How to Clean Old Gunky Residue from a Perfume Bottle

I tried all the suggestions on the internet to clean the old gunky perfume residue from a Lalique crystal perfume bottle.  Vinegar, dish soap in  warm water, rice, CLR – nothing worked.    They loosened the residue, but seemed to make it stickier.   Plus, the bottle was made so I couldn’t scrub the inside with a pipe cleaner or bottle brush.  Here’s how the bottle looked:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desperate for a solution, I tried gasoline.  It dissolved the residue within 30 minutes and did not harm the bottle!  After removing the gasoline, I added dish soap and warm water and let it soak for a few minutes.  Then I let it air dry.  There is no gasoline smell and it’s pristine clean inside.  Take a look at the results:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first old perfume bottle I have cleaned this way, but I feel confident enough to use this method again.

Click HERE to see my photo gallery of Antique and Vintage Clothing and Accessories, including Perfume Bottles.

Look at this Brassiere that Edwardian women wore in the 1910s

This is a cotton and lace brassiere, circa 1914…The ad was found in the company’s catalogue found here:

  http://www.archive.org/details/corsetwaistsbras00hwco

…It is the same one as in the ad…It looks like it might have been tea stained to make it darker…Nowdays, this could be worn alone instead of hidden under a dress!