Restoring Antique Porcelain Plates

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated November 25, 2019)

1

Restoring antique porcelain plates is a phrase that can often fill many people with dread. This is understandable since these types of plates and dinnerware is often very fragile and expensive. Luckily, this is a task that can actually be very easy to do, as long as you follow a few simple precautions. The number one rule when dealing with antique porcelain plates is that you need to be careful when doing it. As long as you keep that in mind, as you follow these simple guidelines you will have no problem in getting your porcelain plates clean again.

  • Be very careful. Being careful with antique porcelain plates cannot be stressed enough. The reason for this is that over time, as porcelain ages, it tends to become even more fragile. When cleaning antique porcelain, be sure that you do all cleaning by hand. Never, ever put antique porcelain plates into a dishwasher or other kind of machine. The risk for breaking them is too high.
  • Dust. Begin your cleaning efforts by first dusting. This will help to remove the majority of the dirt and grime that a plate can be infested with, and will help to prevent any scratching or gouging by the fine grains of dust. Your best bet to get as much of the dust off of an antique porcelain plate as possible is to use a microfiber cloth and very gentle pressure.
  • Wash gently. Once you have removed as much of the dust as possible it is time to begin washing the plate. Use only a mild dish soap and warm water. You should only need to use roughly 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap to about one pint of water to get your dishes clean. However, don't be afraid to change out the water as often as necessary to avoid smearing any dirt and grime around. Again, be very careful as you are washing your plate so that you don't drop it or break it.
  • Pat dry. After you have washed one antique porcelain plate, and before you begin washing the next, take time to pat dry the plate. This is to get the plate as dry as possible, while also preventing any scratching of the plates that can inadvertently come from the cloth. Once dry set aside the plate in a safe location.
  • Use mild acid. For particularly tough or difficult stains, you may want to use a very mild type of acid. The best kind to use are cleaners that contain sodium aluminum silicate as an ingredient. However, when using this kind of a cleaner, be sure that you use an even milder mixture than what may come on the packaging.
  • Seek professional help. There is nothing wrong whatsoever with actually hiring a professional to restore your antique porcelain plates. These individuals typically have the expertise, tools, and materials to properly get your antique nice and clean. Often, it is worth the added expense to avoid any potential harm to your treasured heirlooms.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

Spotting a Lemon

Purchasing any new or used car can be an extremely nerve wracking experience. One of the biggest concerns is that you are ...

Discover More

Garden Flowers

A beautiful garden full of flowers is the dream of many home gardeners. After all, who wouldn't want to have a garden ...

Discover More

Stuffed Beef Tenderloin

Beef is one of those meats that just about everyone loves to have. As such, it is always a good idea to have at least one ...

Discover More

Tough Tools for Tough Cleaning Jobs O-Cel-O sponges and Scotch Brite scrubbers are truly a fashion-meets-function success story. The highly absorbent and durable sponges in this handy six-pack make quick work of tough cleaning problems in any kitchen, bathroom, or garage. Check out Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Paint from Glass

Water based paints will absorb water and become rubbery making it easy to peel the paint right off of the glass. Razors ...

Discover More

Hide Nicks and Scratches in Porcelain

Porcelain nicks and scratches need to be repaired with a commercial epoxy resin. Before applying the epoxy, you need use ...

Discover More

Window Cleaning

Are your windows dirty? We can all use a little extra help getting our windows clean. This is never more true than when ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 2?

2022-04-09 18:33:33

Donald Mikel

I have a large dinner set - Minton Ironstone c1850 inherited from my mother. She routinely ran it through the dishwasher and this caused the edge or verge to chip. It is a set for 24 and includes dinner plates and soups so it huge. I don't have the time or skills to hand paint the edges but I have heard there may be an instrument that can restore the edges of dinner plates. Do you know about this or have any other ideas about how to do it. Also I would need to know what type of paint to get and how to match it.

Thanks Don Mikel


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.