China dishes for a long time

Perhaps you inherited your grandmother’s heirloom china dishes. Maybe the gift of a lovely, new china dish set was yours at your wedding. Wherever you china originated, special dishes require special care for a long life in the best condition possible.

Hairline Crack Repair:

• Soak the china in warm milk overnight. Gently hand wash in warm water with mild dish detergent.

Grey or Black Cutlery Markings:

• Dab a damp sponge in baking soda and rub the marks gently. You could also try regular toothpaste.

Removing Stains:

• Mix 50/50 table salt and household vinegar. Allow to soak for a bit before washing.
• Mix a paste of baking soda and water, apply to stain and gently rub. Wash.

Washing Tips

• Wash the dishes shortly after the meal, do not allow to sit dirty (especially overnight).
• Place a thick towel on the bottom of kitchen sink and fill with warm water, add mild liquid dishwashing detergent. Push tap aside so that there is no chance of bumping it against a dish. Remove all jewelry on your hands to prevent damage to the china.
• Wash one item at a time. Clean with a sponge or cloth only, do not use anything abrasive.
• For tough spots, drizzle a bit of the liquid dish detergent on the sponge and scrub gently. You can also try a little bit of baking soda on the sponge.

Soap: Use Ivory or Dawn or a similar *mild* liquid dishwashing detergent.
Use Bleach? No because it can cause irreparable damage to the glaze.
Can you wash fine china in the dishwasher? Generally no, the heat is too high and the detergents too abrasive. If the china was manufactured within the past 30 years or so, and is specifically stated to be dishwasher safe by the manufacturer, it’s alright to use the dishwasher.
Drying: Air dry then give a finishing rub down with soft, clean towels. You could also towel dry, make sure the towels are soft and clean.
Storing: Place cloth napkins, paper towels or doilies between each stacked dish to prevent scratching or damage. Do not stack or hang teacups. If china is used less than once a year, do an annual washing and cleaning to help preserve the glaze and paint.

A few last tips to help you care for your china properly and enjoy it for years to come.

• When removing dishes from a stack of china, lift them. Do not scratch your china by scraping pieces across each other.
• Before serving hot foods on your china, it is best to warm them a little to avoid the shock in temperature and keep your china from cracking. Try placing the plates near a warm oven, or set them inside an oven that is just barely warm (do not overheat).
• Fine, spidery surface cracks on your china may be able to be repaired with this simple trick. Place the cracked pieces gently in a pan of warm milk for half an hour. The cracks should disappear if they are not too deep.
• Pouring milk or cream into the teacup first helps moderate the heat of the tea as it’s being poured into the teacup. This is what I grew up with and I also prefer the taste of the milk being “scalded”–but–there’s some dispute how “proper” this is (see notes below).
• If you’re a tea drinker who doesn’t enjoy milk or cream with your cuppa, another method is to put your teaspoon into the cup and then pour the hot tea over the spoon–this helps moderate the heat as well.