Today we’re diving into a throwback DIY—fixing a “crime of the 90s” and bringing vintage crocks back to their original glory.
So in the 90s “country” decor had a different look. For some reason we needed to paint charming hearts or barns or ducks on everything. Unfortunately the Roseville crocks weren’t spared. In the early 2000’s a slew of them ended up on thrift store shelves and languished there. Now, I’ve noticed that people are slowing gravitating toward these crocks again. People want these crocks. Clean. Minimal. Classic. In other words no “country cute” from the 90s!
I scored two Roseville butter crocks at garage sales—one for $5 and one for $3. Both had… let’s just say… a lot of personality painted on them. But underneath all that? Solid, fired-glazed beauty. And the good news? You can strip the paint off without damaging the crocks.
Let’s fix them!
What You’ll Need:
- Citristrip – gentle but effective
- Chip brush – because you’ll toss it after
- Gloves – yes, I know, I never wear them either, but you really should
- Scotch-Brite pad
- Plastic razor blade – way better than the metal ones (and way less nightmare-inducing)
- Paper towels
The Process:
Slather on the Citristrip. It’s a gel, so it stays put. I cover every painted surface with a thick coat and let it sit for about 15 minutes (though thicker paint might need longer or a second application).
After about 15 minutes I used my brush to try to move the paint around and test if it was ready to be wiped away. You can see how much paint came off on the brush. This let me know if was ready.
Wipe away loosened paint. I used a paper towel to wipe the Citrus Strip away and toss the towel away.
Once I had most of it cleaned of I took the crock to the sink and scrubbed it with a Scotch-Brite pad. That took most of the paint off.
I did a second layer of Citrus Strip and let it sit again for 15 minute but the dots from the heart weren’t moving. Time for some intervention.
For especially stubborn areas (like those raised dots from the heart), a plastic razor blade comes in handy. I like the plastic blade better than a metal one. You can still cut yourself o don’t be fooled but it is a little less anxiety provoking.
The Results:
After a little elbow grease and some very unglamorous scraping, both crocks are paint-free and looking fabulous. One’s a one-quart, the other a two-quart. Both are clean and ready for the shop. Not too shabby.
I’m not knocking the 90s vibes. If you love the painted look, rock it! But if you’re like me and prefer the original finish (or your customers do) know that you don’t have to pass up a painted crock at the thrift store. You can bring it back to life with just a little effort.
So, don’t fear the paint. Embrace the potential underneath.
Happy junkin’!
💬 Want more DIY rescue missions like this one?
Check out other creative makeovers and DIY tutorials here. I’m all about saving great pieces from the landfill and turning them into something special!
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