Odd situation with some stoneware

We have a set of stoneware dishes (8 placesettings) that we purchased at Kohl's a couple of years ago, and something odd has occured with some of the plates and bowls. There's mold growing from the unglazed ring at the bottom of the dishes! I first noticed it as a grayish sooty deposit on the surface of the plate, where the unglazed part of the plate above was sitting. Since I'm allergic to many mold spores, this concerns me. If I soak the dishes in a bleach solution, then run them through the dishwasher, would that kill it off? I suspect it started growing when the dishes were put away when not quite dry.
I'm tempted to just chuck the lot of it, but hate to do that considering we paid good money for the set.

Never heard of mold growing on stoneware, weird, guess anything is possible.
I think I'd soak it in Clorox or equivalent and then run it through a hot oven for a half hour, then through the dishwasher. If that doesn't kill it, then maybe I'd try a shotgun!

You could also add some Clorox to the dishwasher. I've done that.

It's just the weirdest thing. I found a FEMA fact sheet on disinfecting cookware and dishes after a flood or other disaster. Strong detergent, then soaking in a bleach solution are mentioned.

It's just the weirdest thing. I found a FEMA fact sheet on disinfecting cookware and dishes after a flood or other disaster. Strong detergent, then soaking in a bleach solution are mentioned.

Robert, the temperatures used in the dry cycle of US dishwashers is plenty hot enough to sterilize anything inside. It may not get rid of all the spores, though, but a vigorous "pots and pans" setting ought to do the trick. Bleach is overkill IMO (pun intended), but whatever makes you happy. It probably came about because of the porous structure of ceramics entrapping water and providing a good medium for mold.

Mark Lipton

I'll use the bleach anyway, Mark, because it's cheap, we've a gallon in the laundry, and quite frankly, a little Chlorox run down the kitchen drain couldn't hurt.