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Home / Cleaning Guides / Kitchen & Bath / Kitchenware / How to Remove Stains from Under the Glaze on China

How to Remove Stains from Under the Glaze on China

antiquechina

Table of Contents:
  1. Vinegar and Salt Method
  2. Hydrogen Peroxide Method
  3. Additional Tips and Advice

Kym asked: How do I get dark spots or mold from under old china? I bought some old china at a garage sale and washed it in the dishwasher. It now grows mold every time I wash them. There are really dark spots under the glaze. Can these be salvaged?

Antique china comes with a variety of glazes on it for protection. Sometimes, moisture and other substances can get underneath this glaze. Though they cannot be scrubbed or washed away, soaking the affected pieces in one of the cleaning solutions below may help to minimize or alleviate the problem all together.

Vinegar and Salt Method

You Will Need:

  • Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Soft cloths
  • Water

Steps to Remove the Stains:

  1. Mix vinegar with salt to form a paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the stained area.
  3. Do not rub it onto the surface or the salt may scratch the surface of the glaze.
  4. Allow the paste to set on the stain for twenty minutes.
  5. Wash away with warm water and a soft cloth.
  6. If the stain has lightened, repeat the above steps until the stain is removed. If the stain remains, try the peroxide method below.

Hydrogen Peroxide Method

You Will Need:

  • Hydrogen Peroxide (30-40%)
  • Hot water
  • Mild detergent
  • Large, shallow pan or bowl

Steps to Remove the Stain:

  1. Fill the bowl or pan with enough hydrogen peroxide to allow the stained area to soak in the peroxide.
  2. Place the stained piece and allow it to set in the peroxide for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Remove the piece and wash it thoroughly with a mild dish detergent and hot water.
  4. Be sure to remove all traces of the peroxide.
  5. Repeat if necessary until the stains are removed.

Additional Tips and Advice

  • If the pieces are heirloom pieces or valuable, it will be worth the extra cost to have them professionally cleaned.
  • If the pieces have painted designs or special coloring, test a small area first to ensure the cleaning methods do not remove the coloring or decorative finishes.

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. Rosy Posy says

    October 26, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Most awesome tip and it works. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Hmincer says

    June 20, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    Where do you get 30% hydrogen peroxide? I can’t find it anywhere in town (Memphis), and on the internet it’s way too expensive.

    Reply
    • Kip says

      July 14, 2018 at 9:36 pm

      I heard a beauty supply shop will have this. Wear gloves they say.

      Reply
  3. Claire says

    July 1, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    Try a chemist? I have the same problem with the Victorian fireplace tiles we are using to create a splashback. They were stored in newsprint and the crackle glaze has absorbed the ink I think. They are really porous, so this is why it happens. Got most of it off with a bicarbonate of soda paste and rubbing with a soft cloth, but this is now under the glaze. Will try the vinegar. Cheers

    Reply
  4. Bob says

    January 11, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    Hello. This works very well; would recomend it.

    Reply
  5. Marie says

    November 17, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    My idea: (and it works the first time; and much better than any of the ones above that I tried over and over with no results!)
    1. I poured plenty of regular table salt on the brown, crazed spots; on the old 1880 transfer ware plate.
    2. Then I poured regular hydrogen peroxide (3%) on the salt and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
    Within minutes I could see the brown stain lifting; it worked like a charm!!!!!! It pays to experiment…

    Reply
  6. Sheryl says

    January 2, 2019 at 10:34 am

    My Christmas butter dish lid has absorbed oil on the under rim…how do I remedy?

    Reply
    • Avatar photoMelanie says

      January 7, 2019 at 4:28 am

      Sheryl,
      Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over a plate (a thick pile) in the shape of the butter dish, then set the dish on the powder and let it sit overnight. The powder will help to pull the oil out of the dish. This is the same method used for removing oil spills from driveways and shirts! If you don’t have baking soda, another absorbent powder may work, such as cornstarch or flour. Another way to do this is to rub a piece of chalk over the rim of the dish thoroughly, let it sit overnight, then wash off the chalk. Good luck!

      Reply
  7. Jan says

    February 16, 2020 at 6:25 am

    My dish seemed to be lightly stained all over so I have tried to clean it with a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda combo but now it’s worse. It has become an ugly mixture of more pronounced browns. I can only see tiny little areas of beautiful blue. The whole thing should be blue. What happened? What do I do next?

    Reply

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