how to clean scorch marks off ivory?

Question

black burn stain around the lip of an ivory cigarette holder. Any idea how I can shift it?

Answer 1

You could try a baking soda and water mix, it cleans up porcelain, but this depends on how bad the burn is.

Answer 2

You might try an automotive buffing compound...something very light in color. However, it might not be scorch marks, but stains from tobacco. Ivory is much like meerschaum...the material some older from which some older pipes are made. It's slightly porous and accepts any colorants easily. I'd certainly want to test a very tiny area first before just getting all involved in cleaning it. Similarly, testing bleach or some other laundry product. And I mean tiny area. You wouldn't want to use something to remove the scorched portion that would seriously damage the item. Try using Yahoo Search...entering something like “cleaning ivory” or “polishing ivory”....certainly some website has more information on cleaning or removing stains from ivory.

Answer 3

If it,s real ivory you can,t get a burn out without ruining the ivory. It,s like real bone, it,s there forever. If it,s an antique, don,t try to clean it, you will ruin it,s value

Answer 4

don't no if it will work,i use a product called oxy clean. I use it for whatever and it works 90% of the time. Every supermarket has it. Good luck