Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Pass Up Those Ceramic Crocks You Find at the Thrift Store

Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via…read more
published Mar 25, 2023
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How many times have you been at the thrift store and spotted a beautiful neutral-colored crock or glazed pottery only to turn it around and find a cutesy little painted design on the front that just isn’t your style? Don’t put it back on the shelf just yet. As one TikToker shows, you can actually remove painted designs from glazed ceramics to make them better fit your simple aesthetic.

“Don’t pass up those decorated crocks and pottery at the thrift store,” Sierra Luke (@sierrabaileyblog) wrote over her March TikTok video. “Apply CitriStrip with a brush. Be sure to coat [everything] you wish to remove!”

Make sure you’re working on a piece of aluminum foil or a tray used for craft projects only because CitriStrip will eat through your furniture finish or paint. (It’s best to follow all safety instructions, like only use in a well-ventilated area or outside, and to wear protective gear like gloves and goggles.) Then, cover the coated area with plastic wrap and let is sit for at least 30 minutes. You can check to see how the paint is coming off by squishing the plastic around to see if the paint is coming off the crock.

Then, just wipe the CirtriStrip away with a paper towel and wash your crock with soap and water. You’ll be left with a neutral piece of home decor that perfectly fits in with your aesthetic.

This method will likely only work on crocks and pieces of pottery where the paint is not sealed into the glossy top coat. “This only works on paint ABOVE the glaze,” Sierra Luke wrote in a comment. “Check to see if the paint looks like a different finish than the shiny glaze or is above the glaze.” She also noted that if you can chip off the paint, then that is a good indicator that this removal process will work.

You can even repaint the crocks with your own design after you remove the existing one. Just use acrylic paint and spray with a clear coat to seal it in place.

Apologies in advance if you begin a crock collection that soon explodes out of control.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Don’t Pass Up Those Ceramic Crocks You Find at the Thrift Store — TikTok Has an Easy Fix If the Design Isn’t Your Vibe