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How to Care for Fine China and Your Best Flatware |
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It's important to properly take care of your dinnerware and flatware if you want to keep it looking its best. Unfortunately, most of haven't had the training to take care of silver, china, and other dinnerware. Here are some helpful hints to assist you in being sure that your tableware remains beautiful.
by RobertCooksey
It's important to properly take care of your dinnerware and flatware if you want to keep it looking its best. Unfortunately, most of haven't had the training to take care of silver, china, and other dinnerware. Here are some helpful hints to assist you in being sure that your tableware remains beautiful.
Hand Washing for Antiques and Vintage
- 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.
- Put a dish towel or rubber mat at the bottom of your sink when washing breakables. This keeps your crystal and dinnerware from being cracked or broken. When washing dishes by hand, wash glasses first, then dinnerware and flatware. Save pans for last.
Most Dinnerware Can Be Machine Washed
- If you have modern dinnerware, fragility is less of a concern. Many sets are machine washable, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't load the dish washer carefully. make sure the china doesn't come into contact with other dishes inside your mahcine, and make sure that flatware can't touch it. That's because you could end up with gray streaks on your dinnerware.
- 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.
-Whenever possible, cups should be stored on hooks. Plates and bowls should be stored with a cloth, paper towel, or dish protector between them. Earthenware should be treated with extra care, since it's a low temperature ceramic and is more fragile. Stoneware requires less care, and porcelain, the hardest type of china, is much less likely to chip. However, you should always look at the manufacturer's directions to find out what your china's care routine should be.
- Plates and cups with metallic trim should never be placed in the microwave or dishwasher - this can damage the machine and the dish. If dishes become damaged or broken, you should talk to your manufacturer or seller to find the missing pieces, or use a china replacement service. When you find out that your pattern line will be discontinued, it's time to replace missing items and stock up on pieces that break often.
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.
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