Q. My Tea Leaf is stained and brown, very discolored. Can I soak it in bleach to clean out the discoloration?

A. ABSOLUTELY NOT! Ironstone should never be soaked in chlorine bleach. The chemical reaction between the clay and the bleach may cause permanent and irreparable damage. Many fine pieces of ironstone have been ruined by unknowingly using bleach on ironstone.

Want to see an example of what bleach can do? Check out this Chinese Shape milk jug. See how the glaze is flaking off? This piece was purchased at an antique show and looked wonderful. After about a year the flaking started - and continues to do so even after 10 years - the damage just keeps getting worse!

Never, never clean ironstone in chlorine bleach!