Glass bottles to recycle? Discover how to clean them thoroughly using very easy methods
Glass bottles are used for a lot of creative recycling projects: whatever shape and color they are, there is an endless list of ideas for reusing them in imaginative and decorative ways, both at home and in the garden. The glass bottles we have at home probably contained wine, liqueurs or other alcoholic beverages, milk, etc. In all these cases, just rinsing out these bottles does not usually completely eliminate the smell of the old contents.
So, to really clean the bottles for your recycling projects, it's best to do a thorough cleaning, using some simple tips.
Creativo
If you have a long-handled bottle brush that can easily slip into the bottle (there are many types on the market), then you can get excellent results just by using it with very hot water and a drop of dish soap. Otherwise, you can alternatively try:
- Sodium bicarbonate: Wash with soap and water, rinse with very hot water, and when the bottle is empty, fill with hot water, pour in two teaspoons of baking soda, close and shake well for a while, so that the bicarbonate dissolves and thoroughly. Let it act for 15 minutes or so (keeping the lid closed) and then rinse out.
- White vinegar or lemon juice: You will need half a glass of vinegar or the juice of a lemon, to which you need to add enough hot water to fill the bottle. Leave it to act for half an hour and then rinse well with hot water and let it dry.
- Citric acid: used just like for the bicarbonate, above.
- If there isn't a too strong a smell, or the residue on the bottom is difficult to remove, then you can fill the bottle with hot water up to the 3/4 mark, pour in a spoonful of Marseille soap and two spoonfuls of bicarbonate, shake well to mix, then finish by filling with hot water and leave for half an hour before rinsing out.
- If you're in a hurry, you can also try boiling water, but be extremely careful when you pour it (always wear gloves) and if you want, you can also add half a glass of white vinegar.
With these simple methods, you will have shiny bottles ready to reuse in no time!
