Need a little help here!

[princessb]

I have been reading a bunch of threads on cleaning out bead release. I am not having problems cleaning the release out of the holes. My problem is that I have bead release poop on the outside of the beads. FYI - I clean a bunch out at once.

I have rinsed in running water, soaked them in soapy water...still as soon as they dry you can see the haze of bead release on the outside of the beads.

Anyone else have this issue? What else can I try.

Thanks in advance for your assistance

[Cabanlet]

hmmm,
I used to get that around the raised parts of my beads a long time ago. I don't remember how I used to clean them, but I can tell you how I do it now and have not had any problems.
I clean them under water in a bowl. Then I put them in a sink of clean water while I clean the rest. When I am finished cleaning beads I let the water out of the sink and turn the faucet on. Then I take them out of the sink a few at a time and rinse them especially the bead holes. I blow the water out of the holes and put them on a towel to dry.

[Anne Ricketts]

I use pipe cleaners sometimes to clean out the residue from reaming out the beads.

[Carmen Isaacs]

By the way be careful cleaning them in your sink it will soon get clogged up with the bead release.

[Mopnglo]

I get the same residue on the outside of my beads as well. I have a little hand held brush I use to remove it. I think it's a finger nail brush with soft bristles. I string the beads and hold them tightly around the outside of my fingers and just buff them with the brush.

Hope that helps.

[theglasszone]

Hey Missy B~~~

I know exactly what you're talking about! I used to have the same problem - it would happen when I soaked my beads all together before cleaning, for a long time! Sometimes I'd leave them in the soak water for an hour or two - definitely a no-no! Some of the release would start to soften from the holes of a few of the beads, contaminating the soaking water, and several beads would end up with a weird "haze" on the outside that was impossible to clean off later with just soap, water and scrubbing.

A couple quick questions, then some advice...

* What type of Release are you using?
* How long do you soak your beads before cleaning?

I've found an answer, and it makes the world of difference!!!

* First, don't soak your beads for more than a few minutes in cool water before embarking on cleaning them. I use Sludge Plus from Arrow Springs which holds well during torching but releases pretty easily.

* Second, take a little Toilet Bowl Cleaner and put it in a small bowl. Place your "hazy" beads in there - for only about 2-3 minutes, and this should remove the cloudiness from the exterior. Make sure to use caution - especially if you have a stainless steel sink - as it will leave marks on your sink that you'll NEVER get off (ask me how I know? ). Be sure to rinse the beads well after their Toilet Bowl Cleaner soak! This should take care of the haze problem. If not - do a second soaking, again only for a couple minutes, and rinse with clean, clear water.

Hope this helps you out!

De in CA

[princessb]

I do soak them while I am cleaning them. One bowl with beads to be cleaned, then a bowl with the cleaned beads.

I will try to toilet bowl cleaner. but not in my sink!

I forgot which release I use. I put it into a long plastic bottle so I get more on the mandrel (for the longer beads).

I try to remember to toss the water outside. But I do sometimes forget.

Thanks for the tips

I will also try the nail brush idea.

[evolvingBeau]

Add a little dish soap to the bowl of beads before you do the final swish and rinse..
It'll do what soap does...helps to fully wet the surface of the beads and break the bond of the particulates with the glass.
If we find stuff in some nooks and crannies, we take them outside and brush them off with a dedicated toothbrush.

[Abacus Beads]

Soaking in vinegar eleminates all of the problems. And no it doesn't hurt the mandrels
Liz R

[Katie Gee]

Glass cleaner will take care of it too.

[Kalera]

Originally Posted by Abacus Beads

Soaking in vinegar eleminates all of the problems. And no it doesn't hurt the mandrels
Liz R

This is what I do.... I have a bit of dishsoap and vinegar in my soaking water.

[princessb]

I was wondering about vinegar. I thought about it but was not sure if it would work

Thanks everyone

[ejralph]

Lose the soap - it is the soap making the haze. It made all the difference for me when I switched to just cleaning with plain water.

Emma

[Sherry]

A couple of drops of "Jet Dry", (the stuff that you put in your dishwasher) with a few drops of dishsoap is what I use to soak my beads for a few minutes. Then a rinse in fairly hot running water to finish off.

This does the trick for me.

[Kalera]

Originally Posted by ejralph

Lose the soap - it is the soap making the haze. It made all the difference for me when I switched to just cleaning with plain water.

Emma

I use dishsoap but I don't have any problems with haze.

[KEW]

For your plumbing's sake, do not clean bead release in the sink. (Unless you realllllly like your plumber, of course...) Keep the residue in a separate container and dump the particulate in the garbage. Not down the drain.