posted 02-25-2007 04:21 PM            

I've just found a weird stain in the hot water pot that I can't get out. It's at the very bottom, as if an inch of liquid had been left. Brown colored --you'd almost think it was rust coating the bottom.

The problem with this piece (and obviously why the stain is there) is that it has a very narrow neck and a bulbous base. There's no way to get a hand in to polish it, and it's hard to see in. This is not a tarnish in the silver; I wrapped a wooden spoon with a paper towel and some of it rubbed off.

I want to use this without poisoning my guests! The only thing I can imagine is somehow letting it soak...but I don't know what with. Would vinegar be a disaster? I'm guessing I need to disolve some half-century-old layer of tea or coffee.

The rest of the interior has a slight yellow cast -- almost like a gold wash, but much,much thinner, so I assume this the yellow tint is tarnish especially as none of the other pieces have gold.

posted 02-25-2007 05:07 PM            

Otherwise, sometimes boiling, really boiling water and Ivory liquid soap will clean it. Or, dishwasher gel, not powder. Sort of coat the interior with the gel, let it sit, maybe spray a bit of water on. Then gently wipe down the interior and rinse, rinse, rinse.

My own experience has been that frequently there is something in dishwasher gel that will remove old hard set organic stains. Add it to the wash water when cleaning old linens.

Please let us know if any of this works.

posted 02-25-2007 05:28 PM            

quote:

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I wrapped a wooden spoon with a paper towel and some of it rubbed off.

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Since some rubbed off you might try a slurry of crushed/chipped ice and vigorous rotational shaking. I have also heard that of slurry of rice works.

posted 02-25-2007 06:07 PM            

I'll try the gel dishwasher detergent trick --I've had luck with the powder sort in getting stains out of our Braun coffeemaker.

Two other possibilities, that I found from searching the Web:

1. Some people suggest distilled white vinegar for cleaning silver; some say under no circumstances use vinegar.
   
2. I found a recommendation for using denture tablets to clean sterling jewelry.

I do think it needs soaking with some agent that will dissolve or loosen whatever is there.

posted 03-02-2007 11:53 AM            

The rule in conservation is to always start with the least damaging option and move up from there. I'd start with something like boiling water, then maybe the same with the addition of a drop of dishwashing liquid, then maybe hot white vinegar (I don't know of any problem with that and silver). Then if you want to try chemical solvents, first grain alcohol, then maybe acetone or turpentine -- but if you use the latter be sure to wash it very well before using with food!

posted 03-02-2007 06:10 PM            

The Clive solution might be the way to go. I have been soaking the pot with boiling water and liquid Joy. The reason to really try to clean it up was that the pot had a strong sort of metallic odor, and I could see a VERY slight discoloration in water poured into a white cup.