Cleaning of Antique Glass Bottles

That might be a surface etched by groundwater, bacterial films etc, which mobliize metal ions in the glass and leave fine pores.

The process can be accelerated by any strong alkaline material, like Sodium and Potassium hydroxide. Iron hydroxide(very sparingly soluble) can also deposit iron as sodium exits, making various colours.

It has been found that these process can be emulated by man and have shown up as faked antique bottles

and some images.

I mostly agree with Just An, and I'd agree completely if the bottles had been in an old attic or garage. Certainly talk to a collector first.

But I think since these bottles were recovered from a refuse dump it would be ok to clean the outsides of the bottles to allow safe handling. Lord knows what toxic goo may be on the outside. Any residue on the insides is what would be important. Cork the bottles temporarily then clean the outsides with mild soap and water.

It's the patina that gives this kind of find its value.

LEAVE THEM ALONE!

If you are dead serious of cleaning it up besides losing the value as others have cited, try

• Cola
• Baking Soda

I hope this helps.

As others have said, they should probably not be cleaned.

However, if you wish to, the residue is most likely mineral deposits from the dump.

Oxalic acid (which can be purchased online) can be mixed 4 oz to a quart of hot water, and should dissolve the deposit in about 2 minutes.

"Bottles are worth more when they are clean and in at least near mint condition. Many old bottles are called "dug" because they were dug up after having been underground for many years. Being underground for a long time exposes the bottles to water which stains them on the inside and outside (the chemicals in the water do the staining). A good scrubbing with a brush and warm soapy water does a good job in removing most dirt, but is usually ineffective in removing stains. While chemicals like muriatic acid (dangerous), Lime Away, Efferdent, or Dexters can provide some help in removing this water stain, these chemicals usually do not work to completely remove the stain. Tumbling the bottles with copper shot for many days is usually the best way to remove most of this stain. Professional bottle cleaners use tumblers and usually charge about $15 per bottle."

http://www.antiquebottles.com/cleaning.html

'Bottle digs' here in the UK were a sort of craze back 30 years ago. I have no idea what it is like today. But back then I collected a few old bottles, for no other reason than ornaments. But out of curiosity I asked about value and was advised that clean bottles were worth more than dirty bottles, but with the proviso that for real value, clean meant mint as new, ie, never dirty in the first place.

Washing dirty bottles was necassary to remove loose dirt etc, and certainly old ribbed bottle that could have contained 'poison', but not to the extent of requiring abrassive or scouring orchemical action, because although 'clean', were never going to be returned to their mint' condition.

The expert collectors know this. But novices, might not, and going to great trouble and expense hoping to increase value, might be disappointed.

I went to our local Museum and asked the curator. The help I received was excellent and Free as well. Can't beat that.

Please. What did they tell you?

......The help I received was excellent and Free as well. Can't beat that....

...but we can equal it, unless you intend to pay us, the advice here is free as well....

...or we could beat it if you let us pay you for answering your question....

If the stain is on the inside,and common detergents will not remove, it may be

residue from the original contents.

Put small pebbles and sand in the bottle,along with enough water to make a slurry,and

shake vigorously.

Google antique bottles and learn which are valuable.

If the bottles are not worth anything anyway and the patina is simply not required, then run them through the dishwasher on a relatively low temperature program, with only one wash cycle. At less than 40°C.

My machine has a special program just for glass that does not cause fogging and cleans really well.

Though I admit I have not cleaned really old bottles in it, ever.....So try a "cheap" bottle first...

"Where" you place the bottle in the machine is important, you can get it so that the inside is also washed with some care in placement.

Best of luck.

Don't have the perfect process for you but I have ONE NOT TO USE OR YOU COULD DESTROY ANY FINISH ON THE BOTTLES.

Do not use any soap with an alkali in it. Yes, even Ivory hand soap is an alkali soap (Sodium Stearate, old formula from lye (sodium) and fats (stearate). In a short time this will create a permanent film, actually etching, on any glass in contact with the solution. It is not limited to only Ivory. Most soaps will do the same. Before doing anything with the glasses test it on a glass coupon or one of the wife's junky glasses. This also damages Pyrex glass.

If you are as old as me you remember your mother boiling fats and lye on the stove to make soap instead getting off of the grocer's shelves

The reason this doesn't happen in a dishwasher is the rinses. The cycles have a complete or multiple rinses after the washing. Many of the newer ones also use a separate surfactant at the end to get that "no stains" look.

This is the scourge of many chemistry lab student that leave their glassware in a sink of wash pan over the week-end or week to get them clean. It gets the stuff off but leaves a cloudy etching.

My first try on a sample would be children's shampoo. It has a pH of 7.0 (that's why it doesn't make them cry when they get it in their eyes which also have a pH of 7.0). This would be your best "1st trial" since it is neither acidic or basic.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Make a 0.2% Teepol in distilleld water. Soak a cotton swab with this, squeeze out excess and try wiping with this on an inconspicuous part like the base of a bottle. If satisfactory, the whole surface can be tried.

Teepol is a neutral detergent that does not react with substrates.

Soak them in CLR.

Send them to Andy Germany. His washer is all set up for them. What a nice guy to offer to clean them for you..

Thanks all of you for your suggestions. I will try them on the duplicate bottles I have.

Will also talk to some collectors.

Thanks.