How Do You Clean Antique Glass Bottles?

by Jenny Rae Armstrong

Overview

Antique glass bottles add a splash of personality to any space and are relatively cheap and easy to come by, but they show every speck of dirt and grime. Add to that the fact that many of these bottles spent years sitting in someone's moldy basement, holding screws in your grandfather's barn or half-buried out behind the garden, and you have a problem. How can you clean these pieces of history without damaging them? The answer is easy, but you must work carefully.

Step 1

Fill your sink with room temperature water and dish detergent. Put the bottles in the sink to soak. Change the water when it becomes dirty. Be careful to keep the water at room temperature; sudden changes in temperature can cause antique glass to crack.
Step 2

Scrub the bottles gently with a soft-bristled bottle brush or tooth brush to remove loosened dirt and grime. Rinse carefully and turn upside down on a dish rack to dry.
Step 3

Tackle mineral deposits with a bathroom soap scum remover such as CLR. Put on rubber gloves and spray the cleanser directly on the glass. Let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes then scrub the scum away with your bottle brush or tooth brush.
Step 4

Remove rust stains by scrubbing them gently with 100-percent copper wool pads. Copper will not scratch glass.
Step 5

Blow the clouds away with toothpaste or denture cleanser. Allow clouded antique glass bottles to soak in denture cleanser, or rub toothpaste directly onto the glass and use a toothbrush to scrub it clean. Rinse the glass thoroughly or your bottles will smell minty-fresh.

1
Water Dish detergent Soft-bristled bottle brush or tooth brush Bathroom soap scum remover Rubber gloves Copper wool Denture cleanser or toothpaste
Water
Dish detergent
Soft-bristled bottle brush or tooth brush
Bathroom soap scum remover
Rubber gloves
Copper wool
Denture cleanser or toothpaste
Soaking your antique glass bottles in water and a little bit of vinegar boosts the sparkle factor. Try using a pipe cleaner to scrub tiny perfume flasks or apothecary bottles.
Soaking your antique glass bottles in water and a little bit of vinegar boosts the sparkle factor.
Try using a pipe cleaner to scrub tiny perfume flasks or apothecary bottles.
Be especially careful cleaning cut glass with delicate designs. Over-scrubbing can cause the delicate glass to chip. Do not use abrasive scrub pads on antique glass bottles, with the exception of 100-percent copper wool.
Be especially careful cleaning cut glass with delicate designs. Over-scrubbing can cause the delicate glass to chip.
Do not use abrasive scrub pads on antique glass bottles, with the exception of 100-percent copper wool.

Overview