaning cloths moist. However, because they contain plastic 6, most standard curbside recycling programs won't accept them. Fortunately, these boxes are still functional after you've used the last pad. We've rounded up a variety of ways you can repurpose your empty Swiffer containers in your home. Using the box's easily stackable design, you can turn them into storage containers, mini toy boxes, and even shoe boxes.

Before reusing your container for these purposes, however, you should wash it thoroughly. Use hot water and dish soap to remove any remaining chemical residue, then let dry. You should never use a former cleaning product container to store food, as they're not made from food safe or food-grade plastic; however, the container is fine for storing non-edible essentials, such as bandages or hair care tools. 

If you currently keep your sandals or flip-flops in their original retail boxes, it might be time for an upgrade. Not only do the cardboard boxes eventually show wear and tear, you also can't see their contents easily. A good alternative is to reuse Swiffer containers to store your family's shoes, especially children's shoes. Kids' shoes are smaller than adult footwear, and you can likely store several pairs to save space.

The container's deep capacity offers interesting ways to repurpose it around the home. You could upcycle your Swiffer box by combining chalk paint with baking soda for a cool textured matte look. As a finishing touch of farmhouse chic, elevate it slightly with a set of black wooden knobs. Once complete, it doubles as a sleek storage option for the bathroom or kitchen. While black and white are a classic color combination, you can instead use earthy shades of sage green, brown, and gold for a sophisticated, warm vibe.

Game nights are excellent family bonding opportunities and can even offer educational benefits, such as improving fine motor skills. Playing board games or card games is enjoyable, but can you say the same about managing the associated little pieces? Turn your Swiffer container into a repurposed game box for decks of cards, dice, tower blocks, and playing pieces. Consider using a label or a picture indicating what each box contains. This clever hack can't help you win the great Monopoly battle, but it will at least keep things more organized.

The secret to making the most out of your junk drawer's organization lies in a pair of Swiffer containers. Use each refill box to create "zones" for the batteries, scissors, and other random things that often clutter this space. You can likely find plenty of items to house within the repurposed containers, but be careful you don't store anything fragile such as sunglasses, as these can be easily scratched.

An empty mop pad container doesn't mean you have to buy refills. Try a budget-friendly Swiffer hack and make your own DIY wet cloths. Combine equal cups of water and distilled white vinegar with two drops of dish soap. If you want a subtle scent when you clean, add in one to three drops of your favorite essential oils. Pour the mixture in your empty container, then soak your choice of cloths in the solution. Finally, seal the container tight with the lid, and you're ready for your next cleaning session.

Buying garden accessories is fun, but making sustainable DIY garden decor with frozen water can be even more fun. This is a kid-friendly craft that doesn't require anything more than what you already have in your yard and your freezer. You will just fill your container with water, then add in organic material such as flowers, berries, grass clippings, and small rocks for a visually-stunning creation. Before putting it in the freezer, add a loop of string or twine for hanging the ice from a tree or post. 

Whether you're working with paint, clay, silicone, or anything with glitter, having a disposable tray to catch all of your mess is a must anytime you work on a creative project. Without proper coverings, all of those art supplies can accidentally get on your surfaces if you're not careful. Using these Swiffer boxes to contain your art materials can make the process a little neater and simplify cleanup while crafting in a more "green" manner. Hopefully with this method, you won't lose as much glitter during an upcoming craft session.

Are you familiar with the random ball of tangled chargers and wires that can accumulate at the bottom of your desk drawer? Considering Pew Research studies show 98% of American households currently own at least one cell phone, this can be a common issue. You might ignore it, but sooner or later, you can find yourself needing a random charger for your ancient digital camera or tablet. Save yourself the frustration by making the Swiffer refill box into a handy desk or drawer tray for cords.

Band-aids and nail clippers, along with other beauty or first-aid supplies, can be lost in the mess of your bathroom drawers. Whether you want to create a full first-aid kit or only keep similar items together, repurposing an empty Swiffer pad container lets you enjoy handy stacking storage. Add a decorative label so you can know at a glance what the box holds. The large, wide size might even be a great match for styling tools, such as a hair straightener or curling iron. However, be careful, and only store these after they cool.

With detailing brushes, dish scrubbers, and scrub tools to store, sometimes you may feel you're limited to vertical storage in nooks and crannies. Let your Swiffer container continue to have a place in your cleaning regimen by using it to hold all of your scrub brushes. The container's long size can fit multiple brushes and dish scrubbers and then can sit easily in a drawer or under the sink. Once you're done using them to clean, let them drip dry before you store them away again.

Crocheters frequently buy yarn in various shapes, thicknesses, and fibers. An alternative to using baskets to organize your yarn is storing your smaller skeins in stacked Swiffer containers. Institute a quick labeling system for color, as well as other important information such as brand, quality, and material. You'll know exactly where you can find the yarn for your next project. Plus, stacking the containers lets you create more room for yarn, a win-win for any crafter.

Kids' playrooms and bedrooms often lack storage, which makes it tough to keep toys and craft supplies organized. One method some parents use to tame the clutter is repurposing the Swiffer container to hold smaller items like LEGOs, wooden tray puzzle pieces, and blocks. The transparent lid is kid-friendly and lets your kiddos see what's inside before they drag it out, especially when compared to using generic baskets or totes.