Undoubtedly, to many, washing bottles is the most tedious job when it comes to making a batch of wine. One way that many people try to save time is to utilize the dishwasher to wash their bottles.

What do we think? Dishwashers are great way to wash the outside of your bottles. Let me repeat that…. Dishwashers are great way to wash the outside of your bottles. Dishwashers do not do a good job of cleaning the inside of your wine bottles. Dishwasher detergent is also perfumed and can leave a film on your bottles that may taint your wine.

Some people like to think that by putting their dishwasher on the heat cycle they will sterilize their bottles. Not true! The temperature does not get high enough to rid of nasty creatures that can harm your wine.

So, dishwashers are not effective for cleaning bottles. Now, if you remain unconvinced, please, please don’t use dishwasher detergent. Instead fill your reservoir with chlorinated cleaner – the pink stuff. Chlorinated cleaner is not perfumed and will not produce a film on your bottles.
What do we recommend? Keep a tub of chlorinated cleaner near your sink. Always wash your bottles with chlorinated cleaner after you finish drinking your wine and before the wine dries in the bottle. Then put your bottles away upside down, in a cardboard wine box so the water runs out. This will prevent any mould forming in the bottles. When it is bottling time, remove your clean bottles from the cardboard box and sterilize. One less step in the process.