[apes1978]

Hi, i have been saving my jars in anticipation of making lots of strawberry jam and chutneys.  

The problem is that even though ive washed the jars, i can still smell the remains of what was previously in them.  Is it ok to steralise the jars in milton fluid or just throw them and start again?

[WG.]

Store the empties with the lids off.

If the smell is strong, best to separate sweet / savoury, i.e. ex-jam jars for jam, pickle/chutney/sauce jars for chutneys

[ytyynycefn]

Once you've washed them in hot soapy water and rinsed out with boiling, and dried in the oven just before you fill them (well, that's what I do!), there's very little smell left.

[apes1978]

Thanks everyone, i wont throw them away just yet then!

[GrannieAnnie]

I could still smell pickles a bit in some of mine, even after I'vd dried them, so I put them in a bowl of water with a little bicaronate of soda, then re-rinsed and dried them.  No smell!!!!

[Annie]

Definatly bicarb,as grannieannie says.

[apes1978]

thanks, how much bicarb should i put in?

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Apes, I just chucked some in, but perhaps a tablespoon in a washing up bowl?  Swish it around and just leave your jars to soak for a few minutes.  Take one out and smell it, if smell still there, maybe a little more bicarb, but that should be enough.