stephmodo: How to Dry a Bottle

How to Dry a Bottle

• 21 February 2013



IKEA is a bit like H+M...you are almost always guaranteed to find something attractive for a cheap price.  But, every now and again, you come across a real keeper; meaning, the quality and design of the product visibly surpass the price.  For me, the tall, glass Korken bottles are just that.  They are versatile (I use them for every type of gathering), inexpensive ($4 a pop) and even made in Italy (you were expecting China, right?).  I've owned a half dozen for a few years now and haven't lost a single one, which further indicates their sturdiness (I thank Italy for that).  In fact, on my quarterly trip to IKEA, I am always tempted to pick up a few more.  The idea of a dozen all lined up in a row on a shelf just makes me happy (this kitchen would provide the ideal backdrop, yes?).

Now, the only drawback to using (and subsequently, cleaning) these bottles is the issue of how to dry them out; that narrow spout makes it quite challenging!  However, I discovered a solution recently that seemed to do the trick better than anything else I've ever tried.  All you need is a white, IKEA napkin--the one that comes in a pack of 100 for $3 (appropriately called "Fantastik"!).  It is a 3-ply napkin and therefore, highly absorbant.  Not only do these napkins do a great job wicking away moisture from the bottle's interior, but they serve as the perfect, basic dinner napkin.



Here are 5 easy steps to a clean, dry bottle:

1.  Take one, white IKEA napkin and lay it flat on the counter.

2.  Roll the napkin into a narrow funnel, starting at the creased corner and moving towards the opposite corner.

3.  Carefully place the rolled, napkin baton through the neck, until there is an inch of napkin left at the top.

4.  Fold the napkin overhang securely over the spout, so the napkin won't fall into the bottle.

5.  Sit the bottle on the counter in a cool, dry, and dim place, until all the moisture is gone.  Repeat with a new, clean napkin if moisture is excessive and not gone within a day or two.

images by me, Stephanie Brubaker, for stephmodo

13 comments:

  1. Brilliant! I have a bunch of similar bottles, which I keep around for kombucha and other fermented drinks. But they always take forever to dry and end up on my drying rack for about a week or so. Can't wait to try this :)

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  2. These are perfect (and cost effective!)
    K xx

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  3. Practical and perfect solution. So like you!

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  4. What a great tip! I'm curious how you use the bottles (for serving drinks or maybe decor)?

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  5. Yay! Happy to know we are all in the same boat here. I hope you have success with this tip!

    Claire, I use them for serving water. It's a dressy way to offer it, amidst the prettier, juice-based drinks. I've found the bottles difficult to clean (and not just dry), if I pour drinks with pulp in them (any fruit juice, punch, etc.). So, I stick with water :)

    I haven't used them for vases yet, but I bet I will at some point!

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  6. I bought 3 of them last time I was at IKEA, but I haven't used them yet. Every time I see them in my cupboard, I'm reminded that I need to do something amazing with them!

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  7. Thanks for answering my question, Stephanie. I'm going to pick some up next time I hit IKEA.

    P.S. I only routinely check a few blogs and yours is by far my favorite. Thanks so much for your beautiful and helpful posts that brighten my day!

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  8. I have 12 of these that I use for my everyday water bottles. I know they are rather cumbersome for some people, but we drink a lot of water and I much prefer drinking from glass than plastic or metal!

    We pull them out of the fridge as needed throughout the day. I even throw them in my purse! They wash up well in our dishwasher, angled on the bottom rack. I don't even bother drying ours. I just rinse them out to make sure there is no dishwashing residue, then fill them with filtered water and refrigerate. Highly recommend as well!

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  9. I love those napkins, now they have an additional use!

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  10. I put all bottles and glasses under the ceiling fan in the kitchen, they
    dry spotless.

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  11. Stephanie, I love your blog and always find your ideas so inspirational! Thanks for sharing!
    P.S. I so loved the idea of a glasss water bottle of good quality from Ikea. I stopped by my local ikea and picked up a couple to try. So far so good, but mine ARE made in China. Kind of sad, I was hoping to support someone else's economy. I try to make it a point to buy things made elsewhere, Europe or Middle East, Africa.

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  12. if you're interested to make your page (www dot stephmodo dot com) accessible, readable and userfriendly to all ages of internet users - including adults - suggest make the font-type and text high-contrast: black. cheers.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to drop a line. I really appreciate it!

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