 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2024-05-21 23:31
A chemistry question:
I've been using vinegar (undiluted 4% household vinegar) to clean deposits from my mouthpieces for most of my adult life. I always put the mouthpiece beak down in a shot glass, poured in enough vinegar to nearly the top of the shot, and left it alone for a couple of hours, then rinsed the mouthpiece and the shot glass.
I've recently been using a standard brown-tinted plastic prescription bottle instead of a glass shot. To save wasted vinegar, I've been keeping it on my desk and re-using the same vinegar, closing the medicine bottle between uses. A trivial saving, but it feels better than dumping the stuff down the drain.
My question is whether or not anything can leach into the vinegar from the plastic. And, related, whether or not over time the vinegar can damage the bottle so that at some point it may leak.
I haven't had any leaks in over two months, but I wonder what's likely over a longer time period.
Most of the vinegar they sell in the stores these days comes, of course, in plastic bottles, but I don't know if it's the same plastic.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-05-21 23:46
You can always use a glass jam jar with a lid if you're that worried about it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: lydian
Date: 2024-05-21 23:49
Prescription bottles are typically PET, but vinegar comes in Polypropylene bottles (let's say PP for short). Both are food/beverage safe, but PET is more durable. PET is used in water bottles and is BPA-free. Neither react with vinegar and can store it indefinitely. Personally I use glass, but your way won't leach or leak, probably for decades.
But I wouldn't store used vinegar as it would contain all sorts of bacteria and fungus from your mouthpiece, a few of which might survive and multiply. Vinegar is after a waste product of certain bacteria. Plus, it get's weaker every time it reacts with the minerals on your mouthpiece. While vinegar is pretty good at preserving food and removing mineral deposits from mouthpieces, it's not a great disinfectant like alcohol, bleach or peroxide would be. There's no harm in dumping a few ounces of vinegar.
My 2 cents
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2024-05-22 05:53
lydian wrote:
> But I wouldn't store used vinegar as it would contain all sorts
> of bacteria and fungus from your mouthpiece, a few of which
> might survive and multiply.
I hadn't considered that.
> There's no harm in dumping a few ounces
> of vinegar.
No, there really isn't. Not even a few ounces. The shot glass without the mouthpiece in it only holds an ounce of liquid. It just seemed more convenient. I'm getting lazy in my dotage.
Thanks,
Karl
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-05-22 09:35
>> I hadn't considered that. <<
That's the main reason I wouldn't reuse the vinegar.
>> and left it alone for a couple of hours <<
Even when it's pretty stubborn it usually doesn't take more than 30 minutes (and often less). I don't think if there's any problem leaving it for so much longer, but unnecessary.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2024-05-22 10:13
clarnibass wrote:
> Even when it's pretty stubborn it usually doesn't take more
> than 30 minutes (and often less). I don't think if there's any
> problem leaving it for so much longer, but unnecessary.
No, not necessary. I set it up and just leave it while I do other things. Then rinse, wipe and put it back in the clarinet case.
Karl
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