I’m still haunted by a lingering garlic scent from last year, though... nothing’s perfect.
That garlic ghost is relentless, isn’t it? I’ve had similar issues with stubborn smells, especially after storing anything with onions or curry. Sunlight does help, but sometimes it’s not enough—especially if the bottle has a narrow neck or textured insides where residue can hide.
Here’s what’s worked for me, step by step:
1. Rinse the bottle with hot water immediately after use (prevents stuff from settling).
2. Fill it with a mix of white vinegar and water (about 1:1 ratio), let it sit overnight. Vinegar’s acetic acid seems to break down odors better than baking soda for me.
3. For really persistent smells, I add a teaspoon of coarse salt and shake it around inside the bottle. The abrasion helps scrub out any hidden gunk.
4. Rinse thoroughly, then leave it upside down in direct sunlight for a few hours.
I’m always careful about lingering smells since they can affect taste—and even oral health if you’re sipping from a bottle that never quite gets clean. Garlic breath is one thing, but garlic bottle? No thanks.
That lingering garlic smell really is persistent. I’ve noticed even after a deep clean, sometimes it feels like it’s just... stuck in the glass. I wouldn’t worry too much though—your vinegar and salt routine is solid. I’ve seen a lot of folks struggle with this, and it’s honestly more common than most people realize. You’re not alone in the garlic bottle club.
That garlic smell just loves to hang around, doesn’t it? I swear, I’ve washed some jars three times and still caught a whiff the next day. Has anyone tried baking soda for this? I usually do the vinegar thing too, but sometimes I wonder if I’m just making salad dressing in there.
I’m curious—does it matter if the bottle has one of those narrow necks? I feel like the smell really gets trapped in the weirdest places. My kid’s feeding bottles ended up with a totally different kind of funk, but that was easier to fix... I just boiled them. Not sure I want to risk boiling glass jars though.
Is there any trick I’m missing? Or maybe it’s just time to accept that some bottles are forever “garlic bottles” now.
Funny, I’ve noticed the same thing with narrow-necked bottles—those smells just cling. Baking soda does help, but I’ve had better luck with a paste rather than just soaking. Swishing hot water and rice around inside sometimes gets into those tricky spots too. I’m always a little wary about boiling glass, especially if it’s not labeled as heatproof... not worth the risk of shattering, in my opinion.
I get what you mean about the narrow-necked bottles—those things are stubborn. I actually had a similar issue with my reusable mouthwash bottles (I like to keep things looking nice on the bathroom counter, but the smells build up after a while). What’s worked for me is a three-step approach: first, I rinse with hot water and a drop of dish soap, shaking it around as much as I can. Then I do the baking soda paste, like you mentioned, and let it sit for a bit. The trick, I’ve found, is using a bottle brush to really get into the corners.
I’m also not a fan of boiling glass unless it’s specifically made for it—had a bottle crack on me once and it was a mess. For the really tough smells, I’ll sometimes leave a bit of vinegar inside overnight (just enough to coat the bottom), then rinse thoroughly the next day. It’s not magic, but it’s kept my bottles from getting funky, and I haven’t had any breakage since ditching the boiling water.
