Question:

Hi, I just found your website, and it’s really useful! I just bought this crock in the hopes of using it to make sauerkraut, but it’s got a chalky residue on the inside that I’m finding it difficult to remove. Any suggestions? It’s a little difficult to photograph, but it’s all in concentric rings on the inside. Also I’m assuming it was made before 1936, but if you have any more specific ideas for dating it, I’d be eager to hear it.
Thanks in advance,
Adrian

Answer:

Adrian, your 5 gallon Red Wing crock was produced between 1909 & 1915.  That white chalky stuff is lime and the best way that I have found to remove it is to use Lime-A-Way gel toilet bowl cleaner (or any other toilet bowl cleaner that is in gel form that removes lime).  Cover the inside of the crock with the cleaner and let stand for about ten minutes.  Then put on a pair of vinyl gloves and get yourself a green scratch pad and scrub the inside of the crock well.  Hose it out and you should be good to go.  Note; you will not hurt the inside of the crock.  Al Kohlman