Many persons clean bottles by putting in some small shot and shaking them around.
Water dissolves lead to a certain extent, and a film of this lead attaches itself to the sides of the bottle so closely that the shaking or rinsing with water does not detach it, and it remains to be dissolved by any liquid which has the least sourness in it, and if drank, lead poison may be the result; sometimes a shot becomes wedged in at the bottom of a bottle, to be dissolved by wine or cider. Therefore it is better to wash every bottle, as soon as emptied, with warm water and wood ashes, or salaratus, and put the bottles away, mouth open and downward; but be careful to wash again when used, as flies and other insects frequently get into open bottles.