How to Remove Newspaper Ink from China

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.

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.

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).

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.

• 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.