I often show off my ironstone collection and when I do, I almost always receive questions about how to remove stains. I’ve never actually whitened my ironstone, because I love when a piece shows its age. I understand that some people want their ironstone bright white or might want to remove a stain if it is unsightly. So, I got some advice from Kim of Truffle Pig Treasures (she’s an avid ironstone collector) as well as tips from the WICA (White Ironstone China Association…my kind of people!)
This advice from the WICA seems like the safest, easiest way…
“The only relatively safe chemical that we know of to clean white ironstone china is hydrogen peroxide, and it is used frequently. Its chemical formula (H2O2) is very similar to water (H2O), but it has an extra oxygen atom. This gives hydrogen peroxide the ability to oxidize organic and inorganic materials, producing water as a reaction byproduct. This makes it useful as an agent to both whiten the stain and make the stain easier to be flushed from the china.
If you want to try cleaning a piece with hydrogen peroxide, buy the regular 3% hydrogen peroxide in the grocery or drug store. Buy enough to cover your piece as you soak it. Put the peroxide in a tightly lidded plastic container. After several days, take the piece out and put it in strong sunlight, so the hydrogen peroxide vaporizes from the heat. You can also try to bake the piece in an electric oven, at the lowest possible temperature, not to exceed 200 degrees. Using a gas oven could cause a fire or an explosion when the hydrogen peroxide is heated. Heating in an electric oven is safe to you, but your dishes could very well break. Heating in sunlight takes longer, but is safer for the dishes. You can repeat this process until the piece is clean.
WARNING!! Using a stronger solution of peroxide is extremely dangerous. It can burn the skin off your hands and cause permanent damage to mucous membranes, and unless you know chemistry very well you could have an explosion. Leave the work with stronger hydrogen peroxide to the professionals.
After you have cleaned your white ironstone piece, wash it thoroughly, as any cleaning chemicals that remain can migrate into your food.”
Kim uses peroxide solution used by hair stylists, but that’s not as readily available as 3% hydrogen peroxide. It might be better to use for darker stains, though. Just make sure you follow all of the directions and use common sense when working with these chemicals.
I have a gas stove, so I would definitely use the sunlight method (and I’m just skittish about fire anyway.) Let’s face it, it’s not worth blowing up your kitchen to remove a stain from a piece of ironstone.
I hope you agree.
Lastly, don’t ever use bleach to clean ironstone. Bleach will destroy the piece.
Check out Ironstone 101 for more information about what ironstone is and how to spot it.
In case you didn’t see, my home was featured on Houzz this week. Thanks so much to Susan for writing such a complimentary article about my house!
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thank you for that tutorial. i have never been willing to try to clean mine, but did know a little about hydrogen peroxide. this filled in a ton of reasons to love it just the way it is.
xow.
i’m surprised people want to remove the yellowed age!! that’s the best part of old ironstone in my opinion!!
When I have older pieces of ironstone or china to clean I have had good luck with a plain old Mister Clean Magic Eraser. No chemicals needed. I didn’t know that hydrogen peroxide could help as well. Thanks!
My mom had ironstone when I wasyoung and I wish I had it now that I am able to appreciate it more.
i wish i’d known this awhile back! i passed up some nicotine stained pieces at a yard sale. the owner was an elderly lady that was also a heavy smoker, apparently.
Marion I like you love aging that shows on Ironstone.But I am glad to have this info on how to clean it.I may need this as a reference when selling my things.
As always, great information. thank you for sharing this. vintage dishes do require special cleaning and it’s really awesome to have a source to reference. Loved the piece on Houzz, it was wonderful!
SO good to know, Marian! I would’ave grabbed for the bleach first….but now I know not to! Thanks for the tips today!
xoxo laurie
Never tried this one, but it sure is going to come in handy! Thanks
Hey
I enjoy your blog!, This unique is just a totally nicely structured posting, I do appreciate the writing
Thank you!
Congrats on the feature!! That is cool. And thanks for the info on cleaning ironstone,
Hugs
SueAnn
I have been told that soaking in Alka Seltzer works to remove stains and that it can take more than one treatment to fully clean. I plan to try it to clean out the interior of my stoneware teapots. .I agree that the patina of most older stoneware is what makes it appealing though.
I have a piece that I wanted to try to clean as the bottom is much more brown than the lid. (Due to having been used to bake something in a gas oven I was told). Glad to hear of the hydrogen peroxide method as opposed to bleach. I’ve also been told that Efferdent tablets will clean ironstone, but have not tried it myself.
Good to know…thanks for sharing!
I had heard about using hydrogen peroxide, but had never heard about the sun light afterwards. Thanks for the info. Also been meaning to tell you that you look great in lipstick!
MMS, Beautiful photos on Houzz of your home. Did you take them? Thanks for the info on the white ironstone. I just leave mine as I find them but if I need to clean one it’s good to know about the possibility of blowing up the house! I didn’t know all this about hydrogen peroxide and white ironstone. I’m lovin’ your blog. Anne
I purchased a used server with a marble top at a local thrift store. The marble was very stained and yellowed. I tried wet sanding, and different cleaners as well as hydrogen peroxide, none of which helped. I then decided to try a method I saw online, which was to just expose it to the sun and rain. I live in SW Florida, so we had plenty of both. With in the first few days I noticed tiny crystals on the surface, then noticed it getting lighter. It took 2 months in the sun and rain, but it turned out beautiful. I think the rain water and sun will draw the stain to the surface while bleaching out any remaining discoloration. If you’re interested in seeing the photos of the before and afters: http://dovenest28.blogspot.com/2011/09/restoring-or-refinishing-how-to-clean.html. Now I’ll have to find some stained ironstone to try it on also!
I have a few older pieces of ironstone, thanks for the tips!
Carol in GA
Personally, I want to say STOP…DON”T DO IT…Buy something newer, whiter…leave the items with patine for those of us who love it…Again, there’s something for everyone and I love the history communicated by each pieces individual patina…My 2cents….Thanks Coreen
PS: I know the bible says ‘though shall not covet’…but I think there’s some redemption in admitting it…so I’m telling you here and now…I covet that gravy boat!…Coreen
I believe I am noticing that bottom platter has gone through a little at home surgery. Made me smile in recognition. Didn’t have the heart to let it go? No, I wouldn’t either!
I am very much glad to get such an important advice as I have a lot of show pieces made of iron stone.SO after getting this advice I will clean those show pieces.It is really such a nice blog.
A lot of people have ironstone showpiece at their home but they are not aware of how to clean them in a proper way.I think this blog has posted such a helpful article about the cleanliness of ironstone showpieces.