How to Clean Glass Insulators

Hello! I finally cleaned my insulators and want to share with you how I did it!

                Do you remember my post about the Abraham Lincoln bookends I found at an antique store in Seal Beach?  Well, during the purchase the owner threw in two blue glass insulators for free.  She told us she liked us, and these insulators did not match anything she typically sells in her store.  I love anything blue glass and definitely love glass insulators so this was a mega score for me!

                I read online different techniques as to how to clean glass insulators but they all required going to the store and buying a specific cleaner or acid to soak them in over night.  Last night I was in the mood to clean these suckers and did not want to spend money to do so.  Then it dawned on me.  VINEGAR.  We have a grip of white distilled vinegar in our cabinet for Jason’s brine (he is a canner, gotta love the guy.)   Check out my tutorial below for the process that spurred from that point on:

1. I first want to show you how both insulators looked before I began cleaning them.  

2.  After looking over the damage to the insulators I placed them in my bowl of  choice.  I chose a glass bowl so I could watch the progress of the insulators losing their coat of filth.

3.  After placing them in a bowl that the insulators fit inside of entirely, it is time for VINEGAR.  I used about 3/4 liter.  I am sure that you can use a water diluted solution to save money, but we had a grip so i filled the entire bowl with vinegar.

4.  I would suggest placing your bowl of vinegar somewhere you can ventilate.  I placed the bowl on my stove where I have a fan overhead. The fumes of so much vinegar can be exceedingly overwhelming.

5. You need to let the insulators soak in the vinegar bath for at least 24 hours.

AFTER 24 hours

6.  After 24 hours has passed you can clean your insulators.  What you will want to have for this step is 

a) gloves to protect your hands

b) Paper towels   

c) A strong brush to scrub with

d) A sink to rinse the insulators

 7.  Make sure to scrub every milometer of the insulator to ensure all dirt is removed.  Don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease!

Check out the comparison between the scrubbed insulator and not scrubbed.  I was impressed!  As you can see there is a new tool added here.  I found that for detailing, a sponge brush worked best for those hard to reach places.

8.  After scrubbing and rinising both insulators thoroughly, I had anticapted the insulators to be flawless.  However, the insulators had accumulated a film that i could not get rid of with soap and water.  

9. To get rid of the film, or residue, left over - scrub the insulators with Lemon Juice!  I scrubbed the insulators with a scotch pad I bought from the 99cents store.

10.  After scrubbing the insulators with lemon juice I let them sit and air dry.  

TA DA!!! GOOD AS NEW!

LOOK AT THESE BABIES SHINE!

Cheers!!!