Question:
This is not an identification question, as I know the pieces I have recently inherited from my mother are the Red Wing Lotus Bronze dinnerware. My question is: how to clean them? These pieces were stored for many years in a basement then garage while wrapped in newspaper, and now the interiors of some have some kind of speckled, dark stains. Not sure if it’s a type of mold or some chemical discoloration. Any suggestions? Wash in white vinegar? Thank you, and glad to discover you today! Diane

Answer:
Most likely your Lotus dinnerware has some crazing. Crazing refers to tiny cracks in the glaze; these cracks allow food and liquids to penetrate the glaze and stain the dinnerware. Perhaps it is possible that mold penetrated the surface over the years of storage but usually such mold stains are on the surface, not under the glaze. A photo of the stains would have been helpful. In any event, ordinary washing will not remove stains that are under the glaze.

Several methods are sometimes used by owners of stained pieces in an attempt to clean them. There are no guarantees, but I have had success soaking stained pieces in 40% hydrogen peroxide. This product is available at beauty supply stores and is used to bleach hair. It is also available in 20% and 30% concentrations. (Note: the 3% hydrogen peroxide used for cuts and scrapes on the skin will do nothing for your dish stains.) Other collectors soak stained dishes in a bleach solution. Both methods require extreme caution to avoid spills and contact with skin, eyes, etc. And in my opinion both methods require the cleaned item to be further soaked in clean water to remove the bleach or peroxide. Another method is to bake the soiled dishes in the oven on low heat. This supposedly works best for greasy stains though I’ve never tried it.

There are articles written on this subject, and I would suggest reading them before making any attempt to clean your Lotus using these methods.

Larry