Decanter beads aka ball bearings...

It doesn't seem like these are really going to do anything that a good soak with hot soapy water wouldn't.

I've always used grains of rice a little water to do the same thing.

sorry, grains of rice *and* a little water....

The gentlest good way I've found to clean decanters and other vessels is to add a squirt of dishwasher detergent, some raw rice, and a splash of hot water, and swirl. My favorite weapon to get really stubborn residue stains out is a handful of broken windshield safety glass (with the aforesaid detergent and hot water). The vigor with which you shake it can be calibrated to the value/delicacy of the vessel. I always keep a jarful of broken safety glass under the sink for stubborn cases.

i use a mixture of bleach, water and a drop of dish soap.

The rice solution is a great one!

i've used the rice too if there is residue. does the trick... cheaper and more gentle than ball bearings.

Real Simple suggests using those fizzy denture cleaning tablets. I don't know if it works, but it kinda makes sense, I guess.

I've used denture tablets to clean vases I can't fit my hand into to clean. It works like a charm. In fact, I've even used Alka-Seltzer in a pinch. That works, too. I imagine those solutions would work well for a decanter.

broken eggshells work too - rough enough to get deposits off but not abrasive enough to scratch glass!

thanks for all the suggestions! i don't use decanters, but i DO have a couple of those cat watering systems that get kind of icky after a while and i've had a devil of a time trying to clean them.

i'm trying the rice first, and if that doesn't work, maybe the denture tablets. thank you thank you thank you for this post!

I use ice and salt--works wonders for cleaning out the coffee carafe.

miyagisan: Unfortunately a long soak in hot water does nothing. I purchased a flexible cleaning "wand" at a wine shop for $5 and it works quite well.

Anyone have any tips for cleaning Blenko Glass?

I use ice and salt--works wonders for cleaning out the coffee carafe.

I tried that once and only once, after the inside of my carafe shattered. I didn't realize it was glass in there.

EASY grains of rice & white wine vinigar.

A simple wand from the grocery or all-purpose store will do the trick. Do we really need to disuss how to clean a decanter?? I believe the wand has been around for like ever.

Why would ice and salt make the carafe shattered? Did you go directly from the ice to making coffee?? Wondering as that is the method I use at work.

I would agree with the wand if long enough to reach in some of the larger/taller vessels but I was going to suggest white vinegar and let it soak, but the rice/soap thing might well work too.

Never try anything other than denture tablets or some such in your insulated caraffes, the glass insides are very, very delicate.

I can see denture tablits or even Alka Seltzer doign the job as it has an ingredient that is much like vinegar to react with the stains.

I suggest the aforementioned rice, but I use white vinegar as the liquid. That plus a quick wash with soap and water always gets my coffee maker clean.

All good tips but I'm chuckling- broken safety glass? Dare I ask how it is acquired? Sledge hammer/accident scene/ e-bay?

salt and lemon juice. let it sit, and then swish it around. good for any tough surface stains on glass.