Caring for glazed ceramics
Small habits that keep ceramics looking new for years — and what quietly damages them.
Ceramics are tougher than they look, and most damage comes from a handful of everyday habits that feel harmless.
The things that damage ceramics
Each of these is common, and each one is avoidable.
- Sudden temperature changes — a cold piece into a hot oven, or a hot piece under cold water
- Steel scourers and gritty powders, which dull a glaze
- Stacking without care, so the rough foot of one piece scratches the face of the next
- Knocking rims together in a crowded sink
How to wash them
Warm water, ordinary dish soap and a soft sponge are all a glazed piece needs. For tea or coffee stains, leave a paste of baking soda and water on the mark for a few minutes, then rub gently and rinse.
Microwave, oven and dishwasher
It depends on the piece. Check the product page before you use a piece in a microwave, oven or dishwasher, and ask us if it does not say.
Storing and stacking
Stack plates and bowls of the same shape together, and slip a cloth or a sheet of paper between pieces you want to keep unmarked. Hang mugs or stand them upright rather than stacking them by the rim.
Planters
Check whether a planter has a drainage hole. If it does, stand it on a saucer. If it does not, keep the plant in a plain nursery pot inside the planter and tip out any water that collects at the bottom.
