Same old thing! Elbow grease! SOS pads, scouring powder, detergent, ammonia, BUT WHOA THERE, be careful! Never mix two or three different kinds of cleaners together. The fumes can be harmful and even kill you. You've probably heard all this before, but a little reminder never hurts.

There is another way I clean my insulators if they are really crusty, rusty and sooty. I use a plastic dishpan about one-half full of cold water with a preparation I buy at the notions or house wares counter at the super mart called "Whink". It's a rust stain remover and contains hydrofluoric acid, so it is VERY DANGEROUS TO USE if you don't read the label and follow the instruction. Wear rubber gloves, never use it when children are around and might accidentally get into it, or leave it where your pets might drink it. Otherwise it's safe enough if you are careful to dispose of it when done with it and use good common sense.

I have never measured the exact amount I put in my plastic dishpan of cold water. I would say about one-quarter to one-half of the bottle, depending on how much water you are using. I kind of experimented at first, just using a little and if the insulators didn't come clean when rinsed with clear water and a little hard rubbing I added a little more to the water. I usually let the insulators soak about an hour to two hours.

Also, a good baby bottle brush is handy for cleaning the threads. Make sure the wire tip of the brush you buy isn't crooked or too large to go up in the thread holes.

Be doubly careful of those chipped or broken spots when cleaning insulators. You can get a nasty cut from them and have some pretty sore fingers for a few days.

Another word of caution. Don't let them soak overnight or too long in a strong solution as it might make them dull instead of shiny bright.

Also, never use hot water on insulators no matter what you are using to clean them. I learned the hard way. I was filling the sink with warm water running on them and using detergent, (this was before I discovered Whink) and I heard a crack. Sure enough, an insulator our son-in-law had just given us had a big crack through it. The hot water had increased its temperature without my knowledge, and the insulators just won't stand sudden temperature changes.

We have had insulators crack just sitting in the living room in the summer. Maybe we've been gone all day and when we get home the house is like an oven, so we turn on the air conditioner. First thing we knew we were finding insulators with cracks in them and wondering how they got there. It didn't take too long to figure it out. They will just not stand sudden temperature changes.

The same applies in reverse. You are taking a chance if you bring them from a cold or cool place into a real warm room or out in the summer heat.

There sure are a lot of little things about insulators I learned the hard way. If any of you more experienced collectors have a few little secrets up your sleeve how about sharing them with us poor amateurs. We're never too old to learn something new and just think the insulator you save might someday be your own.

Since I wrote this little article on cleaning insulators, I have been talking to Chuck Fox about cleaning insulators and he said he uses oxalic acid which can be bought at a drugstore. He said to use about a tablespoon full to a gallon of water.