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I have a few decanters that I need to clean out as they have not been used for some considerable time.

I think I have read somewhere that this can be acheived by using Bicarbonate of Soda. Is this true or have I deamt it?

If there is another, better, method please share.

Thanks

Derek

Magic balls (WineWare.co.uk, Amazon.co.uk).

Tough dried-out-red-wine stains best killed by filling with bleach and leaving overnight. Then rinse ridiculously thoroughly. Then rinse a few more times. Then dunk into a basin of water in case bleach splashed where you haven’t rinsed. Then rinse again.

jdaw1 wrote: filling with bleach

Good God! - I would never have considered that for a second.

Do you have any comment on the Bicarb solution? Is it likely to be of any value?

Derek

Derek T. wrote:

jdaw1 wrote: filling with bleach

Good God!

On purchasing a second-hand decanter, there is, often as not, dark coloured staining deep in tiny flaws in the glass. That’s red wine, dried out in the crevices. A thorough soak in strong bleach kills that. But bleach is strong, so rinse well.

A final rise with something that would react with the bleach, rather than merely dilute it, might reassure. Step forward, Cruz Ruby.

I agree with the bleach approach as it does indeed kill everything undesireable in the decanter. but indeed rinse well.

I tend to use that Vanish Oxi stuff. It has the same effect as the bleach I guess. Did someone already mention to rinse well?

jdaw1 wrote:

Derek T. wrote:

jdaw1 wrote: filling with bleach

Good God!

On purchasing a second-hand decanter, there is, often as not, dark coloured staining deep in tiny flaws in the glass. That’s red wine, dried out in the crevices. A thorough soak in strong bleach kills that. But bleach is strong, so rinse well.

A final rise with something that would react with the bleach, rather than merely dilute it, might reassure. Step forward, Cruz Ruby.

That sounds like a good plan. Perhaps even a bottle Cocknurn Special Reserve?

Derek

Stick it in the dishwasher. I'm not kidding, I have an old, crystal decanter that my Dad had a bused for decades and was distinctly minging. Stuck it in the diswasher and it came out ten times better. A couple more times and it was pretty clean.

KillerB wrote: ...was distinctly minging. Stuck it in the diswasher and it came out ten times better. A couple more times and it was pretty clean.

I have a 14 year old son, can I do that with him?

Derek T. wrote:

KillerB wrote: ...was distinctly minging. Stuck it in the diswasher and it came out ten times better. A couple more times and it was pretty clean.

I have a 14 year old son, can I do that with him?

Worth a try

I would avoid using alkaline methods - bicarb, bleach etc - they can sometimes interact with the glass and take a lot of flushing. They won't shift limescale.

The little ball bearings do work, but take time...

Concentrated nitric acid is the best glass cleaner of them all, but it has to be handled with a little care.

If you don't have access to a lab, hydrochloric acid is sold by builders merchants as brick cleaner, and is also sometimes sold for clearing drains.

It's very effective at removing limescale and organic matter - 50:50 brick cleaner and water left overnight should do the trick.

However, be careful using hydrochloric acid on a stainless steel worksurface or sink - it can leave a permanent stain!

Tom

So, the options so far are:

• Bicarbonate of soda
• Bleach
• Dishwasher
• Brick cleaner

I am very nervous of the brick cleaner suggestion as it sounds a bit dangerous.

Bleach? I think I will try that on the oldest and smelliest decanter I have. If it doesn't work I will go for the brick cleaner in that one.

My current "in-use" decanters will be given a trip in the dishwasher to see if it can get rid of the red tinge and water marks.

Bicarb - I'll keep that for my next hangover

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Derek

I am very nervous of the brick cleaner suggestion as it sounds a bit dangerous

Not really if you're careful - the same acid occurs naturally in your stomach!

Alkali and bleach burns are much nastier than acid ones - they hurt and take ages to heal.

Tom

uncle tom wrote:

I am very nervous of the brick cleaner suggestion as it sounds a bit dangerous

Not really if you're careful - the same acid occurs naturally in your stomach!

Alkali and bleach burns are much nastier than acid ones - they hurt and take ages to heal.

Tom

ooh I was just reading about that ... something about a lower pKe(a) =P

Urnex Cafiza soap will clean a decanter with no problem at all. It is used to clean coffee pots and espresso machine parts. I use it on my decanters with no problems.

Even a clean coffee pot that has never been washed with Cafiza will turn the water brown!

I use Steradent solution when my decanters become particularly bad. And sometimes I even rinse out the decanter afterwards!

DRT wrote:

jdaw1 wrote: filling with bleach

Good God! - I would never have considered that for a second.

In this context, I was very surprised, in more than one way, by the WineFolly video on how to clean glasses properly.

Some people have little to do. A video on how to wash up. Amazing.

djewesbury wrote:A video on how to wash up.

With bleach and no rinsing!? Amazing.

Oh only a little bit of bleach. In case you're weird and have lipstick with herpes in it.

DRT wrote:

KillerB wrote: ...was distinctly minging. Stuck it in the diswasher and it came out ten times better. A couple more times and it was pretty clean.

I have a 14 year old son, can I do that with him?

In case anyone was left wondering, this worked a treat

I have just shifted the stubborn discolouration at the bottom of one of my decanters. Bottle brushes didn't shift it, magic balls didn't touch it, but Milton sterilising tablets did the job in just a few minutes. Clean as a whistle.