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Home / Cleaning Guides / Kitchen & Bath / Kitchenware / How to Remove Newspaper Ink from China

How to Remove Newspaper Ink from China

antiquechina

Table of Contents:
  1. Basic Ink Removal Method
  2. Rubbing Alcohol Method
  3. Hydrogen Peroxide Method
  4. Additional Tips and Advice

Laurie asked: How do I clean newspaper ink from china? I have a whole set of antique Haviland china that had been packed in newspaper. Some of the ink has rubbed off onto it and needs some TLC to clean it up. I would like to know how and what I should use to clean it without damaging it. Thank you.

It’s quite a dismay to carefully store your china in newspaper only to discover ink stains when you unwrap it. If your antique china is covered in ink, resist the urge to place it in the dishwasher! The heat may be too much for the piece, while the detergent can damage it with either acidic or abrasive qualities, or both. Furthermore, decorated china is most vulnerable when heated and can be easily damaged by jostling in a dishwasher. Fortunately, you have other options. If ink marks on your antique dishes have you seeing red, try one of these solutions.

Basic Ink Removal Method

You Will Need:

  • Pencil eraser
  • Mild detergent (not citrus scented)
  • Soft cloth (or two)
  • Warm water

Steps to Remove the Ink:

  1. Gently rub the pencil eraser across the ink stain until it’s gone.
  2. Once you’ve erased the marks from the entire piece, wash it in warm (not hot) water with a mild detergent and a soft cloth. Allow it to air dry or dry with a second soft cloth.

Rubbing Alcohol Method

You Will Need:

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton balls

Steps to Remove the Ink:

  1. Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol.
  2. Before you begin, spot test the rubbing alcohol in an inconspicuous spot on the china. The glazing on the back doesn’t always match that of the front, so keep in mind that a spot check on the back may not accurately represent what will happen on the front.
  3. Gently rub the soaked cotton ball over the ink.
  4. Once the ink is gone, wash the dish by hand (see Basic Ink Removal Step 2 for help).

Hydrogen Peroxide Method

You Will Need:

  • Commercial grade hydrogen peroxide (also known as beauty grade or developer, available at beauty supply stores)
  • Water
  • Cotton balls
  • Gloves
  • Mask
  • Eye protection

Steps to Remove the Ink:

  1. Put on all of your protective gear: eye, hand, and mask before you begin.
  2. Dilute the peroxide at a ratio of one part water to three parts peroxide.
  3. Spot check before you begin. Allow a few minutes of contact between the peroxide and the china before assuming all is well.
  4. Soak a cotton ball for each spot in the solution.
  5. Place the soaked cotton ball directly on the ink spot.
  6. Allow to sit for several hours to several days. The cleaning can be dramatic, but it takes time.
  7. Check on your cotton balls often. When they become dirty or dry out, replace them with fresh soaked cotton balls. Wear safety equipment whenever you work with the peroxide!
  8. When finished, rinse the dish in warm water, then hand wash with a mild detergent.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • Always use cotton balls, never paper towels, to clean your china. Even the light texture of a paper towel may be too abrasive.
  • Never use bleach or products containing bleach on fine china. Chlorine gets under the glaze and reacts with both the glaze and the porcelain to ruin the piece.
  • Avoid cleaning products containing ammonia, solvents, or abrasive materials. These, too, may damage your china.
  • Avoid even mild detergents if they are citrus scented. These lemon or orange products may smell good, but they might also contain acids.
  • If your china is cold glazed or damaged, it’s best to leave the cleaning to the professionals.

Cleaning Guides, Kitchenware

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About the Author

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Susan

I'm a stay-at-home mom who used to run a small housecleaning business. These days I consider myself more or a mad cleaning-scientist. I do most of the testing for our articles - as well as helping Mark & Melanie write them.

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Comments

  1. Edie says

    May 23, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    Will these methods remove 22k gold?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoMelanie says

      May 26, 2014 at 7:03 pm

      Edie,
      The higher a carat of gold, the softer (and easier to damage) it is. Rubbing with a pencil eraser should not remove the gold right away if you are gentle, however it is possible if you rub too hard. Gold lining or painting on china is similar to a gold plated piece of jewelry in that it can rub off. Rubbing alcohol should not damage or react with the gold, but again, try to be gentle when rubbing. Also, 3% peroxide and the stronger beauty grade peroxide recommended are safe to use on gold.
      Source: HowToCleanStuff.net – How to Remove Gold Plating from Silver Jewelry
      Source: eHow – Can Alcohol Ruin Jewelry?
      Source: Super Mom Tested – Using Hydrogen Peroxide to clean Jewelry
      Source: Solvay – Hydrogen Peroxide

      Reply

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