How to Clean Beer Bottles
Although the sale of alcohol is heavily regulated, most state laws allow adults to brew small amounts of beer for personal consumption. Home brewers often use old beer bottles for this. When reusing a beer bottle, you must take precautions to properly clean it and sanitize it; otherwise, there is a risk of bacteria developing in the bottle. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Soak the bottles in warm water with a mild dish detergent. This helps loosen the label and the adhesive. If you are only cleaning a few bottles at a time, feel free to let them soak in the sink. If you're cleaning a large quantity of bottles, you'll need to let them soak in a large container or bucket.
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Scrub the outside of the bottle to remove the label and adhesive. A standard scrub pad will work just fine. Avoid using a wire brush or pad; it could scratch the outside of the bottle.
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Clean the inside of the bottles. Squirt a small amount of dish detergent inside, fill them halfway with warm water, and shake well. When you are finished, let hot water run into the bottles until the detergent is gone.
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You'll need to sanitize the bottles to kill bacteria. The best way to do this is by placing them in a large bucket or container with cold water and sanitizer solution. Follow the sanitizer package instructions to determine the amount of solution needed and the length of time required.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also run your beer bottles through through an automatic dishwasher to sanitize them. You'll still need to thoroughly clean the inside; most dishwashers are unable to properly clean the inside of bottles due to their unique shape. You also risk breaking the bottles when using an automatic dishwasher; do this with caution.
