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General Category => General Homebrew Discussion => Topic started by: Pi on August 17, 2011, 07:54:30 am

Title: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: Pi on August 17, 2011, 07:54:30 am

I have noticed my Erlingmeyer flasks are starting to get kind of hazy. Is there something i can use on the to get them to sparkel again?

Title: Re: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: blatz on August 17, 2011, 08:05:48 am

long soak in warm PBW followed by a Starsan soak should do it.

Title: Re: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: mabrungard on August 17, 2011, 08:59:12 am

If your local water is hard, the haze may be calcium carbonate buildup.  In that case, adding an acid to the vessel may clear up the deposits.  I suggest distilled vinegar or 88% lactic acid as options.  StarSan is also a good acid.  You should be able to add a small amount and swirl instead of having to fill the vessel.  

If that doesn't do it, then the glass may be getting etched by something like a strong cleanser.

Title: Re: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: nateo on August 22, 2011, 05:58:20 pm

Not hijack the thread, but I have an old "medicine" jug I was going to repurpose for starters and such. I have no idea what was stored in it, but it appears clean. I was planning on using pbw, but is there anything else I should do before using it?

Title: Re: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: tschmidlin on August 23, 2011, 10:47:32 pm

Without knowing what was in it, I wouldn't use it.  Or at least I'd want to be reasonably sure it never contained radioactive material and I'd probably autoclave it.

Title: Re: Cleaning Glass vessles?
Post by: punatic on August 23, 2011, 11:22:17 pm

Quote from: tschmidlin on August 23, 2011, 10:47:32 pm

Without knowing what was in it, I wouldn't use it.  Or at least I'd want to be reasonably sure it never contained radioactive material and I'd probably autoclave it.

Nuclear Wessels? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSJFrhb-HM)