Antique stoneware crocks once played an integral role in kitchens by allowing foods like butter to be stored and pickled vegetables to be made in watertight containers before the invention of refrigeration. Today, antique crocks are a decorative collectors item loved by many. With a few tips, you can identify your antique crock to learn more about its history and value.
Things You’ll Need:
How to Remove Hard Water Deposits
The best way to remove hard water deposits is with vinegar. Fill the inside of the piece with vinegar (or if there are deposits on the outside, submerge the whole thing) and let it soak. How long the piece needs to soak will depend on the severity of the build up. Many deposits can be gotten rid of with a soak of 30 minutes to a few hours. Some might take days. Loosely scrub the deposits with a clean white cloth every so often. Soak until the deposits are gone. Dump the vinegar and rinse with soft or distilled water.
WD-40 works well for removing stickers or sticky things. Spray the WD-40 directly onto the affected area and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen the adhesive. Then wipe away the mess using a clean white cloth.
Crazing stains are caused by seepage through tiny cracks in the glazing of a pottery piece. Hydrogen peroxide can be used on these stains. You can also use 40% peroxide, often found at beauty supply stores and stronger than regular hydrogen peroxide.
Fill a container large enough to accommodate the piece with hydrogen peroxide. (Darker containers that will not let in light are recommended; light hastens the breakdown of peroxide.) Submerge the piece. Some people have needed to soak their pottery for weeks, so be patient.
Do not use chlorine bleach to clean antique pottery. It will cause the glaze to flake and destroy your pottery.
How to Identify the Design of a Crock
Antique crocks were made by hand, so the design on the crock should be rather crude, or something that could easily be made by hand.
FAQ
How do you clean antique stoneware?
Stoneware was used for anything we might use glass jars or tupperware for today. It held everything from water, soda, and beer to meat, grain, jelly, and pickled vegetables, and was produced in a very wide variety of forms.
What were antique stoneware jugs used for?
Fill your container with warm water and add mild dishwashing detergent. Submerge your pottery for just a few seconds. Clean any problem areas with a soft washcloth or a soft brush.
How do you clean a ceramic jug?
How do I clean my vintage crockery?
