How would you clean this jar?

TrustyOlJohnson · Feb 16, 2015

I found this jar while hunting in my family's woods and know the history of the area, it may be as much as 50-70 years old. It is a 2 qt mason jar and I want to use if for various things. I have rinsed it, washed it with Dawn, let it sit in PBW for a week. Unfortunately, a whitish film remains on the inside and outside of the jar. I want it to be crystal clear. Any ideas as to what to do?View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1424111112.961191.jpg

LandoLincoln · Feb 16, 2015

Hm. Well...if PBW didn't do the trick, I'd try some white vinegar.

If that didn't work, then you may have to resort to some more serious acids.

SnakeRidge · Feb 16, 2015

Some sort of acid? I would try a Star San dunk and see if that gets you anywhere. Maybe something like CLR? Cool jar.

shanecb · Feb 16, 2015

Maybe you can boil it? I don't know if for some reason you shouldn't boil jars that old, though.

Since you tried PBW and it didn't work, maybe try an acidic solution to see if that works? A strong vinegar solution or something.

I really don't know... just throwing out ideas! :mug:

b-boy · Feb 16, 2015

I have some old pre-prohibition beer bottles that look like that. I've tried just about everything to get them clean. I've tried acids, PBW, Barkeepers friend. I've soaked them for days. So far nothing has worked. I've pretty much given up on it.

OleBrewing · Feb 16, 2015

LandoLincoln said:
Hm. Well...if PBW didn't do the trick, I'd try some white vinegar.

If that didn't work, then you may have to resort to some more serious acids.

+on the vinegar, it is probably the best house hold cleaner there is. Let it soak for a while. If that doesn't work there are some really nasty drain cleaners that will burn through any thing, but I like to shy away from that stuff with curious kids around

unionrdr · Feb 16, 2015

My flask gets like that sometimes. I wipe it down with a folded paper napkin dampened with Starsan. Try that...works on my yeast jars too.

processhead · Feb 16, 2015

25% solution of muratic acid and water. Careful, nasty stuff. Add the acid to the water, never the other way around.

Reaver · Feb 16, 2015

May need to polish it. Check out some polishing compound and elbow grease.

TrustyOlJohnson · Feb 16, 2015

Those are all awesome ideas. Im gonna try the Star San wipe then boil. Cheap ideas

TrustyOlJohnson · Feb 16, 2015

Boiled for 30 minutes. Nope

TrustyOlJohnson · Feb 16, 2015

I also have 2 mason jars that were stained from pressure canning wort. Washed with Dawn, boiled for 30 minutes, crystal clear!

How would you clean this jar?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

TrustyOlJohnson

Supporting Member

LandoLincoln

Well-Known Member

SnakeRidge

Super Rad

shanecb

Well-Known Member

b-boy

16%er

OleBrewing

Supporting Member

unionrdr

Homebrewer, author & air gun collector

processhead

Well-Known Member

Reaver

Well-Known Member

TrustyOlJohnson

Supporting Member

TrustyOlJohnson

Supporting Member

TrustyOlJohnson

Supporting Member

Similar threads

Latest posts

How would you clean this jar?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Super Rad

Well-Known Member

16%er

Supporting Member

Homebrewer, author & air gun collector

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Supporting Member

Supporting Member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!