psyllie
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posted on March 9, 2001 07:24:52 AM new
Any plate experts out there? I came across some nice old Lenox temperware plates that have been in storage for a very long time. They were not stored well--nothing between the plates--and a grayish discoloration has developed that appears to be rub marks from the plates stacked up against each other. Is there any way to remove this grayish stuff? I tried soft scrub, and it took off some of it, but it seems to need something stronger, and I don't know if it's safe to use regular cleanser, or if there's a better product out there--or even if they can be cleaned!
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jayadiaz
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posted on March 9, 2001 07:30:29 AM new
I have had a lot of success with soaking porcelain in bleach, straight out of a bottle. Just remember to soak in water for equal amount of time to get rid of the smell of bleach. I even did some hand painted items that I felt were sink or swim in terms of being saleable. Another words I didn't think they would go anywhere the way they were some made it some didn't. I would test one plate and then decide on the rest. But bleach has performed miracles for me.
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shaani
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posted on March 9, 2001 08:12:18 AM new
I have had great success with a paste of baking soda and water and I usually use that method.
I don't advise regular household bleach as it can do some nasty damage to china. If you use 20 or 30 volume clear peroxide I think that is okay.
This was discussed here a couple of times before and I think there is a lemon juice method also. Maybe someone else remembers?
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victoria
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posted on March 9, 2001 08:48:53 AM new
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=259648&thread=259387
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&id=249812&thread=249586
I have no idea from actual experience about what works best. But it looks like peroxide is the preferred method from past discussions.
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smw
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posted on March 9, 2001 09:17:56 AM new
Bleach is the worst possible stuff to use on any ceramic. It does remove the stains but the salts also lift any finish and discolor the dyes. It can also weaken the object and make it brittle depending on how well vitrified it is.
If I remember correctly Lenox Temper ware is modern and has a matte finish? It can be cleaned of gray and black marks (usually from metal utensils,) by using Corning counter top cleaner, or a special cleaner that Pfaltzgraff makes to clean it's matte pottery. Softscrub will work too but you have to really work at it. If you want something quicker there is BarTenders Friend cleanser but it may damage the decal if there is one or the finish.
BTW peroxide will not remove black or gray utensil marks from pottery.
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psyllie
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posted on March 9, 2001 09:30:30 AM new
Thank you Thank you THANK YOU!!!
I really appreciate all the suggestions. I have a smooth-top range and had some of the corning cleaner in the kitchen, so I tried it and it worked great. The plates look beautiful again.
I'm going to save all the other suggestions--I know I'll have a need for them all at some point.
Yes, smw, the Lenox temperware is modern--this particular pattern has been discontinued for a while, I'm told.
Thanks again!
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birdwatcher-07
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posted on March 9, 2001 10:01:19 AM new
NEVER use bleach or peroxide on anything that has crazing. Both products will get into the crazing cracks and leach out over time. Horrible - I know from experience. The cheapest way to remove grey/black scuff marks from matte-finish china is to take a tiny piece of sandpaper. It MUST be very fine sandpaper - minimum 600 grit, and 1000 is even better. Make sure both the paper and the china are wet. Rub the sandpaper very lightly over the scuffs, and voila! They will be gone. This works exceptionally well if the scuff marks are from the plates rubbing up against each other during storage. Serious black scratch marks from utensils are much more difficult, and sometimes I even have to give up on them if they are bad enough. Just remember not to rub the china vigorously, because you can remove the finish. But by using the very fine sandpaper, you'll find that you can rub the china lightly and leave no sign that you did.
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mcbrunnhilde
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posted on March 9, 2001 10:35:00 AM new
Psyllie, are these plates by any chance in the Merriment pattern? I'm lookin' for some salad plates to replace very faded ones!
Without eBay, I might have a real life...
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psyllie
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posted on March 9, 2001 10:40:43 AM new
Sorry mcbrunnhilde, they're Fancy Free, just like me (now that I've stopped using so many fee services
(edited to correct my dumb mistake)
[ edited by psyllie on Mar 9, 2001 10:42 AM ]
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mcbrunnhilde
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posted on March 9, 2001 10:43:56 AM new
Darn! We could have saved some eBay fees!
Good luck with selling them. I'm glad you posted this thread--I'll try these hints on some of the plates I use that have gray marks.
Without eBay, I might have a real life...
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smw
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posted on March 9, 2001 11:20:07 AM new
Petroleum distillates will remove black marks from porcelain and not touch the glaze or surface finish.
I have never ever heard of using sand paper of any sort on any ceramic. No matter how fine the grain it has to alter the surface. This is what sandpaper does and is designed to do.
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birdwatcher-07
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posted on March 9, 2001 12:16:54 PM new
I've tried petroleum distillates and they don't do doodley on many of these kinds of scuffs. Scoff if you want at the sandpaper idea, but try it and see if I'm wrong. I am talking about a very light touch with a very fine sandpaper. I'm sure if I put the china under a microsope, I would see some changes, but to the normal human eye, if done properly, no scuffs or scratches from the sandpaper will be visible. Usually, I find that only 1 or 2 passes with the sandpaper will do the job. I do not recommend doing this on china with a painted design (or at least not doing it on the painted parts) and you can certainly remove any design if you scrub hard enough. But I'm talking here about matte finish china, like many of the Pfaltzgraf designs and some of the Lenox temperware designs. Those finishes are very tough/sturdy.
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brie49
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posted on March 9, 2001 07:11:57 PM new
Great suggestions here. Some I have never heard of.
I've been collecting vintage Fiesta for years and have found that the best method to remove gray utensil marks from the lighter colored pieces was to use silver polish.
Personally I only use one brand of silver polish called Flitz, but maybe other brands work also.
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roadsmith
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posted on March 9, 2001 09:46:33 PM new
Gosh, guys--what great ideas! Thanks for all your contributions. I am printing and saving. --Adele
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kittycom
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posted on March 10, 2001 01:47:23 AM new
Just to add one more solution.....I have used a product called Wenol, which is actually a metal polish. You can find it at the Williams-Sonoma kitchen products store.
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