How To Clean Vases With Narrow Necks

15 great ways to clean a narrow neck vase

15 great ways to clean a narrow neck vase

Vinegar

Vinegar is a great way to clean your vase. It’s also safe for you and the environment because it is natural and nontoxic. In addition, the acid in the vinegar will dissolve any sticky residue that you might find inside of your vase, making it shine like new again.

Make up a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar if you prefer), and pour it into the vase. If your vase is not very dirty, then only fill it halfway with this solution so that you can still carefully scrub around to get all of the tough stains out. But, if your vase is extremely dirty, then fill it up entirely so that there isn’t a risk of it spilling over.

Citric acid

Citric acid is another excellent way to clean your vase. It’s usually found in the produce aisle of the supermarket, or you can purchase it online. You can use it straight out of the bottle because citric acid won’t damage your vase-like vinegar would.

First, fill up your empty, dirty vase with three-quarters of the water and one-quarter citric acid. Shake it well so that the solution mixes, and let it sit overnight to dissolve any dirt or grime inside of your vase. In the morning, rinse out the vase with clean water before you refill it for use.

Soda and newspaper bits

Stuff some newspaper bits into the vase and close the opening with a lid or rubber band. Pour in enough soda to soak up into the paper, and then dump it out. The citric acid soaked into the paper will help clean your vase while you wait for it to do its thing. Once again, leave overnight so that the newspaper can do its work on the vase. Then, dump out any excess soda in the morning and rinse out your clean vase with water until all of the acidic soda is gone.

Toilet/Bathroom cleaner

You can also use a toilet or bathroom cleaner to clean your vase. It should be able to dissolve any dirt trapped inside while having no issues with etching or damaging the surface of your vase. Just pour in enough cleaner to cover every part of the vase’s interior, and gently rub off all of the grime with a soft cloth in circular motions. Finish off by rinsing out the vase with fresh, clean water until all the cleaner is gone.

Baking soda and rice

Pour a cup of uncooked rice into your vase, and then pour in enough baking soda to cover the rice. Next, use a chopstick or other long stick to mix up all of these ingredients so that they combine well. The baking soda is what will absorb the dirt as the rice acts as a scrubber for you. After about an hour or two, all you have to do is dump out the mixture and rinse out your clean vase.

Sand and washing detergent

You can also use sand as a scrubber to clean your vase. Mix just enough washing detergent with water that the sand will cling to it well, and then dump it into your vase. You can put in some small rocks or pebbles too if you want because they will scrub away dirt with little effort on your part. Let the sand sit in your vase for an hour or two before rinsing it out with clean water.

Baking soda and water

You can also use baking soda and water to clean your vase. This combination is typically used to scrub away clogs in drains, but it works well for cleaning your vase too.

First, mix the same ratio of ingredients as you would if you were using them to unclog a drain (one cup of baking soda with one cup of water). Next, pour your solution into the vase, and scrub away all dirt with a sponge or dishrag. Once you finish, rinse out your vase until all baking soda is gone to leave it shining like new again.

Cola

Cola is another excellent item you can use to clean your vase. Pour enough cola into the vase so that it reaches just below the opening. Leave the solution overnight, and in the morning, give it a good scrub with a sponge or cloth before rinsing out all of the soda residues with water.

Using a washcloth

You can also use a sponge or dish rag to clean your vase by hand when you don’t have any of these chemical cleaning agents on hand. Just pour a little bit of soap or dish detergent into the vase, and then add some water while scrubbing the inside to remove any residue.

Denture tablets

You can also use denture tablets to clean your vase. Pour just enough water into the vase so that it reaches about halfway up its neck, and then drop in around six of these tablets before letting them sit for an hour or two. After they have had time to fizz away any stains, dump out the solution and rinse your vase with clean water.

A toothbrush or baby bottle brush

You can also use a toothbrush or baby bottle brush to clean the insides of your vase’s neck. Put some dish detergent on the bristles, and rub away any dirt with a little bit of elbow grease until the vase is nice and shiny again. You can finish off by rinsing out your vase to remove all of the soap residues.

Bleach and water solution

If you want to use bleach to clean your vase, pour in enough water so that it reaches halfway up the neck. You don’t need to add soap or dish detergent because the solution will foam up well when you drop in some bleach. Let this sit for about an hour before dumping it out and rinsing the vase with clean water.

Alka seltzer tablets

Another way you can use to clean your vase is by dropping in a few Alka Seltzer tablets. First, pour enough water into the vase so that it reaches halfway up its neck, and then drop in some of these tablets before letting them sit for an hour or two. After they have had time to fizz away any stains, dump out the solution and rinse your vase with clean water.

Lemons

If you don’t have any of these chemical cleaning agents on hand, you can use lemons or vinegar to clean your vase. Just fill it with distilled white vinegar or lemon juice and scrub away the grime until your vase is nice and sparkling again.

Of course, you will need to dump out the solution afterward and then rinse out your vase with clean water. Lemons are also a great way to remove hard water stains from your vase.

Windex/glass cleaner or household spray cleaner

A more high-tech way of cleaning a vase is by using some Windex or a household spray cleaner. This is also great if your vase isn’t made of clay but instead is more of a glass vase. Pour enough of the liquid into the vase so that it reaches about halfway up its neck, and let this sit for an hour before scrubbing away all of the grime with a rag or sponge. Always rinse out your vase after using these types of cleaning agents because they can leave behind unpleasant odors.

How to clean the outside of a narrow neck vase

how to clean the outside of a narrow neck vase

Toothpaste

If you have a vase with a narrow neck, you can use toothpaste and a toothbrush to clean the outside of it. First, wipe away any dirt or grime from the surface before rubbing in some baking soda or salt to form a paste. Next, use this mixture to scrub out the stubborn stains on your vase’s surface before rinsing it off with water.

Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate)

Another way to clean the outside of your vase is by using some cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) with a dishcloth. Just add enough water to this powder until it forms a paste, and then scrub away the dirt with this cloth while dipping it into some water every few passes. You can finish off by rinsing your vase with water to remove the soap residues.

Salt and vinegar

You can use salt and vinegar to clean the outside of your vase. First, mix in some salt to form a thick paste, and then use this mixture to scrub away any stubborn dirt before rinsing it off with water. If you want to, you can add in some dish soap or baking soda so that it fizzes up to give your vase a more thorough clean.

How to dry a vase

how to dry a vase

To rid your vase of all traces of moisture, prop it up with some rolled-up newspapers in a place that has plenty of air circulation. The newspaper will absorb all of the water before your vase can start to grow mold, and then you can use it again when everything is nice and dry.

What causes a vase to get dirty and collect buildup inside?

what causes a vase to get dirty and collect buildup inside

When dirt, dust, or debris gets into the vase’s neck, it can fall to the bottom since there is no other way for it to escape. This dirty material will settle in the bottom of your vase before causing mold and bacteria to develop because water droplets are always hanging around in the opening.

What can be done if a vase neck opening is too small?

what can be done if a vase neck opening is too small

If your vase neck opening is too small, you can use vinegar to clean your vase out. Just pour it into the opening, and let it sit there for about an hour before scrubbing away all of the grime that has collected at the bottom. Then, rinse off your vase with water to remove any residue that may have been left behind.

James Marshall

About the author

James is a business management professional and consultant with a former background in maintenance, repair, and hands-on projects. He enjoys DIY tasks and maintenance around the home as well as part-time writing. Read more »