Ask the supplier what container it accepts before you clean or buy one. The answer depends on the product, container material, previous contents, closure and filling process. A jar that works for dry food is not automatically suitable for a cleaning chemical or cosmetic.
This original guide replaces two former Vessel Nundah FAQs about container choice and clean, dry containers. It is not Vessel's current policy or a promise that any shop will accept your container. For current shopping options, see refill shopping in Brisbane.
Choose the product before the container
Tell the supplier what you want to buy and what the container previously held. Ask whether it accepts your own container at all, or requires its branded bottle. Check the material, capacity, opening and pump or cap. A narrow neck may be difficult to fill and dry; a pump may retain old product even when the bottle looks empty.
Keep cleaning chemicals out of food and drink containers. Do not reuse a container with unknown contents, incompatible residues, damage or a closure that leaks. Avoid assuming that glass, stainless steel or a recycling symbol guarantees compatibility with every product. The product supplier and container manufacturer's directions take priority over general advice.
Check | What to look for | When to stop |
|---|---|---|
Previous contents | A known, compatible product accepted by the supplier | Unknown chemicals, lingering residue or incompatible use |
Condition | Intact container, cap and any seals | Cracks, corrosion, damaged threads or leaks |
Access | An opening you can clean, rinse and dry as directed | Areas you cannot reach or inspect |
Identification | Space for the full product information | A bottle that could be mistaken for a drink |
Capacity | A manageable size with a suitable closure | A container too heavy or awkward to carry safely |
Clean according to the instructions
Empty the container as directed for its previous product. Check the container's washing instructions and the refill supplier's policy. Separate only the parts designed to come apart; do not force pumps, valves or seals apart.
For containers that are suitable for ordinary washing, remove visible residue using the specified detergent and method, rinse as directed, and inspect the neck, base, cap and seals. Use a dishwasher only if the relevant parts are dishwasher-safe. Do not mix cleaning chemicals or add disinfectants to improvise a stronger wash.
The BYO Containers guidance asks for containers without strong smells, particles, residue or damage. Biome's store policy requires clean containers to be handed to staff. Neither statement means every old bottle is suitable for every refill.
Cleaning, sanitising and sterilising are different processes. This checklist does not provide a universal sanitising recipe. If a cosmetic, food or other product requires a particular process, obtain that process from the supplier rather than relying on a quick household rinse.
Allow the container to dry
Where the supplier requires a dry container, allow all washable parts to dry fully before closing it. Follow the material's drying instructions and use a clean drying area. Check caps, threads and detachable seals as well as the main bottle. Do not use heat beyond the container's rating.
Residual water can change a refill's intended composition. Do not dilute a product unless its directions specifically tell you to. If moisture remains trapped inside a pump, ask the supplier whether it can be reused or should be replaced. A visibly dry bottle alone does not establish that the whole assembly is ready.
Label before you lose the information
Ask staff how the refill's name, use directions, warnings and any batch or date information will be supplied. Keep that information with the container. A handwritten word such as “cleaner” is not enough to distinguish products with different uses and precautions.
Do not top up with a different formula or combine leftovers. Keep cleaning products separate from food and personal-care storage. Follow the product's storage directions and keep it out of children's reach.
At the counter and on the way home
- Show staff the empty container and explain its previous contents.
- Have its empty weight recorded if the product is sold by weight. The container's weight should not be charged as product.
- Let staff fill it where the shop requires this. Follow instructions for any approved self-service station.
- Check the label, amount, cap and any return instructions before leaving.
- Keep the container upright and secured during transport; separate products that could contaminate one another if they leak.
If the shop declines the container, ask about a suitable refill bottle or another purchase option. Repeated refusal is a reason to change the container, not to hide its previous use. A modest refill routine with the right bottle is more useful than a cupboard full of unsuitable jars.
Historical source context
Vessel's archived FAQs discussed clean and dry containers and which containers to bring. They describe the former business's process at that time. This page provides new general guidance; Simply Maid does not operate a refill counter or handle former Vessel orders.
About this guide
Original Simply Maid guidance prepared with AI assistance. Published 15 October 2026; linked supplier and service information checked on that date. No independent practitioner review or hands-on product testing is claimed.
Change log
Who wrote and edited this article, when its sources were checked, and what changed.
Current version
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