How To Wash, Maintain, And Store Your Ceramics the Right Way

Handmade ceramic dinnerware has found a newfound liking in the homes of several Australians. The ceramic plates make a statement of their own, thanks to the peculiar uniqueness that only comes when something is made raw with bare hands. 

As it is, Australia’s ceramic product market has grown by 3.6% this year. The popularity is justified. Hence, it would be no wonder if you have recently been eyeing the ceramic dinnerware of your dreams, too. 

It’s an excellent addition to your kitchen and worth showing off at family gatherings.

That said, one essential question arises: when the meal is over, how do you wash, maintain and store your ceramic plates? How do you ensure the ceramic dinner set lasts for long?

Here’s how!

1. No hot water

If you are spending big bucks buying hand-painted ceramic dinnerware, it’s also essential to keep them safe and squeaky clean. Cleaning your ceramics with hot water will not help, though.

All the efforts put in by artisans in hand painting the plates will get ruined. Hot water will aid in the fading of colours and beautiful paintings. Not exactly what you would want!

2. Wash with hands

A dishwasher is an easy way out, and most times, it is a great, effortless way of keeping your crockery clean. It’s not an answer to clean ceramic sets, though. Washing the plates with hands is crucial because they are delicate and easily chippable.

If you still want to use the dishwasher but are wary of the results, you can wash one ceramic piece over a couple of weeks. See if the dishwasher causes any damage or dullness. If not, then it’s okay to wash the entire dinner set.

3. No hard scrubbing

Unlike other pieces of tableware that sometimes require a thorny scrub under the running water to get the food stains off, it’s not the same with ceramics. They demand a bit more gentleness, instead.

All you need is to put some dishwashing detergent and let the plates soak for 30 minutes in warm water. Then, rinse them with a light hand, and all the stains will disappear!

4. Keep them organized

Ceramics and scratches go hand in hand. 

Storing them in an organized pile will help erase the possible chances of damaging your ceramic plates. Once everything is clean and dry, make a stack of the pile – one each for plates and a bowl. It will help you keep the crockery in pristine condition, taking only precise space in your cupboard. 

That said, never pull one plate or bowl from the pile. Always lift the stack carefully to pick out your choice of tableware. Dragging the pieces will cause irrevocable marks and scratches.

So, while picking the plates up to take out the one you want may sound like a tedious task, it’s worth it. Scratched-out plates don’t go well for any dinner party!

Wrapping up

You must take ample care if you want your dining set for the long haul. As long as you ensure that your ceramic crockery is clean, without any cracks, scratches or discolouration, you can keep using them.

For that, wash them carefully, store them thoughtfully and never be in a rush to drag pieces out of a pile. A bonus tip: if your ceramic bowls and plates have metallic paint or inlays, try not to use them in the microwave.

These simple steps will take you a long way in safekeeping your ceramics!