How To Clean Glass Bottles Quickly And Effectively

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One of the best things about glass bottles is that you can reuse them as many times as you want. One of the downsides, however, is that they sometimes get stubborn stains, such as when you leave flowers in the bottle to dry out or there’s leftover syrup that refuses to come out with a regular wash. So, what’s the best way to clean a glass bottle?

To clean a glass bottle, fill one third of the bottle with vinegar and the remaining part with hot water. After ten minutes, rinse the bottle thoroughly and let it air dry. Alternatively, you can use baking soda or a mix of soap and water. You can also boil glass bottles in water.

Whether you’re dealing with stubborn hard water marks or stains left behind by the beverage stored in the bottle, there’s a way to get it clean. Let’s look at the different ways to clean your glass bottle quickly so that you can get back to using it once again.

What Are the Best Ways to Clean Glass Bottles?

Glass and plastic bottles of clean fresh water in a woman`s hands

Cleaning glass bottles is very easy, and there are multiple ways to go about it. The good thing is that you don’t need any special equipment or cleaners for this job since most cleaning methods involve ordinary household items like vinegar, baking soda, salt, or just soap and water.

Let’s look at the different options.

Vinegar

Using white distilled vinegar (on Amazon) is a great way to clean your bottles. It’s a natural sanitizer that kills bacteria just as efficiently (or sometimes even better) than commercial sanitizers. To clean your bottle with vinegar, here’s what you have to do:

  1. Fill one third of your bottle with white vinegar and fill the remaining portion of the bottle with hot water.
  2. Let the bottle sit for ten minutes.
  3. After ten minutes, empty the bottle and rinse it with hot water until the smell of vinegar goes away. You might have to rinse it 2-3 times to get the smell out completely. 
  4. Let the bottle air-dry.

Salt and Vinegar

If your bottle has stubborn stains that just refuse to come off, you can try using a combination of salt and vinegar. Add two ounces (or a quarter cup) of salt to the bottle, along with 2 ounces of white vinegar. Cover the bottle with your palm (or use a lid if it’s big), and shake the bottle. 

Make sure the salt moves around with the vinegar. When combined with vinegar, salt acts as an exfoliator and gets rid of stubborn stains.

Eventually, you’ll see that the clear solution will turn muddy as it absorbs the stains. Once you’re done, empty the bottle, rinse it out thoroughly, and let it air dry. 

Soap and Water

Washing your glass bottles with soap and water might be the very first thing you try to remove stubborn stains. But if washing the bottles with hot soapy water isn’t enough, you can take things further. 

Once the bottles are dry, put them on an oven rack, making sure to leave equal amounts of space in between, and heat them for 15 minutes at 120 degrees. Then place them in a dishwasher on a hot cycle. They should now be sparkling clean.

Baking Soda

Another way to wash your bottles thoroughly is by making a mixture of one cup of baking soda and an equal amount of hot water. Stir the mixture until the soda dissolves completely, pour it into the bottle, and let it soak overnight.

In the morning, drain out the mixture and rinse the bottle thoroughly. Then let it dry. 

Boiling Water

If you’re looking to sterilize your glass bottles, one of the best ways to do so is by boiling them in water. You only need to boil glass bottles for 10 minutes to sterilize them. 

Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Take a pot of water and let it come to a boil. For efficiency, it’s best if you take a big enough pot that can hold 2-3 bottles together without overcrowding the pot. 
  2. Once the water starts to boil, put the bottles and the lids in the pot. Take a ladle to fill the bottle with water. This will kill bacteria present inside.
  3. Let the bottles boil for ten minutes.
  4. Once the time is up, turn down the heat and let the bottles sit in water until the water turns cold.  
  5. Then, remove the bottles, rinse them with warm water, and let them air dry.
      

Using a Bottle Brush

Wire brush for cleaning bottles on dark wood background

Another way to get rid of stubborn stains on the inside of the bottle that refuse to budge is to use a bottle brush (on Amazon) or any other long and thin brush with soft bristles that won’t scratch the glass.

Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Wet the brush using hot water and scrub the inside of the bottle. Pivot the brush handle such that it reaches all areas on the inside.
  2. Fill one-third of the bottle with hot water and shake the bottle such that the water coats the bottle completely, and then pour it out.   
  3. Repeat step two once more while making sure there are no particles in the water that you pour out.
  4. If you still see some particles, add two drops of dishwashing liquid and a teaspoon of salt to the bottle. Fill one third of the bottle with water, cover the top, and then shake it for around twenty seconds.  
  5. Let the bottle air-dry on a rack or in a strainer.

Rice 

It might come as a surprise, but you can also use rice to clean glass stains. Here’s how:

  1. Add 1/4 cup of raw white rice to the bottle along with 3 drops of dishwashing liquid. 
  2. Fill three quarters of the bottle with hot water. Make sure it’s not boiling hot.
  3. Cover the top of the bottle and shake it for 20-30 seconds.
  4. Empty the bottle and rinse it. It’s better to rinse it multiple times to make sure you get rid of all the grains.
  5. Let the bottle air dry.

How Do You Get Cloudiness Out of Glass?

Glass can get cloudy because of hard water, but you can clean it by applying some nail varnish remover and scrubbing with a mild detergent. Alternatively, you can soak the glass in vinegar for about 15 minutes. 

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