Yesterday I noticed a Petalware plate had some odd yellow stuff on it. You get that with glass. Sometimes it will be old gum residue from a long-ago label, other times it’s old dirt. Sometimes it’s inside the glass. I cleaned the plate so it looked like new before shipping and that made me think you may like to know tips to clean glass.
Here we go…
Cleaning Supplies
Magic Sponge (TM). These are the most wonderful general purpose cleaning tools. The brand I use is Mr. Clean. I don’t know why they work – but they do. My yellow stuff that resisted soap and water and a Dobie pad came right off. You can use the sponge with regular dish soap or try a stronger cleaner.
The best thing about Magic Sponges is they don’t scratch. If you have weird stuff, or old food residues, ground in dirt, crayon marks, try Magic Sponge first.
Goop Off (TM). Use this if you have old label residue. Be careful and do it where you have some fresh air since this stuff smells nasty and isn’t healthy to breathe for long.
Denture Cleaner. Use a couple tabs in warm water and soak china. Sometimes it will help get glass clean too. I buy the cheapest type.
Bar Keepers Friend (TM) takes those nasty gray streaks off china.
Special Treatments for Special Dirt
What won’t clean off no matter what you do is bad haze. Sometimes if your glass has just a little haziness you can remove it with the Magic Sponge and denture cleaner, but almost always your hazy glass will break your heart. Haze from dishwashers or hard water is permanent. Some people say CLRZ – which is strong acid – will work but I’ve had no luck. Now I discard hazy glass.
The other thing that won’t come off is dirt or colorant inside the glass. This is called an occlusion and is permanent.
Glass with aged food stains or newspaper ink or crud gets nice and clean with the sponges and regular soap. I keep a bottle brush for stemware which beats trying to get your hand inside a vintage tumbler.
Candle wax comes off with hot water. First pick out what you can, then put your candle holder under running water and gradually increase the temperature.
It’s flea market season now, which means you will find nice treasures masquerading as filthy yucky glass. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on dirt – it comes off – but do avoid haze or wear. I like to bring a damp rag inside a baggy to wipe off plates before buying.
What Not to Do
Don’t put your glass in the dishwasher. I know, it’s tempting and you can get away with it for a while. Eventually glass gets stressed from the heat and the strong soap will make your glass hazy. Imagine how disappointed you would feel.
Have Fun!
Glass is supposed to sparkle and it needs to be clean. I hope these tips help you enjoy your glass!
Cambridge Rose Point Etched Crystal Line 3400 Plate