What is this whitish 'FILM' on my canning jars!?

[Jeanne G]

If there is someone who can tell my WHY this happens or HOW to stop this:

I've noticed that (specifically) the jars that hold my salsa, after some of the jars have been opened, refrigerated, then eaten, then cleaned (mostly in the dishwasher) there is a WEIRD WHITISH COLORED SEE THROUGH 'FILM' on my jars. Very strange, I've tried dunking in boiling water, cleaning with vinegar and even resorted to SOS pads, which helps pretty much, but not completely.

Can anyone out there help??? :confused:

Please help if you can!!! Last time I canned I ended up using one of these cans after scouring it with SOS pads, and the canning process worked, but I would like to get rid of the film completely!!

[breadmama]

Jeanne,
If you're on a well, the softener salt or minerals in your water might be the culprit for the film. This has happened to me, both on my jam jars, and with a powdery residue on the inside of the canning pot. It seems to happen more when my water is hard (when we're low on salt.)

Another thought: After a while, we have had silica build up on our drinking glasses from the dishwasher. This looks rainbow-like, and scratches off with a fingernail. We don't know how to get rid of this problem, although after 13 years of marriage, we decided to retire the wedding gift glasses and replace them.

Hope this helps.

[Beth]

I would say mineral deposits. We have hard water and I add vinegar to my canning pot and let it boil for a few minutes (just the water and vinegar, no jars) after a few batches to take the mineral deposits off the sides of the canning pot. The same thing might help with the empty jars before you use them next time. Running through the dishwasher with a rinse aid might help, but it may be too much for that to remove. Also, try wiping them off with a damp cloth after you are finished and they have cooled down... when you take the rings off, both to get any sticky stuff around the sides and to help with mineral deposits. Hope that helps.

[Jeanne G]

Thank you Breadmama & Beth!

I have had a little problem with the powdery stuff inside my canning pot too. But not this year so far. After reading your posts, I think it has to be the water, although the weird thing is that it doesn't happen to my other glasses AT ALL! And another mystery is that it doesn't happen to ALL of my jars, just here and there. So that's what's got me stumped. Beth, I've tried cleaning with vinegar and dipping them into boiling water with vinegar in it and neither helped. One thing I haven't tried is BLEACH :eek: ! But, really whatever works. Thanks again girls!!! I appreciate your opinions & suggestions!!!

Jeanne

[Beth]

I think sitting in the boiling water makes the glasses more prone to picking up minerals than in your dishwasher (where your detergent and rinse aid may be helping too). I boil the pot with the vinegar and water for several minutes. You could try that rather than just dipping them. Really, the jars are made to be boiled.

I also have read that if you get that rainbow-like film on drinking glasses over time, that it can actually etch into the glass. That may happen with the jelly jars too over time. I don't think there is a practical solution to the film once it has etched itslef into the glass.

[breadmama]

Beth,
I want to try your idea...how much vinegar to how much water? Thanks for the suggestion!

[Beth]

I wish I could tell you how much is in a few glugs. My canning pot is 16 qts, and I would guess that I use 1-2 cups of vinegar in a pot of water full enough to cover any water lines. I let it boil covered for 5 minutes or more while I'm cleaning up other stuff. It's not an exact science.

[breadmama]

Thanks, I'll have to give that a try! I'm not sure how many glugs are left in my vinegar jug... Ha ha :)