Vinegar Bottles for Storage?

d2photographic · Feb 15, 2012

Hi all, just a quick question:

I work in food service, and I can easily save used up gallon jugs of vinegar from my job if I want. They're dark green and don't let in much light, so I figure they would be ideal for chemical storage. My only worry is about is about the acidity. Even after rinsing/washing the jugs out, do you think any lingering acidity from the vinegar would affect developer and such?

Thanks!

vyshemirsky · Feb 15, 2012

Are those jugs glass or plastic? In any case, I think they may still be usable - wash well with soda bicarbonate solution, then rinse many times with water.
Glass containers would be easier to clean I guess.

fotch · Feb 15, 2012

Look on the bottom of the jug and see what the plastic code is. Some plastic material is ok, some not. Personally, I have gone back to dark amber glass for most of my storage.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 15, 2012

If it's glass, you can wash the bottle out with soap and water and you can use it for developer. But if it's plastic, I would not put developer in it but I would think it would be fine for stop bath or fixer. Ideally, glass bottles for photochemistry should be brown glass.

toro_mike · Feb 15, 2012

I've used plastic vinegar bottles for all sorts of chemicals (including Dektol) with no problems. Just was it out really, really good (soap/hot water).

My $.02 anyway

fotch · Feb 15, 2012

If I recall, developer should only be stored in bottles marked as PETE 1, because they don't allow oxygen to get in easily. As you probably already know, oxygen is what ages your developer. Other chemicals can be stored in most any bottles. FWIW, my bottle of vinegar is stamped on the bottom HPD 2, which is not what you want for developer. It is also a clear color.

If you search the threads, you will find many posts about plastic use in the darkroom. The color is probably a non issue. I like the brown for both the traditional look as well as alerting me that it is a chemical. If you use water or soda bottles, just be sure to have them labeled so you don't have an accident. Some like beer bottles, just remove the label.

d2photographic · Feb 15, 2012

I've been using a 16 oz. grape soda bottle to hold stop bath inside the water bath, but besides that, I have only used containers designated for photo chemicals. Thanks everyone for the replies!

L Gebhardt · Feb 15, 2012

Clear bottles are fine for developer. Just keep them out of strong light (like in your darkroom, not on the windowsill). So green should be just fine too.

dehk · Feb 15, 2012

I wont use vinegar bottles for developer, stop and fixer is fine. Use a pop bottle, you can squeeze the air out.

Athiril · Feb 16, 2012

I use V8 juice glass bottles, they are liquid tight and have a very wide lip.

toro_mike · Feb 18, 2012

Athiril said:
I use V8 juice glass bottles, they are liquid tight and have a very wide lip.

I used to use juice bottles (orange juice, etc), which are similar to V8 bottles, but the lids kept getting eaten through. Fix and Stop especially destroyed the lids, though I never stored developer in these. They were very convenient though.

Vinegar Bottles for Storage?

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