Page 34 - April 2024

Cleaning Older Glass by Judy Gonyeau

ou have just found your dream piece of glass calling you from cloth, then put some oil into the interior and drag it around by moving
across the shop, you run to pick it up and then look a bit closer the glass so all sides are coated, then turn it upside-down so that all
Youtside and inside the piece. Gunk. Bugs. Some cloudiness. excess oil drips out. This will not make a permanent change as the
Scratches. Iridescence with spots of different colors. cloudiness will return, but you can enjoy the view while it lasts, and
Is all lost? then apply the oil again.
Not necessarily. It all comes down to what it is, how dirty it is, and
what you want to do with it. Stuck-on Gunk
If you have found a piece that was buried at one point or lost in an
General Antique/Vintage Glass Care attic or basement for eons, there may be more on the glass than what
It is always good to start with a general cleaning by using 30/70 to meets the eye – and the nose. In these cases it is important to get out
50/50 mix of bleach and warm/tepid water (with an optional scoop of the “elbow grease.”
OxyClean as recommended by a couple of glass cleaners) and soak the After doing a basic wash, you may still have things stuck to the glass
glass overnight. Some people also recommend using dish soap or even as well as a coating or film on the glass. One thing to try is to pour some
denture cleaning tablets, but all of them recommend bleach. white vinegar into the bottom of the item (about 1/4” worth) and swish
Beware of commercial glass cleaning products as they may contain and swirl to make sure the entire interior is coated, apply to the exterior
chemicals that can do more harm than good because not all glass is and wait an hour or two before rinsing.
made up of the same formula. Avoid anything with hydrofluoric acid as Still no luck? Time to get something with a little abrasion like
that can prove to be a dead end. Comet or Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser. Items such as these can
help get rid of light scratches, as well. Be sure to avoid enamel, paint,
gold leaf accents, and other decorative elements. It can be used gently
where the glass is etched with careful placement vs. an overall
treatment. You may want to use a small brush to apply and another to
“scrape” the glass.
Try not to use too many chemicals, but don’t be afraid to use what
is necessary based on what that gunk is; i.e. if it is paint, try a bit of
paint thinner, if it is oil-based, try a grease remover or dish soap like
Dawn to break it down and remove it from the glass.

Glass to Re-Sell
Collectors of glass want to know exactly what they are getting, so it
is important that they look at a clean piece of glass that has no hidden
The First Step: soaking the glass After cleaning and brushing cracks or coated sick glass with oil, or where repair to the glass has
photo madetheflowersmyself.blogspot comparison (left vs. right) happened but is not noted on the price tag.
Art Glass is gaining momentum in the glass collecting world and
Do not use very hot or very cold water as that may cause the glass to unless you are a professional glass cleaner, be gentle. There can be
crack or possibly explode due to thermal shock. Even those Pyrex glass elements of metals, minerals, and more in a piece of art glass that may
baking dishes can crack or break up if you take something “from freezer or may not react well with certain chemicals used in cleaning. Gentle
to stove.” soap and water is the best way to clean these.
And avoid using an abrasive tool on glass such as steel wool or any
type of scraper. You can pick up bottle brushes, or consider a stiff artist The Tumbling Pro
brush, at the local hardware store to help get the gunk out of an object For glass that holds a lot a value but needs to be cleaned by a
that is too narrow to allow you to hand-wipe the area. professional, you may hear the term “tumbler” being
batted about, especially among bottle collectors.
Cloudy Glass (aka “sick” glass) Essentially, the tumbler is a motorized canister that
According to Heritage Auctions, “Cloudy glass is an industry holds the bottle or glass in place as water with copper
term describing glass that has calcium deposits, which causes pellets are splashed around the glass as it is tumbled.
a light, foggy appearance in glassware. The water that This technique is especially helpful if you have
held flowers in the vase or the repetitive washing of the something that may have a bit of surface wear that can
tumbler is the culprit. Often, cloudiness is caused by be remedied by using this method vs. using potentially
consistent contact with hard water (i.e. water that harmful chemicals.
contains calcium, lime, or other minerals).” According to an article in the Washington Post,
Getting rid of the cloudiness in glass is tough. Here Jim Sears of the Potomac Bottle Collectors noted that,
are a couple hints gathered from qualified resources: “Copper is softer than glass but harder than stains,
• You can try some ammonia and water if you see which means it will eventually wear away the stain
that the glass is “cloudy.” Ammonia may take some of without harming the glass.” The technique is best done
that out and can help with minor scratches, particularly There are many different bottle by a professional, and prices start at $10-$15 per piece.
on milkglass. brushes available today including And don’t expect it back right away as this process can
• Petroleum jelly works well for ridding the glass of these silicon baby bottle brushes take up to two weeks!
a light build-up of calcium by applying it to the glass photo babyonline
and let it set for a few days, then rinse with tepid water. Maintenance
• A spray-foam tub and tile cleaner (think of those hard water stains After your glass is clean, maintaining the clarity and beauty involves
removed on porcelain tile) may help by simply spraying the object, let dusting with a microfiber cloth and the occasional rinsing with distilled
it sit for about ten minutes, and rinse with tepid water. water from time to time, especially after the glass has been used to hold
If the glass is still cloudy and you are keeping it as part of your own flowers or certain liquids. Keep it clean, gently, and you can enjoy it for
collection but would like to have a “clearer view,” you can apply a little many years, if not decades and more to come.
oil onto the outside of the glass and then wipe it with a microfiber
32 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles