cleaning bottles

[bucknaked]

What are some of the options for cleaning barnacles and other crud off bottles? Thanks for any insight .matt

[CaptnJack]

You need a weak acid to dissolve the calcium carbonate. A gallon jug of vinegar will help. It won't hurt glass.

[DontPokeTheBear]

I have had very good success with the various muriatic acid substitutes (acid magic, ect) available at most hardware stores.
A quick overnight soak with a mild solution, and the barnacles wipe off with a sponge. I havn't had any problem with glass etching either.

[sitkadiver]

I use muriatic acid since I can get it in gallon jugs for relatively cheap. I mix it in a 7 gallon bucket with water and add the dishes. One bucket of mix will last me all year.

Before:



After:





I've never had an issue with glass or ceramic. Be sure not to breathe it though. Nasty fumes. You'll know when youy get a whiff of it. And you're probably aware that metal and organic material wil be gone if placed in an acid. If you have a bottle with a stopper still in it, I'd go with vinegar. It'll take more elbow grease, but the metal and cork will be intact when you're done.

BTW: What'd ya find? Has anyone over dove in front of the old steamship peir? Seems like there could be some cool stuff under the Red Robin restaurant.

[BASSMAN]

Muratic Acid from Home Depot or Lowes. I use it full strength and it cleans nicely. I tried diluting it with water and it was too weak to get the bottles fully clean. Could be that the stuff I bought was already diluted.
Although if you have the time you can let them soak over night in vinegar.

[Dive Monkey]

Probably a dumb question, but does bleach hurt bottles?

[bucknaked]

Found a old pepsi cola bottle 40s and a old beer bottle

[BASSMAN]

Probably a dumb question, but does bleach hurt bottles?

Actually I've used bleach, on most of my bottles, if for nothing else, it takes the "Stink" away and makes the barnicle shells very white. No, it won't hurt the glass, in any way.

[bucknaked]

Found an old buckeye spice bottle and a paradise club soda bottle that is pretty neat

[bucknaked]

Old iv bottle?

[Magoi]

Bleach and most acids (other than hydrofluoric) will not hurt glass. Vinegar is a good, safe acid that you can pour down the drain when you are done with it. Muriatic acid is an impure grade of hydrochloric acid. It gives off vapor, which is what you smell. It should be used in a well ventilated place, best to use it outdoors. The vapors can cause corrosion in the room you are using it if you use it a lot.

One thing to note when working with these chemicals, do not mix them. If you mix bleach and acid you will wish you hadn't - it gives off chlorine gas which is very bad for you. And, it is always better to add acid to water when diluting, rather than adding water to acid.

[BASSMAN]

Old iv bottle?

Arrrg!!! I've created another Bottle Hunter!

Soon, many bottles, will you have!




Nice Finds Matt!

[bucknaked]

Yes yes you have. I will post some pics 0of the bottles when they r cleaned0 up.w