To clean or not to clean, that is the question.

[DrWatson]

Does cleaning/tumbling reduce or increase a bottles value?

 

[slugplate]

It depends on the buyer. Some collectors like them pristine looking while others like the natural look. Personally speaking, I prefer them in a natural state, of course I hand clean them the best I can and that's it. Historical objects are never found with the just out of the factory look. Just my taste.

 

[Screwtop]

It depends on how bad the bottle in question is.

 

[JarDoctor]

90+% want clean bottles even in cheaper ones. The original state was not stained or etched. And, cleaned bottles/any antique glass brings a higher price. Very few want to display dirty, stained bottles.

 

[APOTHEHUTCH]

In my opinion tumbling destroys the bottle. It removes glass & turns the bottle into something it never was...Some people choose art over history & would rather have that shiny bottle in the window. Some people don't care about stain & want the bottle to have all the glass it was born with.