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Paper Roses

(7,517 posts) Wed Jan 5, 2022, 11:57 AM Jan 2022

You must have had to cope with this: I need help!

I bought a beautiful large cobalt bowl at a yard sale. The inside base was a mess but I thought it was dirt from a plant. After a good washing, there is a hard lime residue in the base and up to about 2 inches on the sides. I tried a combination of vinegar and water soak and let it sit for about an hour. No luck. Some lifted and scrubbed away but there is still an accumulation around the base.

Any home remedies I can try to get this stuff off? Don't really want to buy something that might not work.
Love the bowl but not with this stuff stuck to the bottom.
Any ideas would be a great help.
Thanks,
PR

7 replies

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Highlight:

You must have had to cope with this: I need help! (Original Post) Paper Roses Jan 2022 OP

Add a little nykym Jan 2022 #1

Don't dilute the vinegar and it might take several days of soaking, change the scrub and refresh ShazamIam Jan 2022 #2

The acid in vinegar dissolves calcium/lime buildup bucolic_frolic Jan 2022 #3

I have a couple of pounds of BBs multigraincracker Jan 2022 #4

CLR gibraltar72 Jan 2022 #5

If all above suggestions don't work, use a hammer & chisel. KS Toronado Jan 2022 #6

If it's glass it might be a goner. Once those darn water stains get in a glass vase it's really Vinca Jan 2022 #7

nykym

(3,063 posts)

1. Add a little

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 12:04 PM

Jan 2022

baking soda to the vinegar and let sit for about an hour.

ShazamIam

(2,724 posts)

2. Don't dilute the vinegar and it might take several days of soaking, change the scrub and refresh

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 12:22 PM

Jan 2022

the vinegar daily. Another said add baking soda, yes it boosts the vinegar action.

Edit: is to it

bucolic_frolic

(47,584 posts)

3. The acid in vinegar dissolves calcium/lime buildup

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 12:32 PM

Jan 2022

But it sure takes more than an hour.

multigraincracker

(34,322 posts)

4. I have a couple of pounds of BBs

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 12:43 PM

Jan 2022

I use to clean the insides of old bottles. They are re-usable too. A little cleaner and water and roll it around.

gibraltar72

(7,629 posts)

5. CLR

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 01:14 PM

Jan 2022

KS Toronado

(19,703 posts)

6. If all above suggestions don't work, use a hammer & chisel.

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 01:15 PM

Jan 2022

Vinca

(51,235 posts)

7. If it's glass it might be a goner. Once those darn water stains get in a glass vase it's really

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Wed Jan 5, 2022, 05:18 PM

Jan 2022

hard to bring them back. Pottery is a little easier to deal with. I've been wondering if that toilet cleaner you can buy that's made for lime scale and rust might work if you let it sit overnight. I might try that the next time I've got that problem.

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