Brew Tips: Cleaning Bottles

This has always seemed like a no-brainer to me, but how to keep bottles clean for homebrewing is a fairly common question.  So, here’s my take: keep the bottles wet until they are cleaned.  As soon as you pour your brew (or within an hour or two after), rinse out the bottle and make sure to get out all of the sediment and such in the bottle.  Put some dish soap in the bottle (preferably scent free, like you should be using for all of your brewing equipment) and refill it.  Let it sit for a few days to ensure everything has lifted from the surface, including the protein ring around the neck resultant from the second fermentation to bottle condition.  For particularly stubborn protein rings, run a finger along the inside of the bottle neck.  Afterwords, rinse well to get out all the soap, and store someplace clean.  Later, use a no-rinse sanitizer such as StarSan immediately before bottling (don’t fear the foam!).