cleaning glass vases

[BlueChampagne]

Has anyone got any tips on how to clean glass vases when you can't get your hand down them to get the gunge out of the corners? Or when they're just too small? Am in a hard water area to boot ...

Can you use a skewer with a large cloth and some cleaning stuff?

Keep enough of the cloth out of the vase if it has a small opening.
I've made this mistake and although vase was clean I had to spend ages trying to get a scourer out.

Leave it to soak with cleaner and hot water if glass is thick enough.

Would it go in the dishwasher?

Okay - try bleach in hot water and leave it to stand for a good while and then use a bottle brush to dislodge any stubborn muck. Or you can buy packs of cleaning balls - they look like pearls - from the likes of Lakeland that are specifically designed for the job.

Bleach is great for this though because having dirty or not thoroughly cleaned vases means your flowers will not last as long - the bacteria will kill them.

Don't put crystal in the dishwasher.

Any kind of dried beans you have lying around, and a squirt of Cif or similar. No added water. Swirl, and the beans will rub into all the nooks and crannies.

Other things apart from beans might work, so long as they are small and round!

Dry rice works too, for swirling around, and I think white vinegar.

You can use sugar and washing up liquid. Gets rid of the green scum. I them add water and shake!

Lakeland do little metal balls for cleaning - work brilliantly.

Brilliant - thanks everyone. Guess those are the little balls that are suggested for decanters as well.

I use white wine vinegar and rice. That seems to do the trick. Remember to rinse thoroughly afterwards or it can get a bit stinky!