After yesterday’s suggestions on how to remove stickers from glass, we have yet, more. First, from Guy Hoskins of Tehacepi, California who responds to his mother, June Riccio’s suggestions.

Stickum removal, I would have to agree with June Riccio (Hi Mom!), we use to remove a lot of stickers and that cheap $2.00 (probably $4.50 now!) can of ‘Zippo’ lighter refill fluid really works very good with absolutely no problems to the glass. Good Luck, GJH

Katy Stein of Potomac, Maryland recommends

Goo Gone (The Container Store and elsewhere) is a citrus -based product
and harmless. It takes goo and magic marker off nail polish without
harming the polish. I have used it on glass without damage.
Katy Stein

Summing up is Dave Williams of Kalamazoo, Michigan

I think that all were good suggestions that do the job without harming the fine glass. I have used acetone and/or wood alcohol (also called shellac thinner). And it is always good to wash the piece in warm water with a mild dishwasher detergent to brighten it up after using some of the solvents mentioned.

A word of caution about glass pieces decorated with gold or enamel as often found on Bohemian type glass – clean with caution! Pieces which have been well used and repeatedly washed show wearing away of the soft, thin gold decoration and some enamel.

Another suggestion about cleaning vases which have a deposit, probably lime from holding water for long periods. This is a trick I learned from a glass insulator collector. He said to just soak in water with a spoonful of household lye overnight or longer. I used this on a Libby etched glass vase which had a deposit

in the sharply shaped bottom I had purchased from a dealer for a very reasonable price because of the deposit. An overnight soak in Lye water and then washing, and took it to our next show – was able to sell it for more than twice what I had paid. Not like in the early days when one could purchase a fine piece of

perhaps Steuben when the seller was unaware of its current market value. I also used the lye trick on a small unsigned glass bud vase with an etched bee on a flower decoration. I had picked it up at a house sale on a trip to the basement where there were some boxes of unpriced items. On taking it upstairs to the dealer who looked at it and then me, wondering why anyone would want a thing like that with a heavy lime

deposit. She suggested 25 cents. After all, it wasn’t an example of fine art glass, but after cleaning it was an attractive little piece which we sold for $15 to a person who didn’t bother to ask for a better price.

I remember those trips where I didn’t find treasures, but items such as old tools which I still have and use and other items of interest. But now, even if there, I couldn’t take the trip to the basement or garage to search.

Dave