This Medicine Cabinet Staple Makes Your Flower Vases Sparkle Like New

Placing cut flowers in a beautiful vase is an excellent way to add a touch of color and brightness to your interiors. While the star of the display is the array of flowers, the vase is an important member of the supporting cast that must keep sparkling for the flowers to look their best. Alas, dust, dirt, debris, and mineral deposits make these glass containers look anything but. Grimy vases can also harbor bacteria and affect the longevity of the flowers. Fortunately, a medicine cabinet staple can give your flower vase a much-needed cleaning.

Alka-Seltzer has multiple uses around the house besides offering pain relief. The effervescent tablets will cut through grime and loosen stubborn calcium deposits to make vases sparkle like new. The best part? If you have a uniquely shaped vase, like one with a narrow mouth that can't fit your hand or a brush through, you can use this Alka-Seltzer cleaning hack to remove the dirt and grime without bending your fingers at awkward angles.

Begin by rinsing the dirty vase in cold or lukewarm water to get rid of accumulated dirt and debris. Now, gather the supplies. You'll need two Alka-Seltzer tablets, some hot water, a narrow bottle brush (a toothbrush works, too), and a dirty vase. When you have everything, pour the hot water into the vase until the grimy and cloudy areas are submerged. Ensure you leave space at the top for the tablets to fizz without overflowing.

Then, simply drop the two tablets into the vase and let them work their magic until the tablets stop fizzing. This will allow them to loosen the stuck deposits. You can also leave the vase undisturbed for 20 minutes to four hours, depending on how dirty the vase is. After the time is up, dump the water and Alka-Seltzer solution down the drain, scrub with the brush (if needed), and thoroughly rinse the vase with fresh water. This will ensure the flowers are not affected by the chemicals in the Alka-Seltzer tablets. Once clean, let the vase air dry (or wipe it) before using it again.