Care Guide
To help maintain the look and feel of your tableware it is important to consider the washing process.
Washing temperature, detergents, and water types are key factors when caring for your product whilst also ensuring that you do not let dirt and residue build up over long periods of time. The recommendations below will help to maintain the performance of your product in service. Set out below are our care instructions:
Handling
Do not mix plates with metal utensils and cutlery during handling or storage; metallic items often mark or damage the glaze surface on ceramic plates.
Avoid the use of any abrasive materials. Handle and store cutlery separately.
Where possible use rubber / plastic mats on stainless steel surfaces.
Avoid storing plates on top of one another, as this may scratch the surface; where possible store with dividers or napkins between.
Never slide plates out from a stack – but lift instead.
Do not scrape with metal utensils when removing leftover food; we recommend using a rubber or plastic scraper instead. Efficient pre-scraping will improve the overall use.
Use of Racking
Ensure racking is suitable – any metal racking must be coated with rubber or plastic, and be in good order, with damaged racks being replaced immediately. Good quality plastic racking is recommended.
Do not mix sizes / heights of items in the same basket. We strongly recommend using a rack with custom compartments to ensure that there is no impact during the washing cycle. Avoid overlapping and overloading the dishwasher.
Ensure cutlery is washed separately in designated cutlery baskets to prevent the possibility of metal marking during movement in the cleaning process.
Staining and Tanning.
The most difficult stains to remove from tableware are tea, coffee tanning, acidic and burnt-on sauces. To avoid this happening, always wash as soon as possible after use and avoid leaving food on china for any significant length of time.
If staining becomes an issue, use only a good quality de-tanning solution. Mix the powder with water and place the crockery in a bath of the solution for 30 seconds. Use a soft sponge to remove stains. Do not use a scrubbing sponge as it can damage the glaze.
Deposits may also occur in areas of "hard" water, most stains can be removed with a solution of vinegar and water.
If platinum shows signs of tarnish, careful use of a silver "mitt" is recommended.
Thermal Shock
To reduce the possibility of thermal shock, do not take china from a very cold area and place it on a hot surface; for example, moving china out of a freezer and placing it directly into an oven risks significant damage through thermal shock.
Fine bone china should not be used for cooking purposes. Do not expose it to a naked flame and avoid use in an oven. Products with gold or platinum decoration must not be used in a microwave due to the metallic content.
Microwaves
Do not place china with a metallic finish, such as a bowl with gold edging, into a microwave.
Washing
Always wash as soon as possible after use; where possible avoid leaving food on china for any significant length of time.
It is always advisable to hand wash china with gold or platinum in the decoration, or around the edges. Avoid the use of metal scourers or abrasive detergents/ powders, as these are detrimental to both decoration and glaze, often seen by visible circular scratches.
There are many automatic dishwashing detergents available today to suit different operating conditions. It is important to select the correct one, as some detergents can cause corrosion and permanent damage to the tableware decoration. The concentration of the detergent is vitally important and should be carefully dispensed and controlled, as an excessive concentration of alkaline detergent can cause permanent damage to decorations, and in particular, those featuring gold or platinum.
After washing, wipe with a damp cloth (microfibre) to remove any watermarks that may occur during the washing process. If watermarks are excessive check the dosage of rinse aid.
For Washing in a Dishwashing Machine:
- Stack carefully so that individual items are not overlapping.
- Ensure cutlery is washed separately in designated cutlery baskets to prevent the possibility of metal marking during washing
- Do not overload the dishwashing machine and and ensure that the water temperature is in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Ensure the dishwasher is regularly serviced and in good order.
- There are many automatic dishwashing detergents available today to suit different operating conditions. It is important to select the correct one for the dishwasher as some detergents can cause corrosion and permanent damage to the tableware decoration. For any regions with hard water, it is suggested to use a hard-water detergent and rinse-aid.
Recommended dishwasher temperature for china is 69-74°C/156-165°F and a rinse at 83°C/181°F. A wash temperature of 59°C/156°F is recognised as the most effective for removal of food soiling, with little risk of damage to either glaze or decoration. We do not recommend the use of dishwashers for product with metallic trim.
Using higher temperatures or overdosing on detergent will cause deterioration to the glazed finish or damage any decoration on the product. Most dishwashers have a short wash or china / crystal cycle that should be sufficient for most cleaning of china.
Rinse immediately to avoid leaving deposits on the china. Regular servicing of all dishwashing machines is a must in every kitchen.
