Aug 24
2008How to Care for Fine China and Your Best Flatware
Filed Under (Accessories) by Robert Cooksey on 24-08-2008
Tagged Under : Accessories
Taking care of your dinnerware and flatware correctly is essential to making sure that it looks its best. Once, this was a skill we learned as children. However, most people don’t know how to treat their china and silver properly. Here are few suggestions to help you keep yours in ideal condition.
Hand Wash Vintage and Antiques
- Antique and vintage china must be washed by hand, never in the dishwasher. Age and use can make these pieces fragile, so they should be gently scraped and carefully washed in warm water with a little soap. Rinse them thoroughly and air dry. Never use harsh cleansers, lemon detergents, or abrasive cleaners on fine china.
- When you’re washing anything that could be fragile, line the bottom of the sink with a rubber mat or a dish towel. That’ll keep dinnerware and crystal alike from breakage. When you’re hand washing dishes, start with the glasses. Then follow with dinnerware, flatware, and pots and pans, in that order.
Machine Washing for Dinnerware
- Dinnerware that’s not vintage or antique can usually be machine washed. However, you should take care to load the dish washer so that the china won’t be rubbed by other dishes. Flatware should be washed away from fine china, because it can leave gray streaks on the surface.
- If your dinnerware does pick up metallic streaks, a very mild abrasive should be used. Bon Ami is a popular choice. Rinse thoroughly to remove all cleanser. When washing china, do it on the shortest cycle, and avoid lemon detergents.
- If you can, hang cups on hooks for storage, and place a paper towel, dish protector, or cloth between each bowl or plate. Remember that earthenware is a low temperature china and may be fragile. Stoneware is often harder, and porcelain is the hardest. Check manufacturer’s specifications to find out how to take care of your china.
- If a plate or cup has metal trim, it should never be put in the microwave or dishwasher. That’s because these trims can cause problems in these machines. If a dish is damaged or broken, talk to the manufacturer or retailer, or use a china replacement service to help you. If you get notice that your pattern is going to be discontinued, you may wish to quickly replace any items you’re missing.
Proper care and maintenance of your dishes will make sure that they last a lot longer. Knowing as much as you can about your dinnerware and silver will help you treat it correctly. If you’re not sure what to do, talk to the manufacturer, or wash and dry as gently as possible - by hand.
