What kind of containers can I bring to a refill store? (A.k.a. Will It Vessel??)
You’ve decided to check out a refill shop (heyyy love you, mean it!). You’re ready to ditch the plastic, fill up on soap or shampoo, and start living your best low-waste life. But then the anxiety hits:
Wait... what kind of containers am I supposed to bring?! 😨
This is one of the most common questions we get at Vessel, and the answer might be more relaxed than you think.
The One Rule You Really Need to Know
Here’s the big secret:
If it’s clean, dry, and has a lid, you can probably refill it!
That’s it. That’s the rule. You don’t need a curated collection of fancy matching jars or some aesthetic “zero waste starter kit.” If it can hold a liquid (or powder, or tabs) and it seals, you’re good to go.
A rinsed-out pasta sauce jar? Perfect.
An old shampoo bottle? Reuse it.
That little tin your mints came in? Honestly, adorable.
So, yes, even if it's plastic, you can bring it! We definitely aren't going to judge you for bringing in a plastic jug or bottle. In fact, we will be proud of you for diverting it from the landfill!
At the end of the day, reuse is the whole point. And most of us already have refill-ready containers hiding in our cabinets right now.
Some Favorites We See All the Time
Glass jars are a classic. They’re easy to clean, sturdy, and look cute on a shelf. But plastic spray bottles and jugs works too – especially repurposed bottles from products you already finished. If you’ve got an old lotion bottle with a pump top? Even better. That’s one less thing you have to replace.
We also love seeing aluminum bottles, thrifted tins, takeout soup containers, or whatever weird little vessel makes you happy. Honestly, the creativity people bring in is half the fun. We've seen everything from ex-candle jars to thermoses to novelty drinkware and most of them work just fine.
The goal isn’t to be perfect. It’s to reuse what you’ve already got.
What to Watch Out For
There are just a few things to keep in mind. Try to avoid containers that are still sticky, moldy, or funky. We’re all for reusing, but your new shampoo shouldn’t smell like old marinara. Unless you're into that, but that's your call! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Just don't blame us when your locks smell more like "angel hair" than you originally thought possible.
Also, if your container doesn’t seal (like a lidless jar or a cracked cap), that’s not ideal for transporting liquid home.
Basically: make sure it’s clean, it closes, and it makes your life easier – not harder.
And don't worry about whether or not it has a label! We have restickable, reusable labels in-store for $1 which you can slap on most non-porous jars and lids. Or, if you'd prefer, we also have a wax pencil at the refill station for you to write the tare, net weight, and product name on your vessel!
This is especially important to do when you're refilling multiple products. We wouldn't want you to get home and forget what's hand soap, what's laundry detergent, and what's shampoo!
And If You Forget a Container…
No big deal. Seriously. We’ve all done it.
At Vessel, we’ve got you covered with a few options. Our free community jar bin is stocked with donated, sanitized containers that are ready to be reused. We also offer low-cost bottles, jars, and pump tops if you want something new or just forgot your stash. And we’ll always have free labels so you know exactly what you just filled up on when you get home.
We’re not here to eco-shame you, we’re here to help you get what you need and feel good doing it!
If You Want to Nerd Out Later
Once you’re in a groove with refilling, you might start to get nerdy with it (in the best way). Maybe you start dedicating specific bottles for specific products. Maybe you print cute labels or keep a running list of your go-to refills. Maybe you get weirdly excited about that thrifted syrup bottle that happens to make the perfect dish soap dispenser.
You don’t have to do any of that. But if you want to? Welcome to the club.
So... What Kind of Containers Can You Bring?
Almost anything. Really. If it works for you, it works for us.
Bring your old jars, your beat-up bottles, your favorite spray top, or that random container that’s been living under your sink waiting for its moment to shine. This is it.
Refill shops aren’t about perfection. They’re about showing up, doing what you can, and saying “no thanks” to single-use plastic—one weird little vessel at a time.
So come refill with us. Bring your containers, your questions, and your beautiful imperfect self and be a Vessel for Good.