My, oh my!

  I am usually skeptical of  folks who share ideas that claim to be the "best ever".  The idea is usually toted as being "new" or "improved".   Well, sorry.  There are not a lot of "new" ideas out there.  They are merely refurbished at the best.  Still, when a claim is relatively cost free and uses things that I have here on the Bayou, I will give it a whirl. Sometimes things pan out ok but others...well, we won't go there.  The frustration that I had been duped once again by some time-saving bit of brilliance should deter me from "trying just one more".

  I am tying up loose ends for the big opening night of the Fourth Annual Clue Hunt on the Bayou in which I use all sorts of strange items as props or decorations.  Old tools, scraps of wrought iron scrollwork, doorknobs (yes, doorknobs), clocks, and any other odd piece can usually be worked into some bit of interest.  I have folks bring stuff to the Little Bayou House just for this purpose (or just to get it off their hands, not sure which.).  But, today, I found a box of old hinges, escutcheon plates, drawer pulls and other metal pieces that I had saved from way back right after Hurricane Katrina.  In the debris mountain that surrounded the house, were all sorts of once beautiful furniture pieces. While most of the wood parts were beyond salvage, I spent the extra time removing all of the metal pieces.  These were all washed then soaked in oil for a bit and set aside with grand ideas of using them some day.  Well, today was that some day.  

  As I peered into the box, I realized that I probably should have done a bit more to preserve the metal.   Duh...metal has a way of rusting or corroding after being exposed to saltwater.  Even for a clue hunt, these pieces seemed a bit too grungy.  That was when the idea that had been hidden way back into the dark recesses of my brain, pushed aside the cobwebs and came forth proclaiming "I can help!"  Alrighty, then.  I figured I might as well accept that offer.
  
  I had read once that soaking items such as this overnight in vinegar would remove the crud.  Since vinegar is something that I always keep on hand, I felt it was worth a try.  About a cup and a half of white vinegar was poured into a plastic bucket and a few of the pieces were placed to soak.  I did not wait for the recommended "overnight". When I checked (out of curiosity) after about an hour, the pieces were remarkably cleaner!  Wow!  This idea works!  I used an old toothbrush to gently remove any residue and washed under clean water.  What a difference!  And to think it is virtually cost free!  A few cents worth of vinegar did the trick!  I will give the pieces a nice rubbing of oil to help protect my handiwork.

  Now that I know this is a surefire method of cleaning metal, the rest of the box of junk will get a good soaking.  It sure made life easier and made me happy that I am a pack-rat of sorts.  Not only will the furniture embellishments be used during the clue hunts, they will also find refreshed use on the boxes that Son creates.  I am glad that I recalled this as the opening night of the clue hunt is October 1st!  

  So....there you have it!  Get busy cleaning those old rusty tools, corroded hinges and fine finds from boxes of junk!  A simple vinegar soak can work wonders!