That dull look on your plates? One quick fix could make them shine again
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Some household frustrations have a way of convincing us something is ruined when it really isn’t. The sight of dull, streaked plates might seem like the end of their shine, but appearances can be deceiving.
What seems like permanent damage could just be the result of something simple hiding in plain sight.
And as one home cook recently proved, the solution might already be sitting in your kitchen cabinet.
Recipe creator and writer Grace Elkus, 33, recently showed how what look like scratches on dinner plates can be cleaned away in minutes.
After noticing her dishes looked damaged, she discovered the marks were not scratches at all but leftover metal traces from utensils.
“The grey lines are utensil marks—not scratches—which means they’re not permanent,” Elkus wrote on Instagram, where her cleaning video has gained more than 690,000 views.
She encouraged others to try the simple method, calling it “the nudge you need.” In her post, Elkus demonstrated how to restore plates using common household items.
“Run the dish under water, sprinkle on Bar Keepers Friend (or baking powder if you prefer, though it may take an extra round or two), scrub with a damp cloth, then rinse and wipe dry,” she explained.
“I also popped the plates in the dishwasher afterwards just to be sure any residue was gone.” The results showed a dramatic before-and-after transformation, with once-dull plates returning to their original brightness.
Also read: 10 Kitchen Design Mistakes Even Professional Decorators Won't Make – Are You Guilty of These?
Elkus later explained that the so-called scratches are actually metal deposits left by silverware, which settle on the surface rather than damaging the glaze.
“Although they look like permanent scratches, the gray or black marks on your light-colored dishes are often metal deposits left behind from silverware,” she told Newsweek.
Bar Keepers Friend, a powdered cleaner containing oxalic acid, works by breaking down the metal so it can be easily wiped away.
Source: graceelkus / Instagram
The same ingredient occurs naturally in foods like spinach and rhubarb, making it a surprisingly gentle yet effective solution.
The creator said she first learned of the technique from another post years ago but only recently decided to try it herself.
“After seeing firsthand how well it worked, and how easy it was to do, I knew I wanted to share,” she said. “I figured I wasn’t the only one frustrated with marked-up plates.”
Also read: Are these 27 kitchen items secretly harming your health? Here’s what you might need to toss today
The post drew thousands of comments from viewers expressing shock and gratitude. “Wait this is groundbreaking,” one wrote, while another added, “My mind is blown.”
Despite the praise, Elkus made sure to clarify a few important details for anyone eager to try it. She noted that the process won’t permanently prevent new marks from forming, but it can make dishes look refreshed in minutes.
She also advised wearing gloves while cleaning to protect hands from irritation. Her demonstration joins a growing trend of everyday cleaning discoveries that turn routine chores into small moments of satisfaction.
Read next:
Have you ever thought your dishes were scratched beyond repair? This cleaning method might change the way you see your kitchenware. It’s a small reminder that not every problem needs a costly fix—or even a new set of plates. Will you give this method a try the next time your dinnerware looks worn?
What seems like permanent damage could just be the result of something simple hiding in plain sight.
And as one home cook recently proved, the solution might already be sitting in your kitchen cabinet.
Recipe creator and writer Grace Elkus, 33, recently showed how what look like scratches on dinner plates can be cleaned away in minutes.
After noticing her dishes looked damaged, she discovered the marks were not scratches at all but leftover metal traces from utensils.
“The grey lines are utensil marks—not scratches—which means they’re not permanent,” Elkus wrote on Instagram, where her cleaning video has gained more than 690,000 views.
That dull look on your plates? One quick fix could make them shine again. Image source: Mariana Beltrán / Unsplash
She encouraged others to try the simple method, calling it “the nudge you need.” In her post, Elkus demonstrated how to restore plates using common household items.
“Run the dish under water, sprinkle on Bar Keepers Friend (or baking powder if you prefer, though it may take an extra round or two), scrub with a damp cloth, then rinse and wipe dry,” she explained.
“I also popped the plates in the dishwasher afterwards just to be sure any residue was gone.” The results showed a dramatic before-and-after transformation, with once-dull plates returning to their original brightness.
Also read: 10 Kitchen Design Mistakes Even Professional Decorators Won't Make – Are You Guilty of These?
Elkus later explained that the so-called scratches are actually metal deposits left by silverware, which settle on the surface rather than damaging the glaze.
“Although they look like permanent scratches, the gray or black marks on your light-colored dishes are often metal deposits left behind from silverware,” she told Newsweek.
Bar Keepers Friend, a powdered cleaner containing oxalic acid, works by breaking down the metal so it can be easily wiped away.
Source: graceelkus / Instagram
The same ingredient occurs naturally in foods like spinach and rhubarb, making it a surprisingly gentle yet effective solution.
The creator said she first learned of the technique from another post years ago but only recently decided to try it herself.
“After seeing firsthand how well it worked, and how easy it was to do, I knew I wanted to share,” she said. “I figured I wasn’t the only one frustrated with marked-up plates.”
Also read: Are these 27 kitchen items secretly harming your health? Here’s what you might need to toss today
The post drew thousands of comments from viewers expressing shock and gratitude. “Wait this is groundbreaking,” one wrote, while another added, “My mind is blown.”
Despite the praise, Elkus made sure to clarify a few important details for anyone eager to try it. She noted that the process won’t permanently prevent new marks from forming, but it can make dishes look refreshed in minutes.
She also advised wearing gloves while cleaning to protect hands from irritation. Her demonstration joins a growing trend of everyday cleaning discoveries that turn routine chores into small moments of satisfaction.
Read next:
- 20 everyday items you don’t need in retirement—are these still cluttering your home?
- What? You can use poop to clean?! A decluttering trick that you should try
