# Shaking a container to clean it - idle sink thoughts **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117 "2023-10-04T21:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/21 "2023-10-05T11:38:45Z")
“I know a old lady who swallowed a fly…” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/22 "2023-10-05T12:46:29Z")
I used to fight to get my PB jars clean enough to recycle, but a while ago I consciously decided that it is not worth the battle. Ain’t nobody got time for that. So now I just toss them into the regular trash (where, I believe, most of my recycle material ends up anyway). I guess I’ll never make Saint Mustard. mmm ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/23 "2023-10-05T13:46:24Z")
> [@Lurking\_Quahog](#): > > I just give the peanut butter jar to the dog. Ten minutes later, clean as a whistle! That’s what I came here to say! It keeps them busy and quiet for a while and I get a clean PB jar. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/24 "2023-10-05T13:57:30Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > Surely this is a class of problem that industrial process engineers have worked on? Does it have a name? It is, and believe it or not, the term is “Cleaning Processes” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/25 "2023-10-05T19:59:06Z")
I used to keep a length of light brass lamp chain for cleaning out bottles for brewing and winemaking - it’s easier to control than beads ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/26 "2023-10-05T20:06:49Z")
Not to buzz kill the dogs joy, but…I can see one of daughters Chihuahuas with a jar stuck on their heads.😮 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/27 "2023-10-05T20:16:37Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > I had an idle sink thought while washing a peanut butter jar before putting it in the recycling. My technique was to fill the jar about half full with hot soapy water and then shake it violently to make a saturated peanut butter emulsion, then repeat as many times as needed to get the jar ‘clean enough’. Yeah, shaking it works. **But just recap the peanut butter jar and toss.** You use far more energy and resources trying to clean it, and there is a reasonable chance it will go to landfill anyway. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I used to fight to get my PB jars clean enough to recycle, but a while ago I consciously decided that it is not worth the battle. Ain’t nobody got time for that. > > So now I just toss them into the regular trash (where, I believe, most of my recycle material ends up anyway). You were right. But be sure to recap, since critters will get their faces stuck in the jar if you dont. Unless you have a dog 😀… but make sure there is adult supervision. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/28 "2023-10-05T21:51:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But what do you use to get the dawn out? 🙂 Sunset. My way of getting peanut butter out is to never eat peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/29 "2023-10-05T21:58:43Z")
If you tossed my mom’s dog a used peanut butter jar, then ten minutes later, there wouldn’t be any peanut butter left… but there also wouldn’t be any jar left. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/30 "2023-10-05T23:30:56Z")
I like that. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/31 "2023-10-09T14:18:47Z")
🤣 I guess a small dog would have issues. Mine - Great Dane, German Shepherd, and Boxer have the problem of not being able to fit their noses all the way in to get to the bottom! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/32 "2023-10-09T14:24:31Z")
You people are way too energetic. I just throw the damned jar away, PB and all. My failure to recycle a small plastic jar every six months or so likely won’t kill the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/33 "2023-10-09T15:38:45Z")
Galactic News Today The death of an insignificant minor planet on the outer rim has been attributed to the failure of one of the residents to properly recycle peanut butter jars. What exactly those are remains a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117/34 "2023-10-09T19:51:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You people are way too energetic. I just throw the damned jar away, PB and all. My failure to recycle a small plastic jar every six months or so likely won’t kill the planet. Right, and my recycle people even say to not bother with more than a quick rinse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaking-a-container-to-clean-it-idle-sink-thoughts/991117.md?page=1)