How to Sanitize Old Jars Before Reusing Them

Reusing jars is one of the simplest ways to cut waste but cleaning them properly matters, especially for food, beverages, soap, or DIY refills. Here's a safe, effective at-home method for sanitizing jars, lids, pumps, and misters.

Why sanitizing matters: soap and water remove visible residue, but sanitizing cuts down on lingering bacteria, odors, and buildup, especially important for food storage, fermentation, homemade cleaners or personal care products, and refillable soap pumps or misters.

Step 1: Wash everything thoroughly. Wash jars and lids with soap and warm water, scrubbing off any residue or labels. For pumps and misters, squirt about 8 oz of soapy water through the mechanism, followed by 8 oz of clean water to rinse it out.

Step 2: Boil to sanitize. Submerge jars and components in a pot of filtered water, bring to a rolling boil, and boil 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the water cool completely before removing items, to prevent cracking.

*Note: only boil glass, metal, and heat-safe components for plastic parts, see Step 4.

Step 3: Air dry completely. Place everything on a clean towel or rack and let it air dry fully; avoid wiping interiors with cloths or paper towels, which can reintroduce lint or bacteria.

Step 4: Extra sanitizing for pumps and misters. Pump rubbing alcohol or vodka through the mechanism 10+ times, then set aside to air dry.

Step 5: Store clean until ready to use. Once fully dry, store in a clean cabinet or sealed container so everything's ready to refill without rewashing.

A few extra tips: avoid sudden temperature changes (they stress glass), replace worn or cracked lids and seals, and label jars after sanitizing.

Clean jars = safer reuse and longer life. No special tools or harsh chemicals needed, just a little time and the right steps. Shop the reCAP Mason Jar Starter Set →