Finally Clean Those Awkward Shaped Containers Using This Edible Pantry Staple

Buying fun-shaped bottles, flasks, and other kinds of containers will add visual interest to your kitchen, dining table, and bar. They also make for gorgeous décor holders — pretty vase, anyone? However, they can be a pain to clean. Their narrow mouth, swirls, and odd nooks and crannies will render even your bottle brush ineffective. But instead of considering them a waste of money and tossing them to the back of your cabinets, use an edible pantry staple — uncooked rice — to clean all your awkward-shaped containers with ease.

This uncommon household use for rice will save you money down the line since you won't have to purchase dedicated cleaning tools. Plus, it's non-toxic and environment-friendly, so you won't have to think about how it'll affect your family or the planet. Simply combine some raw rice with your dish detergents and a little tap water to get the job done. You can even throw in a little distilled white vinegar to the mix since it's the one kind of vinegar ideal for cleaning.

Start by pouring a little uncooked rice into your dirty container. Follow this up with a dash of one of the best dish detergents to aid the rice and disinfect your awkward-shaped bottles and flasks. Then, pour in a little water. Ensure you don't add too much water, or the rice won't have enough room to swirl about. Next, plug the container's mouth with your finger or lid and give it a good shake. Add a little distilled white vinegar if it smells bad or you need some extra cleaning power.

This works because raw rice's abrasive texture will rub against the built-up grime and debris and loosen them. But while the pantry staple will be harsh on the gunk, it won't scratch your containers. After you're done shaking it, dump out the rice and the dirty water. Ensure you plug in your sink for this step, or the raw granules will make their way to your garbage disposal. Due to ready access to water, the grains can expand and clog your drain. Rinse the container one or two times more to get all the residue out.