Ceramics and crockery are beautiful and functional pieces that add an aesthetic touch to your home. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from serving food to decorating your living space. However, to keep your china and crockery looking their best, it’s important to take good care of them. In this article, we’ll give you some tips and tricks on how to care for your china and crockery so that it lasts for years to come.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Avoiding extreme temperatures is crucial when caring for your ceramics and crockery. These pieces are made from clay, which is a porous material that can expand and contract with changes in temperature. This means that sudden changes in temperature can cause your ceramics and crockery to crack or break, ruining their beauty and functionality.
To avoid extreme temperatures, you should always allow your china and crockery to cool to room temperature before refrigerating or freezing it. This means that you should avoid putting hot or warm crockery directly into the fridge or freezer. Instead, let them cool on the counter or on the stove.
You should also avoid exposing your ceramics and crockery to extreme heat. This means that you should not put your china and crockery in the oven or microwave unless it is specifically labelled as safe for use in these appliances. If you do need to heat your ceramics or crockery, it’s best to do so gradually, starting with a low temperature and gradually increasing it.
Another thing to remember is that direct sunlight can also cause damage to your ceramics and crockery over time. UV rays can cause colours to fade and weaken the structure of the piece. It’s best to store your ceramics and crockery out of direct sunlight or use UV-blocking window film or curtains to protect them.
Avoiding extreme temperatures is essential to keep your ceramics and crockery in good condition. By making sure your items cool gradually and avoiding direct sunlight, you can prolong the life of your china and crockery and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
Handle with Care
It is important to treat your china and crockery with care to prevent it from breaking or cracking. These items are delicate and can be easily damaged if they’re not handled carefully. Here are some tips to help you handle your china and crockery with care:
- Hold them securely: When you’re carrying your china and crockery, make sure you hold it securely. Use both hands to support the item and avoid gripping it too tightly. This will prevent the item from slipping out of your hands and breaking.
- Avoid sudden movements: Sudden movements can cause your ceramics and crockery to shift or fall. When you’re handling your pieces, move slowly and deliberately to avoid bumping into them.
- Be careful when stacking: If you need to stack your crockery, be careful not to stack it too high or unevenly. Use a soft cloth or paper towel between each piece to prevent scratching or chipping. And always make sure the stack is stable and won’t tip over.
- Don’t overload your dishwasher: When you put your china and crockery in the dishwasher, make sure you don’t overload the machine. Overloading can cause items to bump into each other and break. Leave enough space between each item and avoid stacking too many items on top of each other.
- Avoid metal utensils: When using your ceramics and crockery, don’t use metal utensils. Metal can scratch the surface of your pieces and damage them. Use wooden, plastic or silicone utensils instead.
- Don’t use your china and crockery as chopping boards: Avoid using your china and crockery as cutting boards, as this can scratch or chip them. Use a dedicated chopping board instead.
Overall, it is important to treat your china and crockery with care to keep it looking beautiful and functional. By holding them securely, avoiding sudden movements, being careful when stacking them, not overloading your dishwasher, avoiding metal utensils and using a cutting board.
Use Gentle Cleaning Methods
Using gentle cleaning methods is essential when caring for your ceramics and crockery. Harsh cleaning products and abrasive materials can scratch or damage your pieces, reducing their beauty and functionality. Here are some tips on how to use gentle cleaning methods:
- Use a mild dish soap: Use a mild dish soap and warm water to clean your ceramics and crockery. Avoid using harsh detergents or cleaning products that contain bleach or ammonia, as these can damage your items.
- Avoid abrasive materials: Use a soft sponge or cloth to clean your ceramics and crockery. Avoid using abrasive materials such as steel wool or scouring pads as these can scratch the surface of your pieces.
- Soak stubborn stains: If you have stubborn stains on your ceramics and crockery, soak them in warm water and dish soap for a few hours before attempting to clean them. This will loosen the stains and make them easier to remove.
- Use baking powder: For particularly stubborn stains, you can use a baking soda and water paste to gently scrub them away. Mix equal parts baking soda and water to make a paste, then apply to the stain and leave for a few minutes before gently scrubbing with a soft sponge or cloth.
- Rinse thoroughly: After cleaning your ceramics and crockery, be sure to rinse them thoroughly with warm water to remove any soap residue. Soap residue can cause a film to form on the surface of your items, which can be difficult to remove.
- Dry with a soft cloth: After washing, dry your ceramics and crockery with a soft cloth. Avoid using paper towels or other materials that can scratch the surface of your pieces.
By using gentle cleaning methods, you can keep your china and crockery looking their best and avoid damaging your pieces. Remember to use mild dishwashing detergent, avoid abrasive materials, soak stubborn stains, use baking soda paste for stubborn stains, rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.
Proper Storage
Proper storage is essential to maintaining the beauty and functionality of your ceramics and crockery. By storing your pieces correctly, you can help prevent them from becoming damaged or broken. Here are some tips for storing your china and crockery:
- Choose a safe location: When storing your china and crockery, choose a safe place that’s away from potential hazards such as direct sunlight, moisture or extreme temperatures. Avoid storing your pieces in damp areas such as basements or garages.
- Use a cupboard or shelf: To keep your china and crockery organised and protected, consider storing it in a cupboard or on a shelf. Make sure the cupboard or shelf is sturdy and can support the weight of your pieces.
- Stack carefully: If you must stack your crockery, do so carefully. Use a soft cloth or paper towel between each piece to prevent scratching or chipping. And always make sure the stack is stable and won’t tip over.
- Avoid overcrowding: Avoid overcrowding your storage space as this can cause your pieces to be damaged or broken. Make sure each piece has enough room to breathe and that there’s enough space to easily remove and replace each piece.
- Label your pieces: To make it easier to find and retrieve specific pieces, consider labelling your ceramics and crockery. You can use labels or tags to mark each piece with its name or purpose.
- Use protective covers: If you’re storing your china and crockery for an extended period of time, consider using protective covers to prevent dust and other debris from collecting on the surface of your pieces. You can use cloth or plastic covers to keep your pieces clean and protected.
Proper storage of your china and crockery will help keep it in good condition and continue to add beauty and functionality to your home. Remember to choose a secure location, use a cupboard or shelf, stack carefully, avoid overcrowding, label your pieces and use protective covers where necessary.
Consider Professional Restoration
If your china and crockery has been damaged or shows signs of wear and tear, consider professional restoration. Restoration experts can repair cracks, chips and other damage to your pieces, restoring them to their original beauty and functionality.
When considering professional restoration, it’s important to choose a reputable restorer who has experience working with ceramics and crockery. Look for someone who has a proven track record and uses high quality materials and techniques.
The restoration process usually involves cleaning the piece, repairing any cracks or chips and then refinishing or repainting the piece if necessary. The restorer will carefully match the colour, texture and finish of the original piece to ensure that the restored piece looks as close to the original as possible.
Although professional restoration can be more expensive than other methods of caring for your china and crockery, it can be well worth the investment if you have valuable or sentimental pieces that you want to preserve. Restoration can also be a more environmentally friendly option than replacing damaged pieces, as it can help reduce waste and extend the life of your existing pieces.
In conclusion, if your china and crockery has been damaged or is showing signs of wear and tear, consider professional restoration. By choosing a reputable restorer and investing in the restoration process, you can help ensure that your pieces remain in good condition and continue to bring beauty and functionality to your home.
The Bottom Line
Proper care of your china and crockery is essential to keep it looking its best. By avoiding extreme temperatures, handling with care, using gentle cleaning methods, proper storage and considering professional restoration, you can ensure that your china and crockery will last for years to come. With a little care and attention, your china and crockery can continue to bring joy and beauty to your home.