Vintage Pyrex
Cleaning Your Vintage China
I love the thrill of hunting down vintage items for myself and for my stores. But it can be dirty work. Finding pristine mid century items, for example, can mean digging around in the back of kitchen cupboards at estate sales for the quality wedding list pieces, the treasured dinnerware or glassware which has been carefully stored, seldom used, often forgotten …
Spotting a gem through decades of kitchen grime is only the first step. The next challenge is the cleaning. How do you best remove years of accumulated grease and dust without spoiling your prize?
Of course, the first place to start would be warm water and mild detergent. But be careful! Please ensure your china is at room temperature first – do not bring it in directly from a cold car in winter and plunk it into warm water. Vintage china can be very susceptible to extremes of heat and cold, and this kind of treatment may cause it to crack, chip or craze.
Before starting, check the label on your detergent to ensure it does not contain any bleach or lemon, both of which can be too strong for old china.
Pad the hard surfaces of your sink area to prevent accidental knocks. Immerse each piece separately and rub gently with a soft cloth. I would not use a scrubbing pad or brush as this could cause scratching or worse. Rinse with warm water and air dry.
Often a gentle wash is all that is needed. However, there are times when even hot soapy water will be powerless against the grease monster.
I have seen a product called Spray 9 recommended, but this is a professional product and cannot be bought at your local store. If you have a large amount of china to clean up it may be worth a try. There are many other products out there, such as Formula 409, which are also known to work against grease and grime, although they are not recommended for food preparation surfaces, which makes me hesitant to use them.
So far the best product I have found for cleaning vintage china is our old helper Bar Keepers Friend. I first saw this recommended on Pyrex Love for cleaning Pyrex dishes (it has proved very helpful for removing metal marks!) and decided to try it on some particularly grubby dinnerware. You can plainly see the results in the photo below.
Bar Keepers Friend is non-toxic and safe to use on objects and areas which will come into contact with food, and this is why I feel most confident recommending it. You should be able to find it at your local supermarket or DIY store, if not it is available online. The outcome can be spectacular, but as always, use your common sense and do not use on areas where there is gilt or decoration over the glaze.
So, you have cleaned up your item and maybe you now discover that there is crazing present. The worst kind of crazing comes with brown staining in and around it, and this can totally ruin the look of a piece. As a dealer, I don’t usually sell anything with this type of damage, except very occasionally when I feel it adds some character. One thing I am definitely not comfortable with is cleaning up the staining before sale. However, this is quite a common practice and there is a technique which works very well. You may want to try it if you have stubborn stains to remove from your own pieces.
To remove stains from crazing you will need to obtain peroxide from a beauty supply store, and cut it with water at 1 part water to 2 parts peroxide (note, these instructions are for peroxide – do not use bleach! Also, ensure you wear gloves and appropriate eye protection!). Immerse the item in the solution in a tupperware or glass bowl, cover with a lid or saran wrap, and leave. It may take up to a week for the brown marks to disappear. Do not use this method where there is cold glaze, gilt (gold) or other decoration over glaze.
So there you have it, a step by step guide to cleaning up your found vintage china. Now that you have achieved the desired result, please remember to take care of your special items. Rinse stored china every few months under warm water to remove accumulated dirt, and you should never again have to subject it to the deep cleaning procedures I have described.
Disclaimer: The techniques above are provided for information only. Please use your own discretion at all times. I cannot be held accountable for the results of using these procedures.
The products cited are not paid references. They are simply products which I have used or had recommended to me.
About the Author
Vintage Pyrex Glass Refrigerator Storage Containers
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Vintage Pyrex Yellow Serving Dish 1 Pt $8.99 |
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VTG CORNING PYREX MILK GLASS ~SET OF 4~ BEAUTIFUL COFFEE TEA CUPS RED BURGANDY $12.99 |
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VINTAGE PYREX CLEAR BOTTOM MIXING NESTING BOWLS ~SET OF 2~ PINK/SALMON TAN/MOCHA $7.99 |
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Vintage Pyrex Green/White Crazy Daisy Casserole Bowl 1 1/2 pt. #472 $5.49 |
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Vintage rectangular blue 1950′s Pyrex dish $15.00 |
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Vintage Apothecary PYREX Clear Ground Glass Bottle Stoppers $7.00 |
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Corning Pyrex Glass Insulator-Vintage-1 $16.00 |
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Vintage Pyrex #402 1.5L Woodland Brown Nesting Mixing Bowl $18.00 |
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Corning Pyrex Glass Insulator-Vintage-2 $21.00 |
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Vintage Pyrex Red Refrigerator Dishes with Matching Lids 1 1/2 Cup 501 $26.95 |
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VTG BIG FLAMINGO PINK PYREX RECTANGLE BAKING DISH~PRISTINE~12” BY 8” $11.99 |
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3 Vintage Pyrex Blue Garland Snowflake Cinderella Nesting Mixing Bowls $15.50 |
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Vintage Pyrex Refrigerator Dishes – set of 5 $22.00 |
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VINTAGE1970 PYREX CRAZY DAISY 2 1/2 QUART MIXING BOWL $10.00 |
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VINTAGE1970 PYREX CRAZY DAISY 1 1/2 QUART MIXING BOWL $8.00 |
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VINTAGE RED PYREX REFRIGERATOR DISH WITH LID N0. 501 $14.99 |
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Vintage *PYREX* Robin Egg Blue Mixing/Ovenware Bowl $5.99 |
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Incredible Design 1960′s Vintage Pyrex & Plastic Electric Server without Plug $14.99 |
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PYREX BABY 8oz BOTTLE vintage with rubber nipple & 3″ doll bottle $12.99 |
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VINTAGE BLUE GLASS PYREX FLAMEWARE SAUCE PAN..W-833… $15.00 |
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VINTAGE PYREX COVERED DIVIDER CASSEROLE DIVIDED SERVICING DISH RARE ROYAL BLUE $9.99 |
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VINTAGE PYREX COVERED DIVIDER CASSEROLE DIVIDED SERVICING DISH RARE ROYAL BLUE $9.99 |
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Vintage Pyrex Mug #1410 Blue Flower Summer Impressions Milk Glass Daisy EUC Cup $19.99 |
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Vintage Pyrex 2 QT Bowl Lime Green #024 Tab Handle VGC $19.99 |
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Pyrex Golden Butterfly 2 1/2 Qt. Casserole with Lid, Vintage Corelle Pattern $19.99 |
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Vintage Pyrex Flameware Coffee Pot Glass Replacement Basket / Bottom Strainer $19.99 |
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Vintage Pyrex Green Crazy Daisy Coffee Tea Mugs Set of 5 $24.00 |
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Vintage Oval Pyrex Covered Casserole Aqua Clear Lid 1 1/2 Qt. Hard to Find $14.99 |
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VTG Pyrex turquoise cinderella hot air balloon complete chip dip set $47.00 |
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VINTAGE PYREX USA OVENWARE DISH #441 (1 1/2 Pint) “Love Bird” Design $7.95 |
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#472 VINTAGE PYREX USA 1 1/2 PT OVENWARE COVERED CASSEROLE DISH Americana $7.95 |
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VTG Pyrex mixing nesting bowls set of 4 blue snowflake print GREAT CONDITION! $47.00 |
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Pyrex 1 1/4 Qt Casserole Dish White with Gold floral Scroll pattern Very Vintage $4.99 |
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Vintage Green Glass Pyrex 2 1/2 Qt Casserole & Serving Bowl USA $4.99 |
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Pyrex Prepware Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Measurements Pyrex Prepware 2-cup measuring cup includes 1-each 2-cup measuring cup with red graphics. Whether you are preparing a multi-course meal or simply a snack for one, Pyrex offers products which make food preparation a little easier, from beginning to end. There’s no substitute for Pyrex, the original glass bakeware. Introduced 90 years ago and made of a durable, high temperature material, Pyrex rema… |
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Trudeau Melamine Mixing Bowls, Set of 3 $14.96 Have fun in the Kitchen!! Trudeau’s set of 3 melamine mixing bowls are functional and attractive. Bright warm tones will cheer you as you mix your brownie batter, scramble your eggs or any other mixing you might do. The bowls are made of a durable melamine and come with a non-slip bottom so your bowls stay put as you are working. 1.5 / 2.0 / 3.0 L. Dishwasher safe, not for use in microwave…. |
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Pyrex 6004023 6-Piece Glass Rectangular Storage Set with Blue Lids $14.44 6 Piece, Pyrex Bake ‘N Store, Glass Food Storage Set, Includes: 3 Cup, 6 Cup & 11 Cup Rectangular Dishes With Dark Blue Plastic Covers…. |
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Sunrise Specialty 18 Inch Towel Bar 61E Polished Brass This is a Pyrex Glass Towel bar. It is available in 3 lengths – 18 inch , 24 inch , and 30 inch . You can also choose the finish you want. It is available in coated brass, chrome, old bronze, and polished or brushed nickel finishes…. |
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Vintage Pyrex 1 1/2 quart Oval Divided Bakeware Dish with Glass Lid – 12 1/2 inches x 8 3/4 inches x 2 inches – Divided sections are 5 1/4 inches x 8 inches – item 4 $39.99 Vintage Pyrex 1 1/2 quart Oval Divided Bakeware Dish with Glass Lid – 12 1/2 inches x 8 3/4 inches x 2 inches – Divided sections are 5 1/4 inches x 8 inches… |
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Vintage Pyrex 444 Harvest Wheat Cinderella Mixing Bowl – 4 Liters – 10 1/4 inches in diameter x 4 1/4 inches tall $45.99 Vintage Pyrex 444 Harvest Wheat Cinderella Mixing Bowl – 4 Liters – 10 1/4 inches in diameter x 4 1/4 inches tall… |
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Vintage Pyrex 442 Harvest Wheat Cinderella Mixing Bowl – 1.5 Liters – 7 1/2 inches in diameter x 3 1/2 inches tall $39.99 Vintage Pyrex 442 Harvest Wheat Cinderella Mixing Bowl – 1.5 Liters – 7 1/2 inches in diameter x 3 1/2 inches tall… |
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PYREX: The Unauthorized Collector’s Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors) $19.75 More popular than ever, Corning’s PYREX(r) is one of the most recognized and collected of vintage kitchen glass. Ovenware, FLAMEWARE, colorful later additions, laboratory glass, and more are presented in an organized format in this revised and expanded 4th edition. New chapter includes pattern names, and there are more than eighty additional full-color photographs. Even owners of the previous edit… |
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Anchor Hocking’s Fire-King and More: Identification and Value Guide Including Early American Prescut and Wexford $14.90 Fire King includes not only dinnerware but reamers, measuring cups, mixing bowls, mugs, and more. Gene Florence has compiled a second edition of his bestselling book on Fire King. Loaded with hundreds of new full color photos, vintage catalog pages, company materials, extensive facts, information, and values, this book has everything collectors expect from Gene Florence, America’s leading glasswar… |
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Complete Guide to Corning Ware & Visions Cookware $19.95 This book chronicles the 40+ years of Corning Ware and the 15 years of Visions. Compiled directly from information in the Corning Glass Works archives, this complete and unabridged guide covers the 60+ patterns, hundreds of shapes, and thousands of specific dishes of Corning Ware and Visions made since 1956. The book includes hundreds of detailed pictures, as well as specific information about eac… |