Caring for your Bone China

Bone china, despite its delicate appearance, is really quite resilient - and these items are designed to be used. Bone china, like any other ceramic or glass object, should not be subjected to extreme changes in temperature, so don’t pour boiling water into a cold piece of china, warm it gently first. Bone china should also not be placed in the freezer or on or near a naked flame.

WASHING
Whether or not to wash your items in a dishwasher is a bit of a yes and no answer situation!
All dishwashers, detergents and water hardnesses vary greatly. If you do decide to put items in the dishwasher, a gentle cycle is best, and wash only on the top shelf and at a lower temperature. However, in order to best maintain appearance hand washing is recommended, especially for any items which have any decal imagery on the inside of the piece – such as our Blue Willow Deconstructed mugs, as this will help protect the design and help to maintain the full vibrancy of the image. Some high performance dishwasher products can sometimes have quite an abrasive effect with repeated use and should not be used. Scouring pads or abrasive washing agents must not be used. Soaking in warm water before washing will remove most stains or hardened on particles. A mild solution of vinegar and baking soda can be used.

The decorations (decals) are applied on to the already glazed surface of the china, which is then re-fired to make the decorations become a permanent. Repeated intense washing can erode a tiny amount of the glaze covering the decorations and this may cause some fading, matting or loss of intensity. Reds, oranges and yellows are particularly prone to fading.

STORAGE
When storing items, do not to slide them over one another as this may cause tiny scratches in the glaze. With plates in particular, we recommend placing a paper napkin or something similar between each one to keep them in tip top condition.

It is not recommended that cups or mugs be hung by their handles or stacked, as this may weaken the handles.

GOLD LUSTRE
Any items with gold or metallic lustre should not be placed in the dishwasher or microwave.