Cleaning milky white stains off a cut glass vase

[Alison]

I've recently been given an old cut glass vase which use to belong to my nan. My mum has been using it for a number of years and it has horrible milky white stains upto where you'd put the top of the water. I'm guessing this is lime related as she's in a hard water area. I've tried everything I can think of to clean it off, vinegar, coke, dental cleaning tablets, lemon juice, steralising fluid and just washing powder in warm water and nothing has made a jot of difference. Is there anything else I could do as it's really spoiling a rather nice vase.

[Kleftiwallah]

As the milky white stains might be calcium carbonate from hard water, try soaking in vinegar overnight.

Cheers, Tony.

[WendyC]

What about trying kettle descaler?

[rustylady]

Have you tried Viakal?

[Alison]

As the milky white stains might be calcium carbonate from hard water, try soaking in vinegar overnight.

Tried that first, didn't work

What about trying kettle descaler?

Is that something you spray on or is it one of those little metal things you put in the bottom of the kettle - sorry, don't have hard water so not well up on this sort of thing

Have you tried Viakal?

Take it that's a propriety product, is it the same as kettle descaler and can you get it in the dreaded super(?)markets?

[taff]

yes, almost the same as kettle descaler [just used differently], which is not the little metal thingy, that's just to collect limescale, not to get rid of it.
kettle and other descalers - liquid/sachets - are usually activated by boiling water, so probably viakal is the way to go, rather than a descaler.

[OverWyreGrower]

Bicarb soda and water?

[Alison]

Have some bicarb at home so will try that overnight then if that doesn't work try and find some of this Viakal stuff of which you talk

[bearded bloke]

Try Cillit Bang or if you know a plumber see if you can scrounge a drop of boiler descaling fluid

[yummersetter]

Stewed rhubarb left overnight? Works on my pans.

[Alison]

Try Cillit Bang or if you know a plumber see if you can scrounge a drop of boiler descaling fluid

Funnily enough tried some bleach and mould bathroom spray last night and it seems to have made a real difference. Will wash out and do it again tonight and fingers crossed it'll work . Thanks.

Stewed rhubarb left overnight? Works on my pans.

Blimey, never heard that one - will remember to try that one in the future.

[SlugLobber]

I use citric acid to clear limescale. Mine is hardcore stuff, taken from the lab, but you can get it in Wilkos in the brewing section.

[Alison]

I use citric acid to clear limescale. Mine is hardcore stuff, taken from the lab, but you can get it in Wilkos in the brewing section.

Oh yes, that was something else I tried, not sure if it was hardcore stuff but it was left over from the stuff I used in my elderflower cordial. Had no effect whatsoever on the limescale though - seems only the bleach spray has the power. At least I won't ever have to do it again seeing as we have well behaved water

[mothhawk]

On old glass the milky stain can be surface erosion from having liquids standing in them for long periods. Have a look at this site: Sick Glass

Sometimes rubbing petroleum jelly onto the glass, leaving for a while, then polishing off can hide the milkiness. I think it fills and remains in the microscopic fissures that cause the cloudiness.

[di]

A little late to this and it seems you've already sorted it?
If I have water marks on glass I add a solution of lemon juice, vinegar and bicarb, then some grains of rice and shake it all like mad....obviously, somehow covering the top so it doesn't go everywhere.