a Crystal Tip

[Wayne]

I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some gifted, and
some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to wash it and prevent
a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for display.

I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.
This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled water and rubbing
alcohol.

Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up to 2
years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If they're not
handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain unclouded for a
prolonged period of time.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

[Vox Humana]

"Wayne" <waynebw@att.net> wrote in message
news:Xns94EC7EC4BF78Fwaynebw@204.127.36.1...
> I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some gifted, and
> some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to wash it and
prevent
> a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for display.
>
> I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.
> This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled water and
rubbing
> alcohol.
>
> Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up to 2
> years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If they're not
> handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain unclouded for a
> prolonged period of time.
>
> --

Thanks for the suggestion, and just in time. I have a lot of stemware in a
display case and it is time to clean it. I once heard someone say that they
used alcohol to rinse the glassware, but when I asked for details I didn't
get a reply.

[Wayne]

"Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:yBbqc.270$zM5.245@fe1.columbus.rr.com:

>
> "Wayne" <waynebw@att.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns94EC7EC4BF78Fwaynebw@204.127.36.1...
>> I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some
>> gifted, and some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to
>> wash it and
> prevent
>> a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for
>> display.
>>
>> I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white
>> vinegar. This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled
>> water and
> rubbing
>> alcohol.
>>
>> Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up
>> to 2 years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If
>> they're not handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain
>> unclouded for a prolonged period of time.
>>
>> --
>
> Thanks for the suggestion, and just in time. I have a lot of stemware
> in a display case and it is time to clean it. I once heard someone
> say that they used alcohol to rinse the glassware, but when I asked
> for details I didn't get a reply.

You're welcome. Glad it was timely.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

[Dave]

New to the group witha ? "Somewhere" I heard of mixing the two (vinegar
and iso alcoholol) in water (not distilled) for cleaning windows. I have an
interest in chemistry, but not enough to do this type of equation (between
acetic acid and iso alcohol with water as a standby). Any reasons you know
of NOT to mix the two in water? I could always ask in the sci.chem
newsgroup, and may eventually do that, but thought I would ask here first
since my source was on the subject of cleaning.
Just wondering...

TIA

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

"Wayne" <waynebw@att.net> wrote in message
news:Xns94EC7EC4BF78Fwaynebw@204.127.36.1...
> I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some gifted, and
> some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to wash it and
prevent
> a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for display.
>
> I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.
> This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled water and
rubbing
> alcohol.
>
> Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up to 2
> years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If they're not
> handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain unclouded for a
> prolonged period of time.
>
> --
> Wayne in Phoenix
>
> Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

[Wayne]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:c8btle$u68@library2.airnews.net:

> New to the group witha ? "Somewhere" I heard of mixing the two
> (vinegar and iso alcoholol) in water (not distilled) for cleaning
> windows. I have an interest in chemistry, but not enough to do this
> type of equation (between acetic acid and iso alcohol with water as a
> standby). Any reasons you know of NOT to mix the two in water? I
> could always ask in the sci.chem newsgroup, and may eventually do
> that, but thought I would ask here first since my source was on the
> subject of cleaning. Just wondering...
>
> TIA
>
> Dave
> db5151@hotmail.com
>

AFAIK, there is no reason not to mix both the vinegar and alcohol in
water. In fact, I use such a mixture when I clean windows. I feel the
crystal requires a more detailed approach since it's under display and
under bright lighting.

The premise for mixing them in separate solutions is that the vinegar
solution does the cleaning, cutting filmy or greasy deposits, whereas the
alcohol solution is used as a final rinse with the alcohol providing more
rapid evaporation and leaving virtually no film. The fact that the
vinegar solution becomes "soiled" itself would allow for a slight film to
deposit on the crystal if not rinsed after cleaning.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

[Wayne]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:c8btle$u68@library2.airnews.net:

> New to the group witha ? "Somewhere" I heard of mixing the two
> (vinegar and iso alcoholol) in water (not distilled) for cleaning
> windows. I have an interest in chemistry, but not enough to do this
> type of equation (between acetic acid and iso alcohol with water as a
> standby). Any reasons you know of NOT to mix the two in water? I
> could always ask in the sci.chem newsgroup, and may eventually do
> that, but thought I would ask here first since my source was on the
> subject of cleaning. Just wondering...
>
> TIA
>
> Dave
> db5151@hotmail.com

No, I know of no reason not to mix the vinegar and alcohol. In fact, I
use such a mixture with tap water when I clean windows.

The premise of using them separately with crystal is that the vinegar
water cleans and cuts filmy deposits, but even that single solution would
eventually leave a film. The solution with alcohol provides a final
rinse with the alcohol providing more rapid evaporation as the articles
are dried and also leaves virtually no film.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.

[Phisherman]

You will get better results with separate wipings, first with the
vinegar followed by the alcohol. The alcohol strips away any residue
left by the vinegar cleaning and dries quickly. A glass cleaner may
contain a mix of both vinegar and alcohol for the convenience. There
is not enough acetic acid (in a household product) or heat to cause a
chemical reaction when these are mixed.

On Mon, 17 May 2004 21:43:20 -0500, "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote:

>New to the group witha ? "Somewhere" I heard of mixing the two (vinegar
>and iso alcoholol) in water (not distilled) for cleaning windows. I have an
>interest in chemistry, but not enough to do this type of equation (between
>acetic acid and iso alcohol with water as a standby). Any reasons you know
>of NOT to mix the two in water? I could always ask in the sci.chem
>newsgroup, and may eventually do that, but thought I would ask here first
>since my source was on the subject of cleaning.
>Just wondering...
>
>TIA
>
>Dave
>db5151@hotmail.com
>
>"Wayne" <waynebw@att.net> wrote in message
>news:Xns94EC7EC4BF78Fwaynebw@204.127.36.1...
>> I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some gifted, and
>> some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to wash it and
>prevent
>> a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for display.
>>
>> I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.
>> This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled water and
>rubbing
>> alcohol.
>>
>> Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up to 2
>> years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If they're not
>> handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain unclouded for a
>> prolonged period of time.
>>
>> --
>> Wayne in Phoenix
>>
>> Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.
>

[Dave]

Thanks, Phisherman.

The answers you provided were what I had finally come up with on my own,
after thinking about it a couple of days. Still, I appreciate the input.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

"Phisherman" <nobody@noone.com> wrote in message
news:as0ka0ld85nbsebq5cnvg0tbmfiujt83hi@4ax.com...
> You will get better results with separate wipings, first with the
> vinegar followed by the alcohol. The alcohol strips away any residue
> left by the vinegar cleaning and dries quickly. A glass cleaner may
> contain a mix of both vinegar and alcohol for the convenience. There
> is not enough acetic acid (in a household product) or heat to cause a
> chemical reaction when these are mixed.
>
> On Mon, 17 May 2004 21:43:20 -0500, "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >New to the group witha ? "Somewhere" I heard of mixing the two (vinegar
> >and iso alcoholol) in water (not distilled) for cleaning windows. I have
an
> >interest in chemistry, but not enough to do this type of equation
(between
> >acetic acid and iso alcohol with water as a standby). Any reasons you
know
> >of NOT to mix the two in water? I could always ask in the sci.chem
> >newsgroup, and may eventually do that, but thought I would ask here first
> >since my source was on the subject of cleaning.
> >Just wondering...
> >
> >TIA
> >
> >Dave
> >db5151@hotmail.com
> >
> >"Wayne" <waynebw@att.net> wrote in message
> >news:Xns94EC7EC4BF78Fwaynebw@204.127.36.1...
> >> I have a huge collection of fine crystal, some inherited, some gifted,
and
> >> some purchased. Some years ago I came upon a method to wash it and
> >prevent
> >> a premature clouding/filming so that it remains quite clear for
display.
> >>
> >> I first wash it in a 4:1 mixture of distilled water and white vinegar.
> >> This is followed by a rinse in a 5:1 mixture of distilled water and
> >rubbing
> >> alcohol.
> >>
> >> Crystal pieces in my display cabinets have remained unclouded for up to
2
> >> years. Pieces out on display, of course, require dusting. If they're
not
> >> handled and pick up fingerprints, they will also remain unclouded for a
> >> prolonged period of time.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Wayne in Phoenix
> >>
> >> Big on natural foods?? 82.38% of people die of "natural" causes.
> >
>