Q: I’ve been a faithful reader of your column for many years. Thanks to you I’ve found items like the wonderful shampoo Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention and Silver Dip by Goddard’s. I’m looking for a product to wash leaded crystal items like drinking glasses and flower vases. I’ve tried regular liquid dish soap, dishwasher detergent (powder and liquid), natural lemon juice and vinegar to no avail. The items always come out foggy. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. D. Squires, Atlanta
A: Thank you for reading. There's a term for cloudy or foggy crystal; it's referred to as sick glass. It can happen to new or vintage glass, and is sometimes caused by washing the pieces in the dishwasher or from hard water stains. In the case of crystal vases, they're usually filled with tap water, which contains mineral deposits, including calcium. The calcium doesn't present a problem until the water evaporates, leaving murky deposits stuck to the crystal. Happily, there's a cure — several, in fact. You've tried the obvious ones without success, so let's see if these, often used by collectors and vintage glass sellers, help. Try toothpaste or denture cleaning tablets. If you're using toothpaste, apply it with your fingers or a soft cloth, and rub it on the glass in gentle, circular motions. Rinse and dry the crystal immediately with a soft towel. Or try soaking the pieces in warm water and a couple of denture cleaning tablets for an hour or so until the crystal looks clear.
Other options include commercial mineral deposit removers such as Lime-A-Way or CLR calcium, lime and rust remover, which are readily available in most hardware and grocery stores. Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner also can be used. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t expose your crystal to chemicals for long. You also can try soaking the crystal in a mixture of warm water and ammonia but never, ever if your pieces have gold or silver embellishments. In fact, don’t use any harsh chemicals on silver or gold. Another word of caution when cleaning crystal is to always use warm, not hot or extremely cold, water, which can break delicate pieces.
Q: I am trying to locate Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion silkening body lotion. I can no longer find it at any stores in my area. I previously purchased it at Target and Publix but it has disappeared off the shelves. I have found Suave Moroccan Infusion shampoo and conditioner but no body lotion. I searched the internet and found it on eBay for $18 and up, which is ridiculous. I have paid about $4 for an 18-ounce container in the past. I love this lotion. It makes my skin very soft and does not have an offensive perfume odor. Please help my skin. Thanking you in advance for your efforts. Susan Bretherick, email
A: Susan, I found Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion silkening body lotion online for a lot less than that sky high eBay price. Check out soapsplash.com where you'll find single 18-ounce pump bottles for $3.74, a 3-pack sells for $10.90, and six bottles for $21.12. You also can call 212-966-4440 to place your order. Since you love this lotion, you might want to stock up because it no longer appears on the Suave website.
Q: I hope you can help me find a German mustard. It comes in a glass mug and the name is Landsberg. I want the one with the yellow top, which is hot. My husband loves it on sauerkraut and sausages, and I like to add a little to my potato salad and in my dressings. I found it online but it was $10 and that didn’t include shipping. It was way too expensive for a small jar. I’m hoping you can help me find it somewhere near Roswell or Alpharetta. Thanks. Karen Meyers, email
A: Karen, I found your German mustard locally. Landsberg hot German mustard is available for $2.99 for an 8-and-1/2-ounce glass jar shaped like a beer stein at International Gourmet Foods, 222 South Main St., Alpharetta, 678-566-1391. By the way, the store stocks a few different brands of German mustards in glass steins.
Q: I love Nutella, but didn’t know about the chocolate spread made by Cadbury until recently. I’ve been looking for this but can’t find it. Please, please find it for me. It sounds delicious! Pat Seacrest, email
A: The ingredients in Cadbury milk chocolate spread include sugar, palm and rapeseed oils, milk chocolate paste, milk powder and reduced fat cocoa. One tablespoon contains 90 calories and 6 grams of total fat. You'll find plenty of the milk chocolate spread at Cost Plus World Market, 3495 Buckhead Loop, Atlanta, 470-447-5788. Each 14.11-ounce jar sells for $6.99.
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