How to Remove Stains from Vintage Porcelain Pottery and Art Glass

If you are a collector of antiques or collectibles, you have probably wanted to know how to remove stains and get your pottery or glass pieces clean. We all know how to wash an old pitcher with water and detergent, but do you know how to remove RUST from old pottery? Do you know how to remove SEDIMENT or CALCIUM deposits from glassware? There are ways to salvage old pottery and dinnerware, as well as glassware.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old pottery and glass that you would like to salvage.
• Rust on dinnerware and deposits on glass are common to vintage and older items, and you may find some very cheap and salvageable items.
• Common products from your kitchen or nearest store. These include oxalic acid, vinegar, and cooktop cleaner.

1. 
    
   White Buildup around edge will come clean

   FIND a piece of pottery or glass that has stains to be removed or needs cleaned. If you have an old piece of pottery or dinnerware that has stains or rust, or a piece of glass that has sediment or calcium deposit, it can be cleaned. Let's deal with the porcelain, pottery or dinnerware first.

2. PURCHASE the products if you do not have them on hand. Rust can be removed with a product called Barkeeper's Friend or any product that has OXALIC ACID. If you do not have ZUD or a similar product in your kitchen cabinet, it should be available at your local drug store or grocery store. Whatever you use must contain the magic ingredient, oxalic acid. White vinegar and cooktop cleaner are also great products for cleaning antiques and collectibles or vintage dinnerware you use.

3. SPRINKLE the oxalic acid on to the rust spot and add just enough water to make a paste. Rub it around on the rusty spot and leave it just long enough for it to work. When you wipe it off, you can SEE rust going away. This product also works for the metal marks caused from Corning Ware and similar cookware rubbing against metal in the dishwasher. These show up as gray skids on the white body of the Corning.

4. 
    
   Would you buy this for resale? I did.

   USE white vinegar to remove buildup from standing water. For GLASS, use white vinegar full strength and let it sit over night. The next morning, the calcium or buildup from leaving water sit in a glass vase is gone. If there is something in the bottom of a bud vase that you cannot get to, put RICE in the container with some liquid and swish it around. The rice works as a mild abrasive. Oxalic acid will remove rust from glass, too, although rust on glass is not as common as on dinnerware.

5. 
    
   This is the same jar cleaned with vinegar.

   GIVE UP on sick glass. Sick glass cannot be remedied. This is glass that has discoloration from the dishwasher, and it is actually etched. Some other glass stains can be removed with a paste of COOKTOP CLEANER wiped around the inside. Most cooktop cleaners have alcohol and detergents, and for some reason this works with clear glass to remove stains.
   
   With these products and a little time, you can remove stains, rust and residue from vintage porcelain, pottery and glass.

Tips & Warnings

• I have purchased dinnerware that others would not, because I know the stains can be removed, and make them sellable. The same is true for glassware. If it has a ring from water left inside, it can usually be removed.
• Copyright Linda Richard 2009
• Feel free to link to this article or send it to a friend.
• Watch for SICK GLASS that looks iridescent or very dull. This is actually a change in the glass that cannot be remedied by these methods.
• When using any caustic products, be careful to protect your hands and eyes.

Resources

• Identifying Vintage American Pottery
• Pottery and Glass for Sale
• Find an Antiques Collectibles Appraiser
• Buy Antiques Collectibles Books at Discount
• Buy Art Glass for Investment and Fun
• Contact Us

[karileighk]

on 7/8/2009 Thanks for the great info.

[basilmarlee]

on 6/25/2009 This is very informative! Thank you so much!