# Cleaning Beer Bottles and Cans for Display

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-beer-bottles-and-cans-for-display/780776>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 25, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-beer-bottles-and-cans-for-display/780776 "2017-02-25T20:59:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-beer-bottles-and-cans-for-display/780776/1 "2017-02-25T20:59:00Z")

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My wife and I are enthusiastic beer tasters. We’ll try anything new and/or unusual that catch our eyes. A lot of the beer bottles and cans have very artistic designs; either silk screened on the container or a paper label. After the contents are consumed, what are the best ways to clean the bottles and cans to display them without destroying them?

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-beer-bottles-and-cans-for-display/780776/2 "2017-02-25T21:15:34Z")

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Of course if you are a collector you will want to open the cans like we did back in the beer can collecting craze of the 1970s. You got points off for a visibly opened can.

Swivel the tab top to the side and pierce a small hole under where the tab was, then swivel it back to conceal it. Turn the can over and pierce a small hole over against the side. Decant from bottom hole. Enjoy the foamy brew. Submerge the can in water to get some inside, swish it around a bit and stand upright to dry.

Dennis

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-beer-bottles-and-cans-for-display/780776/3 "2017-02-26T00:40:25Z")

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That works but to be honest most times I just drink it normally and rinse it out with very hot water being careful not to get the sides wet; then just allow to air dry.