Dear Mr Rapaire,

Yes, you are right and this kind of thing happens all too frequently.

However, out of disaster often comes good! Do you have a "disgustingly dirty piece of glass" (as quoted in the following site)?

Ways of cleaning disgustingly dirty pieces of glass website

Then what you have found in your good lady wife's guitar case may be a cost-saving alternative to the "Brillo" pad or magic bit of wire. I myself am rather taken with the "magic balls" as referred to in this most useful site as I have never come across those before in my long career! So I am most indebted to you for your query!

Yours most sincerely,

Dr. Guitar