How to Clean Decorative Old Bottles

If you've ever found an old bottle that is so unique you just have to keep it, you already know how tough it is to get that treasure clean once you get it home. Use the following methods to clean an old bottle and it will be a decorative treasure for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Bottle brush to fit opening of bottle
• Hand brush
• Rubber gloves
• Dish soap
• Lime based soap
• Toilet bowl cleaner

Instructions

1. Soak the bottle overnight in a gallon bucket filled with a solution of hot water and a teaspoon of dish soap. Make sure you get all the air bubbles out when you sink the bottle, or all the grime won't be loosened.

2. Scrub your antique bottle with both brushes to remove all surface dirt. If there's still a lot of grime on the bottle, soak it another night, scrub and rinse it again.

3. Mix half a gallon of lime based cleaning solution according to the strongest strength recommended by the manufacturer. Immerse your bottle in the solution and soak for three hours or the time recommended by the manufacturer. Scrub inside and out as before.

4. Rinse your antique bottle and the bucket several times to make sure all the cleaner is gone. If stains remain, mix a solution of toilet cleaner and cold water and soak the bottle for three hours, scrub and rinse once more.

Tips & Warnings

• Some antique bottles have been etched by underground minerals and will always retain a milky coloring unless professionally cleaned.

• Always use gloves, have adequate ventilation and follow the manufacturer's directions on any cleaning products.