Cleaning Enamel Bowl – Not Cookware

Howdy:
Try a “Magic Eraser” or generic knock-off slightly moistened. see if it helps.

mike @ MDCGFA

I think that’s rust spreading from the inner metal due to chips or cracks in the enamel. The stain is spreading under the enamel coating. I’ve always sold enamelware with that issue as “have not tried to clean”….

I have seen a few articles on repairing this but it seems way more trouble than it’s worth. There are enamelware buyers who will have no objection at all to this. It adds to the charm.

If you try the Magic Eraser, though, please let us know if it works.

Have you tried Barkeepers Friend? OMG. I swear by it. I love how well it cleans! It’s supposedly natural also. I don’t think it has a smell. It’s more gentle than Ajax or other cleansers. I had been working on redecorating and almost threw out a stainless steel kitchen sink. When I cleaned it with Bar Keepers Friend, it looked almost new!

And while on the subject of cleaning. I recently (within the last 6 months) purchased a Bissell handheld Power Shot steam cleaner. Jeez! Why didn’t anyone tell me about these earlier? I have a slight addiction to the “Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners” (or some other name similar on YT. I got the idea there. These folks are serious about house cleaning! Anyhow. I love my steamer. I steam almost the entire bathroom and almost anything. Walls, bathtub, sink, toilet, towels, sheets, kitchen sink, kitchen ceramic tile, curtains, bed, doorknobs-you get the idea. How did I ever do without one of these little gems? I have a clothes steamer I used to use, but it did not have the reach. With the handheld one, it’s perfect reach. And a long cord and a few attachments included. Especially great for those running an Air BnB, Ryanne, I’m looking at you. 😀 These things really sanitize and leave your room feeling fresher. I don’t recommend adding any scent, but you won’t need it. It just leaves the surfaces and room feeling “clean”.
Good luck.

Ok, I’m just looking for a distraction, as I”m working on my taxes. ugh.

Main ingredients of Barkeeper’s Friend are (according to Wikipedia) feldspar, a surfactant and oxalic acid. Thus a mild abrasive (feldspar is the bit in granite that rots down to make china clay), a soap and an acid. The acid may act like phosphoric acid, which converts rust to iron phosphate, and it may convert the rust to iron oxalate. A weak solution of phosphoric acid or maybe white vinegar may be worth trying, as you’re not abrading the surface.

I use efferdent tablets in warm water. Let it sit for a few hours. If necessary do it again with a few more tablets.

Active ingredients of Efferdent include citric acid and potassium monopersulfate; the latter’s an oxidiser sold in bulk to clean pools and the former’s an ingredient for making soft cheese. Citric acid’s sold as “lemon powder” in Indian supermarkets and also pharmacies sell it. Other ingredients in denture cleaner are sodium bicarbonate, and sodium hypochlorite which is household bleach. Citric acid will shift the rust. Scientists use citric acid and flashlamp to remove rust.

I don’t really “worry” about how the products will react down the road when cleaning stuff up too much. I just try to make it look good enough to photograph well. Now…if some product will totally ruin the item, then no, I would not use said product. But I’m no scientist/chemist. I thank God for those who are though! I would ruin everything if it weren’t for YouTube videos, this forum and Google! Hope you find a solution, debitsandcredits!

Late to the game – but I have sold a lot of items that have flaws like that and as long as you show it there isn’t a problem. Some of my items had pretty significant, but not damaging, scalding marks but it still sold for a good price. If someone was to put up a dish that was 5/10 years old with marks I would say no way, but when it has age people expect flaws. I just wash off the dirt or gunk that I can and make sure I get a good picture.

I’d probably sell it as-is; a collector will know how to fix it up. When cleaning things like Le Creuset and Cathrineholm there’s a risk of knocking down the shine.