posted on October 1, 2000 06:50:26 AM
I just drug home a bunch of old bottles. The problem is, they are filthy. I know many of you expert sellers will know of a trick to clean them out. Most have very skinny tops so getting a brush inside will be hard. Thanks!
posted on October 1, 2000 07:18:58 AM
The first thing I would do is dissolve some powdered dishwasher detergent in some hot water, and soak the bottles for a day or so in it. That should loosen a lot of the dirt.
If you can't find a brush that will fit into the bottles, try rigging up something like a piece of rag on the end of a length of wire (coathanger, etc.). A little sharp sand in the bottle, and the wire scrubber will clean a lot.
posted on October 1, 2000 07:21:29 AM
Try filling them about half full, and then adding sand or rice and shaking vigorously. Using dishwasher detergent with HOT water works best.
posted on October 1, 2000 07:29:54 AM
Does anyone know whether CLR will harm the glass? I have a couple of "cloudy" old bottles and someone suggested I try it but, I don't want to risk damaging them.
posted on October 1, 2000 08:27:08 AM
Lime Away sometimes takes out the lime deposits or other hazy whatever in old glass. We used to use it all the time, but haven't tried it again now that we're back in the glass biz, haven't had the occasion to do so.
Thanks for caring about cleaning them up. I bought a lot of old bottles and jars on ebay, and they arrived just filthy. I didn't neg or even leave a neutral, but in my "package arrived in good shape" email, I mentioned to the Seller that he could have *hosed them off,* and I meant exactly that -- they were just filthy. Boy, was he upset with me.
I see listings now and then for glass that say, "Needs a good cleaning." Say what? How 'bout YOU do that good cleaning? We do. I don't want my Buyers having to wash their hands after opening our package, as we've had to do on a number of occasions. So good for you!
posted on October 1, 2000 08:31:23 AM
I've often used Lime Away or CLR on pottery with lime deposits, but I've been afraid to leave glass items to soak in it, for fear of etching them. Any experience to show that this isn't a problem?
posted on October 1, 2000 08:38:49 AM
I washed a bottle out last week using raw rice and hot water and it worked beautifully! Maybe adding a bit of baking soda would help too.
posted on October 1, 2000 08:43:35 AM
On a TV 'home show' last week I saw them cleaning old flower vases with lime deposits. They used regular vinegar filling past the deposit. Let stand overnight for really tough stains. then filled with a little bit of raw rice and shook.
posted on October 1, 2000 11:08:46 PM
POLIDENT! No kidding, it works great. We did some decanters last year.
A real weird discovery -- if you have a plate that's been used as a plant saucer and has water minerals on it, you can clean it as well as possible and then feed the cat out of it for a few weeks. Slowly but surely, the mineral deposits will disappear!
posted on October 2, 2000 08:07:10 AM
Here's something I use that works. Pour salt into the bottle. Take ice cubes and put them in the bottle. If the neck is narrow use crushed ice. Swish and swirl to your favorite tune and in no time all that built up gunk will be gone.
posted on October 2, 2000 08:15:35 AM
I've been dealing in old bottles for a long time. I've gotta tell ya that I've never had much luck with cloudiness and lime deposits.
If it's just good old fashioned dirt, or perhaps some dried out product inside, it usually responds well to soap and water. Cloudiness/haziness is often due to mineral deposits bonded to the glass surface and it's next to impossible to deal with. Lime away and some of that other stuff has wasted my time and money.
If it's a really valuable bottle it can be professionally cleaned and polished by tumbling in a special machine that some bottle dealers may have.
I usually don't even buy "dirty" bottles any longer due to my time factor and frustrations trying to clean them. Amazingly, there are lots of 100 or 150 year old bottles in still perfect condition, so I look for those.
posted on October 2, 2000 09:09:54 AM
Hi Irhester,
I've been digging and cleaning old bottles for years and I can tell you what works best for me.
1) Soak 'em in Lime Away for 24 hrs.
2) Then dump out the Lime Away (into another container so you can re-use it) and put some #6 or #8 lead shot (steel shot will also work) into the bottle. Use small amounts because the shot is heavy and can crack the bottle. Now with the shot inside the bottle add some warm soapy water, put your thumb over the opening of the bottle and shake it. The action of the shot against the inside of the bottle will remove practically anything and pretty quickly too. Just remember to go easy on the amount of shot you put in.
posted on October 2, 2000 11:17:21 AM
Eh! L.C....You took the words out of my mouth...
Superficial "dirt" might or might not be cleaned by soaking item in Efferdent (Spelling?), then rinsing well, and letting dry UPSIDE DOWN, as the cause of many "sick" glass is due to water deposit left at BOTTOM, or let to dry with STOPPER ON! Take stopper OFF.
And for very "sick" glass, tumbling, as L.C. mentions...But that can be expensive! And few companies now do that.
******************** Shosh
