The beauty of essential oil dropper bottles is that they don’t have to be used solely as containers for essential oils. In fact, once the oil inside is gone, they have hundreds of different uses! So instead of throwing away your glass dropper bottle, you can clean and prepare your dropper bottle for all your upcycling!
Remove tags
After you've added the last drop of essential oil to your dropper bottle, it's time to remove the label and prepare the dropper bottle for cleaning. If you have trouble removing the label and its residue, a simple method is to soak the bottle in a bowl of warm water mixed with a few drops of dish soap for 5-10 minutes or more before peeling off the label. If any stubborn residue is left, apply some oil and scrub with a sponge, brush or even your fingers.
Disassemble and soak bottles, droppers, and caps
Once the label and its residue are completely removed, you can begin to disassemble the glass dropper bottle. If necessary, use a bottle opener designed for essential oil droppers to separate the cap and dropper from the dropper bottle. If you don't have a bottle opener, use rubber gloves or a towel for extra grip. Some essential oil stores will even let you return the bottle to them for free so they can open it for you.
Remove excess glue
If you're still having trouble removing the label glue after soaking, scrubbing, and removing, don't worry! There are also plenty of tips and tricks to keep your bottles looking pristine and residue-free. While you can keep trying soaking and wiping, a better way to deal with stubborn glue is to scrub with a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil, and your favorite non-greasing essential oil. Mix together two parts baking soda to one part coconut oil until it forms a paste consistency. Then, add a few drops of your favorite non-fat essential oil, such as sweet orange or lemon.
Thoroughly rinse and scrub components
Once you've removed any residue and disassembled the glass dropper bottle, you can give the components a final good cleaning. Clean the dropper assembly by placing it in a large bowl of warm, soapy water and soaking it for 10-15 minutes. Use cotton swabs to scrub hard-to-reach areas. If you're still having trouble removing the old odor from your dropper bottle, try soaking the components in a little vinegar before cleaning them a second time.
Drying bottles, caps and droppers
The final step in cleaning your glass dropper bottle is to allow all components (bottle, cap, and dropper) to dry completely. If your dropper bottle is a little damp, it may reduce its usability or even encourage mold growth. Wipe each component down with a towel and let the glass dropper bottle air dry for a few days before upcycling. Check each gap for moisture before reusing.
Reuse as needed
Finally, you can reuse your glass dropper bottle! If you're having trouble figuring out how to reuse a dropper bottle, there are plenty of ideas here. Dropper bottles are not limited to storing essential oils! They can also be used for crafts with your kids, home decorations, or even for your Christmas tree! The opportunities for upgrading and remodeling are endless.
