FAQ

Brick + mortar shop opened October 2022.

The shop is located at 2A Waldron Court, on the ground floor of an historic brick building. We are in downtown Dover, directly off the pedestrian alley behind Jewelry Creations. Parking is available in the Orchard Street parking lot and parking garage. The shop is located on the NE corner of the parking lot. There are two free 15 minute parking spots available for quick in and out shopping, and additional parking on Central Avenue.

Our refill products are priced per ounce. Many of our products are concentrated (e.g. liquid laundry soap, facial cleanser) and require only a small amount to work most effectively compared to other brands that require more product for the same outcome. Additionally, our products are free of many common irritants, dyes, and fragrances that cause topical irritation. We have in-store displays showing cost comparisons for our products versus mainstream brands.

Almost all conventional products contain petroleum derived dyes and additives. And even your eco-friendly brands require you to purchase a new plastic bottle which required energy and resources (e.g. petroleum) to produce and ship to the store, and sometimes aren’t that eco-friendly. All refill products sold at replenish are plant-based, dye-free, and contain only naturally derived fragrances (e.g. essential oils). As the customer, you decide which container to place your product into. As a business, we guarantee best practices on returning, refilling, and reusing bulk containers by engaging in a circular loop economy with our vendors. Containers that cannot be refilled and reused are recycled responsibly either through our vendors or with Terracycle. Additionally, many of our other products in store are bamboo based and can be composted at the end of their life.

By shopping at replenish you are not only supporting a small business and helping to keep downtown Dover vibrant, you are supporting many local makers and artisans whose products we sell.

You are encouraged to bring your own clean containers and reuse what you already have! However, we do have glass jars and aluminum containers available for purchase as well as a robust free jar library of donated glass containers.

Any container is usable-glass, plastic, metal-for refilling. We recommend a clean, dry container particularly for body + beauty products. (See how to sanitize below.) Click here to read about the refilling process at replenish.

Applesauce, jam, pickle jars. Kombucha, water, liquor bottles. Laundry bottles, spray bottles, Tupperware, anything that closes securely can work for refilling. Paper bags may be used for powder based or dry products.

When refilling your own bottle in the store, we recommend refilling with the same product as before. If your container is dusty, has water inside it, or contains product that is older than a year, please sanitize and dry it before refilling; this will better preserve the life of your new refill. Sanitizing and drying prior to refilling is especially important for face and skincare products and will prevent the growth of mold, yeast or fungus. Learn more about how to properly sanitize here.

Reusing containers and reducing our plastic consumption is a principal reason replenish refillery was founded. Reusing what you already have conserves energy needed to produce a new bottle and eliminates the wonder of whether an old bottle will actually be recycled (more on that later).

To ensure the quality of your refill product, we suggest refilling clean and dry containers, particularly for face and body products. While these products do contain minimal preservatives, they are plant based and naturally derived and will only work when free from contaminants such as dust, old product, or tap water. For all other refills, and assuming you are always refilling with the same product, we recommend sanitizing your bottle 1-2 times per year.

Glass containers are non-porous and the easiest to sanitize. #5 plastic bottles, also known as polypropylene, are your second best option. They are sturdy and can withstand high heat cleaning, which is recommended for best sanitation.

How to sanitize containers for reuse:

• Remove all prior product from your container with hot water and soap or run through a dishwasher after removing all product residue.

• Place glass containers in boiling water for 5 minutes to sanitize. This practice is strongly recommended for leave-on skincare and face products.

• For plastics, we recommend a final rinse of 60% alcohol or hand sanitizer which helps evaporate any excess water.

• When containers are completely dry, bring them to replenish to be refilled.

How to clean tops + pumps:

• Clear pumps and tops of all residue.

• Rinse with 60% alcohol. For pumps, flush all product by pumping hot soapy water through until all residue is gone. Then pump 60% alcohol or hand sanitizer through for a minimum of 10 pumps.

• When pumps and tops are completely dry they are ready for reuse.

We deliver within a 15 mile radius of the shop. Please email or call the shop to place an order and schedule a delivery. Curbside pick-up is also available.