alabaster

[Trillipse]

what's the best way to clean an alabaster bowl - i have the feeling it'll dissolve if i soak it or wash it in hot water... i've seen the related post, but that seems to be regarding less fragile items/ surfaces - this bowl looks decidedly iffy, as if made of compressed soapflakes...

[BriWrite]

Alabaster should be cleaned using mild solvents. The type and strength of solvents has to be determined by on-site tests but the most usual is a mix containing white spirit, de-ionised water and a small quantity of non-ionic detergent. The actual cleaning is carried out using cotton wool swabs dampened by the solvent. After cleaning the subject should be protected by the application of a cosmolloid wax. This will restore the magic quality to this most agreeable of stones.
Or
Clean alabaster with borax; it is mild enough not to scratch the surface. Dip a moistened cloth into a small amount of dry borax, and rub it on the object. Rinse with warm water, and buff-dry with a soft cloth. You can also use this method to clean marble.

[BriWrite]

A thank-you would have been nice.

[Trillipse]

Oh BriWrite

you astound me.

now that i've finally found the time to read your reply, i get a spoiler a day later asking for gratitude before i've actually read the first one:

please, for my own sanity: do you appear on this website to offer assistance to others whoo may be in need of your expertise?

or do you offer advice only in order to gain some sort of worship-satisfaction by people praising you for knowing what you know?

in any case ---- good grief----- give them a chance!!!!!

if it had been a week i could have understood your camp pique

but goodness darling!

how did you intuit no glory and praise would be bestowed upon you for your splatterings of wisdom after only a day?

[BriWrite]

I come on this site to get, and give advice. Most people dont usually ask a question and then come back a day later. They are usually bothered enough about the answer to hang around a while. No is the answer to your snide remark about worship satisfaction, It wasnt a case of what I knew, more a case of what I bothered to look up on your behalf. Which if you had spent the time doing, instead of taking the easy option, you wouldnt be reacting like a spoilt child who has just been scolded.

[Trillipse]

my sincere apologies BriWrite - i've just re-read the whole thing and i must seem like a swine - i'm honestly not normally such a pig, but my friend has just died and i've been unbearable to be around.

[BriWrite]

Sorry about your friend, I understand how you must be feeling. Hope you get the alabaster cleaned ok and maybe we may cross paths again in happier circumstances.