The Rice Bottle Cleaner
Cleaning the inside of a narrow bottle is nearly impossible with a sponge. Your hand won’t fit. A bottle brush only reaches so far down. Grime and residue cling to the bottom no matter how much you scrub from the outside, leaving you ready to just toss the whole thing.
Try this instead. Pour a spoonful of rice into the bottle along with a splash of warm water and a drop of dish soap. Cover the opening with your hand and give it a vigorous shake. The rice grains act as tiny scrubbers, working their way into every corner and loosening buildup a sponge could never reach. Rinse thoroughly afterward, and the inside comes out spotless.
This trick works wonders on vases, thermoses, and glass bottles you’ve been meaning to reuse. A small funnel makes pouring the rice in even easier and less messy. No special brush required, no wasted money on tools that only work for one shape of bottle. Just rice, soap, water, and a little shake to get the job done right.