Cleaning Bottles

Ben, just do an internet search. There are many methods listed for cleaning bottles. I'm a glass digger myself, but I usually just use something like "iron out" for a soak. I have also put glass in the dishwasher, but that can be risky for old glass.

I am an avid collector of glass insulators. Some of these were made using cullet from glass bottles. So I would think the cleaning techniques we use would work on bottles as well. When insualtors are being cleaned, sometimes you are removing train exhaust/soot that has been on them for over a century. Listed below from most volatile to safest. I leave the common sense part of making sure you read how to handle these chemicals to you.

1. Concentrated HCl (Hydrochloric acid) - available at pool supply stores.
- Unless you are experience with chemicals, take extra time to read/google how to handle this - fumes give you a reaction like when you smell pure ammonia, but worse for you.
- HCl into 5 gallon bucket - dunk glass for 2 minutes or less and likely they will have all dirt off of them.

2. Drano crystals (or generic) - make sure you get crystals - Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) should be the only ingredient.
- put into 5 gallon bucket with water in it (3 gallons or so).
- let the bottles soak overnight - room temp though.
- take precautions by looking up how to handle lye - this is what NaOH is.
- can burn you - fumes not good

3. Oxcalic acid - aka wood bleach - no fumes, tales a little more time to clean than HCL - but not much. Also only hurts in cuts. However, despite some places saying it is safe t [ut your hands in, don't - use gloves - its toxic.

4. Acid Magic - available at Ace hardware.
- a modern miracle in my opinion b/c this is concentrated HCl that will not burn a human (well - except in open wounds!) and does not have the fumes! I don't understand how they do it (former chemistry teacher speaking here!)
- works same as HCL - 2 minutes or less.
- Use extra caution b/c it is easy to forget this is concentrated HCl b/c it is so human-friendly. Google it - it is amazing and inexpensive.

Hope this helps and DO make sure if you use one number 1-3 that you make sure to respect them and use proper handling techniques for you own safety.