Cleaning a glass jug

milliejon

Please can someone help me? My boss has a glass jug (I think it's called a carafe). It's sort of like a wide bottom, and then a very thin neck. Anyway, it's grossing me out, because I reckon it has only ever been swilled out! The result is that it's got some sort of deposits all around the inside.

Because I can't bear to watch him drink out of this disgusting vessel any longer, I took some bicarbonate of soda to work this morning. I tipped the bicarb into the jug, and then topped it up with really hot water, but nothing happened.

What have I done wrong? Am I supposed to leave it overnight?

Please help me before he gets some sort of water-borne disease.

SnowyOwl_2

Hello

The hot water has probably killed any lurking bacteria off - but of course they will be back if he persists with not washing the carafe properly.

To ged rid of the deposits I'd suggest one of the following:

1. Use a bottle brush and give it a good scrubbing. (Bottle brush should be available from Debenhams, Sainsbury's etc etc and is basically a round brush on the end of a piece of stiff wire which will pass into the container).

2. Attack again with the bicarb but instead of water fill it up with vinegar.

3. Put some rice grains - a small handful say - into the container, add warm water and washing up liquid and give it a good old shake. The rice *should* provide some abrasion and get the deposits off.

It sounds to me like the deposits are limescale - unless he has been drinking milk out of the carafe. If it is limescale I think the vinegar would be your best bet.

You must really love your boss! (Wanna swap??)

milliejon

Thanks SnowyOwl. I think it is limescale - he's only used it for water, but there are rings going around it, like you can sometimes get in a vase.

A bottle brush didn't work, and I hadn't thought of the rice idea. If the vinegar doesn't work, I'll try this.

What type of vinegar should I use? Is there some sort of chemical reaction when you put these two together.

squeaky

Any vinegar will be just fine for removing limescale (which is certainly what this sounds like) - leave it in overnight and it should be all sparkly clean by morning.

milliejon

Thank you. I think I'll ask for a contribution to the cost of the vinegar in the interests of health and safety!

squeaky

If you have an asda nearby their cheapest vinegar is a whole 17p for a 500mil bottle.

Or is your middle name scrooge?

Stratford_Bill

After you have cleaned it with a bottle brush, try Steradent.