How to Clean Vintage Dinner Plates

Keep your vintage plates safe with careful washing.

Vintage dinner plates are often unique or one-of-a-kind pieces. Consequently, careful cleaning is of utmost importance. Avoid putting vintage dinner plates in the dishwasher. Soft water may permanently etch their surfaces. Hard water may leave spots. The safest way to wash porcelain or ceramic vintage plates is with a mild soap solution and a gentle hand.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid detergent soap
• Cloth
• Toothbrush

Instructions

1. Fill a tub or sink with a warm, soapy solution -- 1 tablespoon liquid detergent soap per gallon of water.

2. Submerge the plates in the water and allow them to soak for five minutes.

3. Lift each plate and wash it gently with a cloth.

4. Rinse the plate under running water. Examine the vintage plate. Scrub off any remaining residue with a rag. Some vintage dinner plates may have unglazed or chipped areas. These will not clean as easily as the glazed portions of the plate. Try scrubbing tough residue with an old toothbrush dipped in soapy water. Rinse the plate once it is clean.

5. Dry the plate with a lint-free cloth or place it in a drying rack. If you choose the drying rack option, check on them after all of the dishes are clean. Wipe off any water droplets before they dry on the plate. They may leave hard water spots behind.

References

• Royal Copenhagen: How to Take Care of your Porcelain
• "Antique Trader Guide to Fakes & Reproductions"; Mark Chervenka; 2007