Caring for your Harker
First, there's a great story to tell. One day, my mother called a beauty supply shop to ask about hydrogen peroxide. Yes, they had it in stock. No, pint bottles were all they stocked. They asked her what she was planning on doing with such a large quantity of the stuff and she told them that she was "bleaching old china." When she arrived at the store and asked for the hydrogen peroxide, they said, "Oh yes. You're the lady with the horse." This, of course, confused my mom no end. No, she didn't have a horse. "Oh," they replied, "but didn't you say you were bleaching Old China?"
The method works well with all the cameoware but be careful with any decaled items, especially ones with red or black in them. This will fade the decals. Mom has Dad touch them up with permanent markers, like Sharpies, if she is only using them for display.
Mom writes:
"Emmy Lewis sent me a photocopy of the original article by Valorie Hays that details the use of hydrogen peroxide to bleach china. I have successfully used the process, and I have also bleached some shades of red out totally. I have also splashed a little of this stuff on my skin and lost the top layer. Read carefully and be careful.
If you have no beauty supply shop in your area, ask your hairdresser to order it for you.
Because hydrogen peroxide is dangerous to skin, eyes, and lungs as well as being combustible, I urge great caution, especially in homes with children."
Materials
- 30% or 40% volume clear hydrogen peroxide (Note: Do not use peroxide over 50%; it is too strong.)
- aluminum foil to line oven
- rubber gloves
- air-tight, covered plastic containers
: Hydrogen peroxide is combustible. Do not place near a heater or an open flame. Keep out of sunlight and in a cool place. Read the instructions on the container about pouring and using peroxide. Wear rubber gloves and a long-sleeved shirt at all times. When opening, closing, and pouring, point container away from your face.
: If you have used Clorox bleach on an item, neutralize the chlorine by soaking the item in a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water.
- Fill air-tight, covered plastic container with hydrogen peroxide, allowing room for expansion of the liquid when china is added. Note: Dispose of empty container carefully. Store unused peroxide in a cool, dark area.
- Carefully submerge china in peroxide. Warning: Red seems to be particularly susceptible to the bleaching effect. Red Apple, for example, may turn out to be orange apple.
- Replace cover and store in a cool, dark place.
- Check china after a few days. (I often check after 24 hours, especially if I am nervous about color.) Discoloration should have started to disappear.
- After one and one-half weeks of soaking, for very dirty pieces, take them out and wash them. Note: A layer of grease may form on the surface of the hydrogen peroxide. I lift it off with newspaper.
- Place in sun to dry. The sun is also a bleaching agent.
- If discoloration still shows, you may place the piece on a layer of several sheets of aluminum foil in an electric oven set at no more than 150 degrees. CAUTION: Never use a gas oven!
- After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and allow china to cool before rinsing off residue. Note: The "residue" may be a heavy greasy substance.
- Repeat steps 2 through 8 until no discoloration surfaces during the heating process.
- When its finished, wash in warm soap and water.
Because of the danger to some colors, collectors have tried some innovations.
Hollow ware like jugs and creamers can be filled with hydrogen peroxide and covered tightly with plastic wrap. Let it set on a shelf and watch the greasy and dirt ooze down the side.
I am going to try "spotting" small stains: soaking cotton in HO and setting it on the stain, then placing the item in a plastic bag.
I also have a Virginia utility platter that I am going to try to "float" on a thin layer of HO in order to protect the top.