Clean residues off crystal, glassware

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/10/2013 (4360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hi Reena,

I was able to rescue some items from our basement after being submerged in the flood waters of High River. There must have been something in the water that has left a residue on the crystal and glassware, as well as a residue on the silver and copper items that’s hard to remove and polish. Any suggestions on how to clean and/or polish the items?

Marian

Very sorry to hear that you were hit by the flood Marian.

With regards to the crystal, the condition may be permanent but soak them in a 50/50 vinegar and water mixture for an hour and polish dry with a soft cloth. For the copper items, in a ventilated area: spray each piece with WD-40, wait 10 minutes and polish with a soft cloth (test on an inconspicuous area first). To tackle the silver, either purchase silver polish or use Cerama Bryte ceramic cooktop cleaner or make your own silver cleaner: place crumpled aluminum foil in a plastic bucket. Dissolve one-quarter cup washing soda in four quarts of hot water. Place silver on foil and let stand for a few seconds, until the tarnish is gone. Remove silver, rinse and dry. Or mix one tablespoon hot vinegar, two cups water and two teaspoons salt. Soak silver for five minutes and polish.

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Dear Reena,

Is there an easy way to remove the casing from sausage rings like kielbasa and other garlic sausages?

Gerhard

Hi Gerhard,

Begin by freezing the sausage for about 30 minutes so that it becomes slightly firm. Cut the casing down one side and simply peel it. You can also begin in the middle of the sausage and pinch the meat to force it out of the casing. Twist and turn it around, wrap the casing around your fingers and then squeeze out the remainder.

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Feedback from Fabulous Readers:

Re: Cleaning Teddy Bears

Hi Reena,

I have been collecting teddy bears for over 40 years and have quite a sizeable collection of Gund, Russ, TY and other bears. What I use to clean my bears is the Woolite dry-cleaning cloths. I put from five to eight teddy bears in a large mesh bag, along with the dry-cleaning cloth, in the dryer for 20 minutes and it works wonderfully. None have ever been damaged, they come out clean and smelling really nice. I tried the Dryel cloths but I don’t like the smell of that product. The only thing is that I have to buy the Woolite Dry Cleaner’s Secret in the United States or online. I have not been able to find it here in Canada. I usually buy about four to five boxes when I am in the U.S. Each box has six cloths in it and will do about 24 garments in total. I love it!

Diane

Reena’s Note: I am assuming that Diane is using the “air” setting on the dryer and not the heat setting.

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Fabulous Tips of the Week:

• If you are in a hurry and need your shirt collar ironed, use a hair straightener. It’s faster than plugging in an iron or steamer and waiting for it to heat up.

• Collect plastic bread tags and use them as game chips (the same way that you would use poker chips) for board and card games. Submitted By: Ruth

I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can’t remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand new website: reena.ca!