Whether you are a collector, using them in a trade, or recycling, glass bottles can be somewhat of a chore to clean, especially if they have long, narrow necks. Luckily, there are some pretty ingenious people out there who have figured out different, creative ways to get the inside of those bottles cleaned easily. Here are seven ways that we have found to effectively clean glass bottles.
1. Rice and Soda Water
Bartenders are known to keep rice on hand for cleaning the inside of bottles. Just pour a little uncooked rice into the bottle and add soda water. The soda water eats away at the dirt and the rice helps scrub the sides. While it is very effective, it might be a little more conducive to a bar setting since you are left with a clean bottle containing a rice and water mixture to dispose of.
2. Soap and Water Methods
You can always rely on soap and water to get the job done. Here are a few different ways an old reliable cleaning method can help with the inside of the bottle.
- Dishwasher: If you are able to use one, it’s a very effective way to clean and sanitize the inside of a crusty bottle. Take caution with painted bottles. The exterior finish might not be able to handle the heat of the water.
- Soak: Fill the bottle with hot soapy water. Don’t go too heavy on the soap. You will only need a little and using too much will create a lot of suds to rinse out. Let the bottle soak for a while. Empty the bottle and refill with hot water and shake.
- Bleach: You can also add a little bleach to the soap and water. Not only is a great cleaner, it also has sanitizing qualities.
3. Salt and Vinegar
Here’s another easy hack to use to get the grime out of the inside of a bottle. And, you probably already have these items on hand in your home. Just pour about a teaspoon of salt into the bottle and add just enough vinegar so you will be able to swish it around. Put a cap on the bottle and shake. The vinegar eats away at the gunk in the bottle and the salt works as an abrasive.
4. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mixing vinegar, baking soda, and water will give you a lot of fizz while cleaning the inside of the bottle. Slowly add hot water to the baking soda and vinegar to avoid an overflow. You’ll want to keep this entire procedure inside the sink in case of any mess.
5. Gravel
You can use pea-sized gravel. Make sure the rocks are smooth and add them with a little dish soap to the inside of the bottle. If the gravel is coarse, it can scratch the inside of the bottle. Fill the bottle almost full with hot water and shake gently. The shape of the gravel makes it very effective at getting into all of the nooks and crannies.
6. Antacid Tablet
Just put one or two tablets in the bottle and fill it about halfway with water. The fizz from the antacid will clean the bottle with no added effort required. Just let is set overnight. Rinse well the next morning.
7. Denture Tablets
The same chemicals that clean your dentures will clean the inside of a dirty bottle. Just put a couple of tablets in the bottle, then fill it almost full with water, and leave it in the sink overnight to soak.
