Eggshell and Dish Soap Cleans Narrow-Necked Bottles

## Why It Works Calcium carbonate rates about 3 on the Mohs hardness scale — harder than mineral deposits and light staining, softer than glass and most metals. This makes crushed eggshell an effective mild abrasive that scours away deposits and staining without scratching the vessel. Combined with dish soap (which breaks down oils and loosens deposits chemically), the shells do the mechanical scrubbing work that a brush can't in narrow or curved spaces. ## How to Do It 1. Crush 3 to 4 eggshells into rough pieces — not powder. You want abrasive edges. 2. Drop the crushed shells into the bottle, vase, or thermos. 3. Add about a half cup of warm water and a small squeeze of dish soap. 4. Cap or cover the opening and shake vigorously for 30 to 60 seconds. Swirl as well as shake — you want the shells to contact all interior surfaces. 5. Pour out the contents and rinse thoroughly. 6. For stubborn deposits: let the shell-soap-water mixture soak for 10 to 15 minutes before shaking. ## Pro Tips - Hot water works better than cold for dissolving mineral deposits, but don't use boiling water in thin glass. - For very narrow necks, use a funnel to get the shells in without losing them. - After cleaning, shake a plain water rinse through to make sure all shell fragments are out. ## When to Use This Cleaning vases with long stems, narrow-mouthed decanters, thermos flasks, travel mugs with narrow openings, or any container where a bottle brush can't reach the bottom or sides properly.