reusing used ejuice bottles question

[kaahn]

Quick question...might be a stupid one...but can I also boil the dropper caps with the glass bottles to sterilize them without them melting? I'm planning on reusing my old 15ml glass dropper bottles for my DIY flavorings. I know I can remove the dropper part but my concern is the bulb part melting under the heat and I'm afraid if I don't sterilize them they will contaminate my flavorings. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Also how many of you actually transfer your flavorings to glass? Is it worth it to do or OK just to use the flavoring from the bottles they come in?

 

[Steelgirl]

I use my dishwasher and put the rubber bulbs in silverware spot. So far so good. Maybe won't last a lifetime but ok so far.

 

[iamthevoice]

I've had no issues with them melting. One another note, things can be sterile, yet still be unclean. They are not interchangeable terms. In most cases, flavoring components can be removed by an alcohol rinse, which acts like a solvent for most of them.

 

[KattMamma]

I hand wash mine in the sink but vodka or everclear would get the residue/smell and sterilize them too!

 

[DELxCMB]

Hmmmm.. I need to try vodka to clean all my stuff

 

[kaahn]

How about isopropyl alcohol? Will that remove the chance of cross contamination? Or would that be not advisable to use? Like soak in isop alcohol then soak and rinse in hot water. Again like I said I'm planning to reuse these 15ml bottles for my mixing flavors. I'm still wondering if its still worth the effort to change my flavor concentrates to glass bottles even? I am planning to do all my mixing by weight and use dropper bottles for my flavor additives.

 

[KattMamma]

With isopropyl alcohol you would need to thoroughly rinse (which negates the sterilization unless the water is sterile too). With vodka or everclear there's no need to rinse.

 

[twgbonehead]

I also believe that isopropyl alcohol is a harsher solvent, which might attack the rubber cap more aggressively. (Some have reported that it can degrade o-rings). Stick with vodka, the Breakfast of Champions!

 

[mattiem]

I transfer all of my flavorings to glass. I don't use the dropper caps on any of them but I use a syringe and go by % instead of drops or weight. Personally I wouldn't be comfortable with my flavorings coming in contact with the rubber. Since I shake my bottles each time before using I would be concerned with it touching the rubber each time and contaminating it.

A friend had left a lot of her flavorings in the plastic bottles they came in. they were all stored together in a plastic box. It took a while for it to happen but they cross contaminated each other and had to be tossed. These were some flavors that she had bought and didn't use right away. Some of them were a couple of years old so it took a bit of time for it to happen.

 

[YoursTruli]

I transfer all of my flavorings to glass. I don't use the dropper caps on any of them but I use a syringe and go by % instead of drops or weight. Personally I wouldn't be comfortable with my flavorings coming in contact with the rubber. Since I shake my bottles each time before using I would be concerned with it touching the rubber each time and contaminating it.

A friend had left a lot of her flavorings in the plastic bottles they came in. they were all stored together in a plastic box. It took a while for it to happen but they cross contaminated each other and had to be tossed. These were some flavors that she had bought and didn't use right away. Some of them were a couple of years old so it took a bit of time for it to happen.

I know this thread is a little older but I had that question, if the eliquid would degrade the rubber in the glass droppers if stored that way. I vaguely remember old threads where this happened ? or am I wrong ? I am wondering and went in search of an answer because a friend of mine gave me quite a few brand new 50ml glass bottles with the glass dropper lids/caps because she knows I keep all of my eliquid in glass bottles and she has no use for them. I would love to use them but something was nagging me in the back of my mind after I filled the first one about this...

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Here in a good place to get glass bottles, caps, and droppers : Glass Bottles, Jars, Closures & More | Packaging Options Direct

 

[mattiem]

I keep most of my e-juice in glass dropper bottles. My only concern is storing my flavorings in them. I don't know that it would cause any problems but I'm not willing to take a chance.

 

[Cloudmann]

Everclear or STRONG vodka. Buy the cheap stuff. Put the bottles and all of their parts (separated) into a closed container full and let it sit overnight. Then let it air dry. Just like new. I generally do the same with my tanks about once a month.

 

[YoursTruli]

Here in a good place to get glass bottles, caps, and droppers : Glass Bottles, Jars, Closures & More | Packaging Options Direct

I found
Specialty Bottle - Wholesale Glass Bottles, Glass & Plastic Jars, Tins, Vials
to be all around cheaper and caps/droppers come with the bottles

 

[YoursTruli]

I keep most of my e-juice in glass dropper bottles. My only concern is storing my flavorings in them. I don't know that it would cause any problems but I'm not willing to take a chance.

Is it unflavored ejuice that you store in the bottles with the glass droppers? I was looking to store flavored ejuice that I made but I am worried it might degrade the rubber over time.

 

[mattiem]

Is it unflavored ejuice that you store in the bottles with the glass droppers? I was looking to store flavored ejuice that I made but I am worried it might degrade the rubber over time.

No, it is my flavored juice. I have at least 12 different ones that I use regularly and I keep those in glass bottles with droppers. They are my working bottles. I usually make my favorites up 30 mls at a time and have them in the dropper bottles. I have a couple of flavored ejuices that I make up 120mls at a time. Those I store in a glass bottle with poli-cone caps.. I just refill my 30 ml dropper bottles from those. I think flavored ejuice will keep for quite a while in the glass dropper bottles.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I found
Specialty Bottle - Wholesale Glass Bottles, Glass & Plastic Jars, Tins, Vials
to be all around cheaper and caps/droppers come with the bottles

I found the prices to be comparable between Specialty Bottle and Packaging Options Direct. Shipping may be a little cheaper with the Packaging Options Store.
The reason I posted it was because of the discussions about reusing the droppers and concern about cross contamination. Packaging does sell caps and droppers separately if someone was concerned about the contamination issue. Both are good companies.

 

[JD1]

Hydrogen Peroxide mixed half and half with water is one of the best mouth washes available, and it's equally great at cleaning vape gear and bottles. Just use cold or warm (not hot) water if you want to try it.

 

[renacer]

I think cheap vodka soaks followed by prolonged rinsing with hot but not boiling water is the most reliable and safe way to go.

 

[KattMamma]

Here in a good place to get glass bottles, caps, and droppers : Glass Bottles, Jars, Closures & More | Packaging Options Direct

Thank you Sir!! I've been meaning to find a place that sells droppers and caps separately - you did it for me!!