Hi, Jim.

I've tried the vinegar routine myself with a lack of success similar to
yours.

I suspect that Iris is on the right track, and soaking the pots for a long
time in an acid solution should do the trick. Vinegar should qualify for
that. When I get really serious about this problem I may give that a try.
White vinegar is sold, inexpensively by the gallon. (Or, you could stick
them in the bottom of your pickle barrel ;-) )

I would not expect caustics, such as lye, to have any effect.

In an earlier thread on this subject, a poster mentioned that letting the
pots soak for a year in his rain water barrel did the trick. I tried that
last summer, and, after 3 months noticed substantial improvement.

Bart

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