Cleaning help if you have any idea.

[Paper Roses]

Over the weekend I bought a small 2 mold glass sugar shaker or salt shaker. Cute shape, the holes are on the side of the pewter top. The top is shaped like a stubby lighthouse. Never saw anything like it. Salt had been left in the shaker and of course, there is some corrosion on the outside of the metal. I have been able to scrape most of it off with my fingernail. The remaining looks like white mold around the holes. It is not bad and I know I can remove it with steel wool but I don't want to change the look of the metal. Any ideas?

[Vinca]

1. I wonder if jewelry cleaner would work. The kind you soak things in.

I've got a cleaning puzzler, too. I bought a "hippie" handbag, leather with tooled owls on it, signed and dated 1973. Unfortunately, it has a stinky, musty smell. If I can get rid of the smell I might be able to sell it for $60 - $65. I tried Oust and that didn't work. Now I've stuffed it with newspapers to see if that will help. I've got some cat litter deodorant and might sprinkle some of that inside. It's nice except for the odor.

[Paper Roses]

2. Fabreeze then a little shoe polish or saddle soap?

There is always sunshine if you can turn it inside out so the leather won't fade. If you try the litter deodorant, I'd put carefully in a paper bag with holes in the bag. Isn't that stuff a powder? You'd end up with little-old-lady dusting powder inside.

[Vinca]

3. It's really heavy, stiff leather so I can't turn it inside out, but

that's a very good suggestion about putting the powdery deodorant in a bag. I read something about wiping it down with an alcohol/water solution, but I hate to use alcohol on leather. Saddle soap is a good idea . . . I'm sure I've got some of that around somewhere.

[Paper Roses]

4. Cedar chips, moth balls? One of those shoe-deodorizers?

I'd like to know the answer to this myself. Keep thinking everyone.

Ask a dry cleaner who will clean leather? Maybe they will share the knowledge.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Good suggestions, except for the mothballs

Mothballs are extremely toxic

http://www.ehow.com/about_5381817_dangers-moth-balls.html

[eleny]

5. How about putting some charcoal in a small tub and sitting it inside for a while

I've used it in a coffee can in a musty closet and it worked.

If possible I'd use something that didn't leave a telltale odor on the inside.

[Vinca]

7. I don't have charcoal, but the cat litter I buy has charcoal in it.

Maybe a cup of that sitting in it for a few days. I've put the "dang" thing on the back shelf for a few days because I'm trying to reclaim the garden from the weeds, but maybe I'll drag it out and put a cup of cat litter in it.

[grasswire]

6. those Mr. Clean erasers are pretty useful

I wonder if one would work on your shaker. I used one today to take some craft paint off a metal picnic table. It was an amazing success.

[Paper Roses]

8. I ended up using a product like the Mr. Clean erasers.

I soaked the cap for a day in detergent and water. I then used the cleaning sponge. Did a good job but I did not scrub the heck out of the top. I wanted it to remain looking like old pewter, not bright and new.

I get those sponges at Dollar Tree. They look a little different and I find they last longer and do not crumble up as quickly as the the Mr Clean sponges. Better deal for my dollar, plus I cut them in half. I buy several packages at a time because they seem to sell out quickly. Tons of uses, they clean up just about any solid surface.