I've got a stash of old glass bottles I use for water and homemade iced tea, but after a while, some of them start to smell kinda funky, even if I wash them right after use. I tried baking soda and hot water, but it only sorta helps. Anyone else run into this? Do you just give up and recycle them, or is there some trick to keeping them fresh longer?
That smell is so frustrating, isn’t it? I totally get wanting to hang onto those bottles instead of tossing them. We’ve had the same issue at home—my kiddo loves flavored water, and after a while, those bottles just get... off. I’ve found that letting them air dry completely (upside down on a rack) helps a ton. Sometimes I’ll use a little vinegar, too, and rinse really well. Don’t feel bad if you have to retire a few, though—sometimes no amount of scrubbing will save them. You’re definitely not alone in this.
That smell is the worst, right? I’ve definitely been there—sometimes no matter how much you clean, it just lingers. I actually started swapping out bottles more often after a while because I got tired of fighting with it. Vinegar works for a bit, but like you said, sometimes you just gotta let go. No shame in retiring a few bottles if they’re past saving. You’re not alone in this at all... it’s weirdly reassuring to know others deal with the same thing.
I totally get it—sometimes no amount of scrubbing gets that weird funk out. I used to stress so much thinking I was doing something wrong, but honestly, some bottles just hit their limit. It’s kind of a relief knowing it happens to everyone. Swapping them out feels wasteful at first, but it’s way less stressful than constantly battling that smell.
I totally get it—sometimes no amount of scrubbing gets that weird funk out.
Definitely relate to the frustration there. I always feel a little guilty tossing bottles, but sometimes they just don’t bounce back, no matter what you try. I’ve noticed it’s worse if I leave them sealed up after washing—like, even a tiny bit of moisture trapped in there seems to make things funky way faster. Now I just let them air dry completely with the cap off, and that’s helped a bit.
Vinegar soaks have worked for me when baking soda didn’t cut it, but honestly, I still end up retiring a few bottles every year. It’s like toothbrushes—eventually, you just gotta let them go. At least glass is recyclable, so I try not to stress too much about it.
Weirdly, the ones I use for tea seem to get that smell faster than the water ones. No idea why. Maybe something about the tannins? Anyway, you’re definitely not alone with this—sometimes it’s just not worth the endless scrubbing.
