Guide to Cleaning and Disinfecting Glass Bottles

Many families reuse glass bottles to store food, but simple rinsing cannot thoroughly remove the residual substances inside the bottles. Over time, the stains will ferment, breeding bacteria and generating odors, which will contaminate the food stored later and shorten the service life of the glass bottles. Only by mastering scientific cleaning, disinfection and maintenance techniques can glass bottles be kept clean, hygienic and durable.

Newly purchased food glass bottles cannot be used directly. The first step is to do a basic cleaning. Prepare warm water with neutral detergent. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub deep into the bottle. For narrow-mouthed bottles, a long-handled bottle brush can be used. Pay special attention to cleaning the bottle mouth, thread gaps and other dead corners. Do not use hard tools such as steel wool balls to avoid scratching the inner wall of the glass and causing fine cracks to accumulate dirt. After cleaning, rinse the foam repeatedly with running water, then place it upside down in a well-ventilated area to drain the water.

If it is used for storing food for consumption, it must be thoroughly disinfected. The cleaned glass bottles can be boiled in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes, and the bottle caps can be soaked separately for disinfection. Glass bottles that are not heat-resistant can be soaked in diluted white vinegar or food-grade disinfectant for a while, then rinsed and dried. For stubborn stains left by honey or sauce, you can pour warm water into the bottle with a small amount of baking soda and let it soak for half an hour. The stains can then be easily scrubbed clean.

For the unpleasant odors produced by long-term storage of alcoholic beverages and pickles, it is advisable to soak them in lemon slices, tea leaves or white vinegar, let them stand for a few hours and then rinse them. This can effectively remove the odors. After daily use, it should be cleaned in time to prevent residues from adhering to the bottle wall for a long time. After cleaning, keep the bottles dry. When storing, place them separately to avoid mutual friction and collision. Proper cleaning and maintenance can not only ensure food safety but also keep the glass bottles with us for a longer time.