Weird Cleaning Question

Mai-Kero

So, I've had a glass chess set sitting on a shelf for basically the past four years untouched.

It's gross.

As I just moved into my first apartment, I was actually setting stuff up and trying to make it look nice. Unfortunately, this is proving difficult with the chess set. All I've got so far in the terms of cleaning stuff is some dish soap and Chlorox "anywhere hard surface cleaner." I've tried the latter, and it hasn't really helped any more than water. I've cleaned off the board as well as I could, and it looks better now, with like, twelve inches of dust gone, but there's still stuff dust-type stuff stuck to it where the pieces sat untouched for several strange aeons. Now the question is, will I be able to clean this so it actually looks clean, and if so, what do I use?

Can I just pick up some glass cleaner? That seems the simple solution, but I was just wondering if anyone else has a workaround.

AngelHedgie

Mai-Kero wrote: »

So, I've had a glass chess set sitting on a shelf for basically the past four years untouched.

It's gross.

As I just moved into my first apartment, I was actually setting stuff up and trying to make it look nice. Unfortunately, this is proving difficult with the chess set. All I've got so far in the terms of cleaning stuff is some dish soap and Chlorox "anywhere hard surface cleaner." I've tried the latter, and it hasn't really helped any more than water. I've cleaned off the board as well as I could, and it looks better now, with like, twelve inches of dust gone, but there's still stuff dust-type stuff stuck to it where the pieces sat untouched for several strange aeons. Now the question is, will I be able to clean this so it actually looks clean, and if so, what do I use?

Can I just pick up some glass cleaner? That seems the simple solution, but I was just wondering if anyone else has a workaround.

Well, if you have some vinegar and rubbing alcohol, you can make your own.

Sporked

If it's glass, then some Windex or Simple Green should do the trick. If there's real crap on them, like nicotine stains, you might need to soak the pieces for a while.

Iceman.USAF

It's all glass, yes? Soak it for 20 minutes in warm water, then rub it down. Unless you already tried, in which case I sound like a giant jerkoff.

stawk

toothbrush will make a world of difference

Hypatia

If it's glass go with Windex like Sporked said, other cleaners will tend to streak and look like crap

MrMonroe

stawk wrote: »

toothbrush will make a world of difference

Or a razor if you've got a nice steady hand.

rfalias

Yeah, if we knew the material in question will result in better responses.
You wouldn't want to soak and razor trees, now would we?

stawk

rfalias wrote: »

Yeah, if we knew the material in question will result in better responses.
You wouldn't want to soak and razor trees, now would we?

oh we totally would.

and its a glass chess set so i would venture that its glass.

rfalias

stawk wrote: »

rfalias wrote: »

Yeah, if we knew the material in question will result in better responses.
You wouldn't want to soak and razor trees, now would we?

oh we totally would.

and its a glass chess set so i would venture that its glass.

Rofl, slective reading FTW.

I ignore every 5th word, so its not my fault.

Hahnsoo1

I vote for cleansing fire! It puts the "fire" in "purifier"!

*note: Not a real solution. Just a joke.

Solandra

Maybe a dishwasher? Put the pieces in the silverware basket, one to two per basket section. This only applies if they don't have felt bottoms. Felt bottoms don't stand up to the dishwasher very well. :P

MrMonroe

If it's been sitting on the shelf for a long time, it may be time to replace the felt anyway.

Sporked

MrMonroe wrote: »

If it's been sitting on the shelf for a long time, it may be time to replace the felt anyway.

This. If you ever think you might use it.

Forbe!

Rubbing alcohol should clean everything off of it. It may take a bit of elbow grease.

Lord Malory

If theres no felt bottoms to the pieces, or if you dont CARE about maintaining them, Id soak it in rubbing alcohol. Like people do with pipes that get nasty. Rubbing alcohol by volume is probably cheaper than windex or other cleaners, and will most effectively break down super-gunky dust that accumulates over years.