| Author |
Message |
    
Pat Babcock
Moderator
Username: Pbabcock
Post Number: 17
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 05:37 pm: | 
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Well, I'm ashamed  to say that, over the years, my beer glasses have taken on a rather unattractive "film". Lools like a mineral deposit of some sort, but makes the glasses look dirty - even when fresh out of the dishwasher!
Can anyone pass any tips for cleaning this deposit from the glasses to your ol' Janitor? |
PalerThanAle
Advanced Member
Username: Palerthanale
Post Number: 970
Registered: 04-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:00 pm: |
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More than likely, the glass has been etched. I'm not sure how to remedy that but if it is just mineral build up, try http://www.mindspring.com/~reyne/tips.html
PTA |
Jeffery Swearengin
Member
Username: Beertracker
Post Number: 192
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 06:56 pm: |
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Pat,
I've always used a soaking solution of white vinegar & warm water to remove stubborn deposits & "dishwasher" film from my beer & wine glasses. I let them air dry at room tempature for a great shine. Just a trick I learned from my Bartending days.  CHEERS! Beertracker |
Vance Barnes
Junior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 723
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 08:40 pm: |
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If you've been using regular dishwasher detergent and not a special concentrated type without fillers then they probably are etched. Most dw detergent has marble chips in it to help "knock" off the food deposits. Kinda like sandblasting your glasses over time. Wonder if that Vasaline trick works with etching though? |
Vince Turley
Junior Member
Username: Vince
Post Number: 63
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 02:35 pm: |
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Vance-
I recently switched to using "Cascade" dishwashing detergent as an alternative to PBW due to expense - I think that I read somewhere on the digest that it was an effective cleaner. Anyway, I tested it on a glass fermenter and a corney keg, and was impressed with the results. I thought that I might simply replace PBW with the Cascade, as it has performed well and is significantly cheaper and more readily available.
Your comment:
"Most dw detergent has marble chips in it to help "knock" off the food deposits. Kinda like sandblasting..."
This really concerns me. I really don't want to be "etching" my glass or my SS!!! Should I NOT be using Cascade as my primary cleaner? Should I go back to PBW and Oxyclean as my "standard" brewery detergents? Any inputs from you and/or the collective on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
-Vince |
Paul Edwards
New Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 407
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 02:57 pm: |
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Pat,
If the vinegar trick doesn't work, your glasses may indeed have permanent etching from the dishwasher.
We wash our beer (& wine) glasses by hand, in a sink of hot soapy water, then rinse, and dry with good, lint free dishtowels.
More work, but the glasses shine and the beer pours beautifully in them. |
Belly Buster Bob
Member
Username: Canman
Post Number: 1724
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 03:12 pm: |
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The DW detergent is only an issue when used in a dishwasher at higher pressures. It does "sandblast" clear glass.
I've been soaking my carboys in it for eons and still use it with no etching |
Vance Barnes
Advanced Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 727
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 03:29 pm: |
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Vince,
I agree with BBB that the marble chips shouldn't be a problem the way you are using them. It's when they get run through the dw pump and then blasted onto the dishes that they are abrasive. I haven't tried the dw detergent to compare to PBW or Oxiclean but several have posted they have good results. Think Bill P. was one that now uses it. |
Vince Turley
Junior Member
Username: Vince
Post Number: 64
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 04:02 pm: |
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Whew... thanks all! I can report that the Cascade has worked well for me. I mix it around 1 cup p/5 gal., in hot (140oF tap)water, and let things soak overnight. I like that I can just run up to the grocery store when I am out of detergent, very convenient.
-Vince |
Pat Babcock
Moderator
Username: Pbabcock
Post Number: 20
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 04:44 pm: |
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I'll try one of the worst in vinegar (I tried adding vinegar to a detergent-free DW once; however, maybe the exposure time was too brief?) From my college chemistry days, this looks like a classic deposit - you can see layers and crystal structures in it. Not that that rules out the potential for having been etched.
Worst looking glass will be taking a vinegar bath.... NOW! I'll report back. Kim's promised to get me a jar of vaseline. Hopefully she didn't misconstrue my intended use for it... |
PalerThanAle
Advanced Member
Username: Palerthanale
Post Number: 972
Registered: 04-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 05:46 pm: |
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If anything, tell her its for the door knob, so the kids can't get in. 
PTA |
Belly Buster Bob
Intermediate Member
Username: Canman
Post Number: 1725
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 11:21 pm: |
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just for interest....the DW soak can be reused several times, as it is not the final wash/rinse. I ordinarily just fill carboy after use until needed and then pour into next dirty one. Lazy brewer. |
Pat Babcock
Moderator
Username: Pbabcock
Post Number: 27
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 07:48 pm: |
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Update:
Vinegar soak: 
Vaseline trick:
Going to try the Efferdent thing and, that failing, sacrifice one to a muriatic acid soak.
The "deposits" look like mineral deposits, but I'm starting to wonder if it is just some strange etching pattern... |
Steve Funk
New Member
Username: Tundra45
Post Number: 11
Registered: 06-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 08:24 pm: |
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Why is it a sacrifice to use muriatic acid? We used to use (diluted) HCl as one of the rinses when cleaning glassware. |
Jeff Preston
New Member
Username: Jeffpreston
Post Number: 27
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:02 pm: |
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While the DW subject is on, does it matter if the detergent is scented? All the brands around here are scented. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 65
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:40 pm: |
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The scent does nothing to help the cleaning power but neither does it hurt. |
Connie
Member
Username: Connie
Post Number: 182
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 02:33 am: |
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I imagine there are others besides myself watching this thread...as posted earlier at least one other, besides myself, have picked up used carboys at garage sales which have "deposits" or "stains" of unknown origins. We (I've) tried most of the above mentioned remedies including muriatic acid..CLR and other guranteed no fail remedies with NO results. I did manage to etch and lose the bottom of one carboy...which allowed me to actually reach inside and try to scrub with a 1) green scrubbie 2) SS choir boy.
I'm standing by for some good news!
Connie |
Pat Babcock
Moderator
Username: Pbabcock
Post Number: 28
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 02:42 am: |
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Sacrifice is because I don't know what the acid will do to the silkscreening on the glass  . Otherwise, I expect the acid will have no deliterious effects on the glass itself... |
Brews and Views Archive 2004 
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