Medicine dropper bottles are a handy and necessary thing to have for the home herbalist. Thankfully, they’re reusable. Use this 5 step process to clean medicine dropper bottles quickly and easily.
Dropper bottles easily store our tinctures and other creations and make dosage easy as a little squeeze. The dark glass protects our concoctions from the damaging sunlight and means that with proper care we can reuse them for years to come.
Reusing them, however; means getting them clean. Obviously washing bottles and jars isn’t exactly rocket science but getting inside the lids and pipettes takes a little finesse.
Step 1: Give Everything a Rinse
Pour some hot water in the bottle, put the lid with pipette intact back on and give everything a good shake.
Drain the water out completely. Rinse more than once if there are bits of dried herbs or other items still clinging to the bottle.
Step 2: Take Everything Apart
Open the bottle up and remove the pipette from the lid. Usually the pipette will twist out or simply pull right out with a gentle tug.
Step 3: A Vinegar Soak
Put all the pieces into a sink or small tub and cover with vinegar. Let everything soak at least 10 minutes, longer is okay.
I’ve learned that the acid from the vinegar helps loosen up discolorations and other bits from inside the jar and pipette quite easily.
After soaking, rinse everything out with hot water.
Step 4: A Soapy Bath
Put all the pieces into a sink and fill with hot soapy water. Let everything soak at least 10 minutes, longer is absolutely okay.
Clean the bottles, pipettes, and lids now. It’s easiest to get inside the pipettes and lids with a cotton swab of some kind. Regular swabs, the kind most of us use for our ears, will work for smaller bottles. For the longer pipettes, the wood shaft 6″ long cotton tipped applicators are better suited.
They’re relatively inexpensive and make this process easier (and have plenty of other uses, so are worth having around). The swabs work well for the bottom of the bottles as well. Once it’s clean, give everything a good rinse to remove any soap or other residue.
If the jar had a label on it, it should come off relatively easily after all the soaking. Use a razor blade to scrape off any remaining adhesive if necessary.
Step 5: Dry Well
Let everything sit in a dish drainer or on a towel until completely dry before placing the pipette back in the lid and putting the lid on the dropper medicine bottle to store until ready to use.
It’s really that simple and means that not only can we reuse our jars for years to come, we can feel confident in picking up jars second-hand should we come across them at yard sales and thrift shops.
Michael says
Hey Kathie,
I saw a recipe you had for Bread and Butter Pickles. The last step said to put them in jars.
How long do they last in the jars?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
All homecanned goods will last at least a year when properly processed in a canner.
Angi @ SchneiderPeeps says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I needed permission to take my droppers apart.
Rebecca Besherse says
Instead of cotton swabs I sometimes use pipe cleaners or “chenille stems” from the local Dollar Tree. These also have many other uses aside from crafts and are worth keeping around.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Thanks so much for this very good tip!
Janet Day says
Excellent! I have been trying to figure out what to use as cotton swabs won’t get the very end! I have pipe cleaners for my grandkids art projects!!! YAY!
Kerri says
What about the rubeer pc..can that come apart..to be cleaned…
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Usally that is all one piece, but when you pull out the pipette you should be able to clean in there with a swab.
Marsha Smith says
But what if the pipette won’t come out? I have twisted, pulled, all to no avail. Thank you.
Kathie Lapcevic says
In that case, you’re just going to have squeeze some soapy water up inside the pipette, put your finger over it and shake well, rinse, repeat, rinse. Buggers, it’s odd.
MaidMirawyn says
Thanks for the tutorial!
I have a skinny little long brush for cleaning my glass straws; it works great for the pipettes, and it’s reusable.
rodney says
I use a droplet bottle for Tamari sauce, when I eat various dishes, one little drop with every few bites, so, I don’t get so much sodium.
Homespun Seasonal Living says
OH, how smart is that!
Ella says
It may seem a silly question, but is it necessary to clean medicine dropper bottles when they are brand new.
I’ve just received some that I ordered online and I’m wondering if they harbour some remnants of industrial chemicals or something…
Kathie Lapcevic says
I would just give those a good rinse in hot, soapy water to remove any dust and dirt from shipping, etc.
Kathy says
Thank you for asking, I had the same question : )
Lauri says
I am using new bottles I ordered online to mix a vitamin c serum for my face. I only need to wash in hot soapy water, and then rinse them, is that correct?
Kathie Lapcevic says
That’s all I would do yes.
Deb says
Thank u Stay Blessed
Anne says
I just purchased several essential oils and want to make blends. I purchased roller bottles, dropper bottles and small jars for other mixtures. How do I sterilize the bottles, droppers, etc. and how long does the sterilization last, if I don’t use the bottle or jar immediately. Thank you.
Kathie Lapcevic says
To sterilize bottles, I generally use boiling water. Boil in a pot for 10 minutes. I would only sterilize right before you’re ready to fill. It’s not going to last very long at all.
Brod says
I’m intending on sterilizing some glass dropper bottles and mason jars for medical purposes,
I’m thinking using distilled/de-mineralized water in the boiling process would help alot, as opposed to regular tap water which is full of minerals that can contaminate the medium.
Thanks.
Kathie Lapcevic says
I’m sure you could do that without a problem, especially if you have hard tap water the distilled will prevent mineral residue.
Jill says
I’m reusing some used CBD dropper bottles.
I saw your list of “5” on how to clean them.
So, my 1st question is, that will wash out all the oil, right?
2nd, can I sterilize, by boiling, also, without damaging the rubber bulb?
3rd, can I used Vodka in my “5”, instead of vinegar?
Kathie Lapcevic says
I would use a really good dish soap. to get rid of oily residue. Something that is very good at removing oil/grease and hot water. I can’t say for certain about the rubber bulb, it’s going to vary widely based on type, etc. I wouldn’t boil it so much as just dip in boiling water. I can’t see why you couldn’t use vodka it’s a great disinfectant.
Jo-Ann says
Can the instructions be for plastic bottles also? Thanks
Kathie Lapcevic says
I think it could work but I haven’t tried.