A Quick Tip on Cleaning Ironstone
There is so much to talk about when it comes to ironstone!
Today, I’m sharing a tip on how to clean the gray marks you often see, especially on plates! The plates I have are not marked and most likely are restaurant ware, but the process is the same.
The marks are usually made from using metal utensils to scrape food off of the plate. It’s always best to use a rubber spatula.
Pour a teaspoon of baking soda on the plate and make a paste with a small amount of water. Dip a wet cloth into the paste and rub where there are gray marks. This almost always removes them. Baking soda is a safe abrasive to use on the ironstone. Don’t ever use bleach!
If you don’t have baking soda on hand you can also use toothpaste! Wash (by hand!), rinse and dry… and your ironstone will be ready to use or display.
It’s best to put a rubber mat in your sink or line the sink with tee towels to wash ironstone. If you have hands like mine that drop things often, it is best to provide some protection just in case!
If your ironstone is cracked or crazed, do not use it for food! (more tips on ironstone to come, but that is for another post!)
Are you an ironstone collector? Do you have a favorite piece?
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