How do you clean pottery shards?

[rock]

I have been finding some pottery finally. It has mud and red clay on it. I really dont want to scrub it hard due to the fact it might damage it. So how do you clean them?

 

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[SCrocks]

No expert but I just scrub lightly with water and soft tooth brush. I haven't had any problems.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Rock,
The soil may be different up your way in North Georgia but down here if I like the pottery piece well enough to wash it off, I just use water and a soft brush like SCrocks said. Hard dried red clay? Maybe soak it for a day or so?

 

[Tnmountains]

Stuff has been getting wet for a long long time. One more time sure cant hurt it unless it is rotten/ I have had some crumble from being in water. Kinda like rotten tree bark

 

[rock]

OK I just wanted to know for sure. I have been using water and a tooth brush. I just didnt want to scratch it cause some have colors and prints. I wasnt sure if it would get damaged if I scrubbed it. Thanks, rock

 

[kinchafoonee]

OK I just wanted to know for sure. I have been using water and a tooth brush. I just didnt want to scratch it cause some have colors and prints. I wasnt sure if it would get damaged if I scrubbed it. Thanks, rock

I have always used a soft bristle tooth brush too. Never had any problems. Also have always cleaned stone the same way, sometimes using a mild abrasive on stained or stubborn ones. A little comet mixed with liquid hand soap seems to work well.

 

[johnger1]

I've used a solution of water and oxyclean. Oxyclean and hot water dissolve anything organic, so be careful and test a sample first. I never had a problem with hard stone or glazed pottery. I 've cleaned unglazed Anasazi pottery, by first cleaning it with a soft dry brush and then spraying a cold solution of oxyclean/water(20:1)over the shards with a spray bottle. I would allow it to soak in for 3-5 minutes before rinsing them with cold water. No scrubbing needed. The pieces cleaned up great without damaging them.

 

[NC field hunter]

Gator has mentioned a solution he mixes up. It's Elmer's glue and water. Call him for the water to glue ratio, Rock. I'm sure he'll tell you.... I think! Sorry if I told a personal recipe Gator. Lol! Here are pics of pots found along the Dan river. They were buried one in the other, with a protective mud lining in between each pot. I guess the mud was for protection.







Here is another small one.



I'm not sure if the pics allow you to see how these pots have a shine to them. What ever they preserved these pots with, ruined them in my opinion. It looks like they have Thompson's water seal on them.