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Cleaning Ceramics and China

How to Keep Ceramic Collectible Sparkling

Pottery, Ceramics, China

When your home is filled with or collectibles, it can be a little intimidating to think about cleaning them all.

Most of the time a good dusting will do the job.

Swiffer Dusters are great for light dusting. Be careful not to knock over and break anything by dusting too vigorously.

You might have to get a firm grip on smaller items that are more likely to tip over.

However there might come a time when a more thorough cleaning is needed to restore your ceramics and china to its original sheen.

Cleaning Ceramics, Pottery or China

Figurines

Don't wash these in soap and water.

If dusting isn't good enough, use a barely-damp soft cloth (old t-shirts or diapers are best) to clean the pieces.

If the figurine isn't completely smooth, that is if it has rough surfaces, I would use a feather duster or aerosol blast of air.

Otherwise the Swiffer is tool of choice.

China/Serving Dishes

These can be slippery when wet. Use a Rubbermaid sink pad in the bottom of the sink or just put a soft terry cloth towel on the bottom and on the edges before filling with water.

Fill a sink or plastic dishpan with warm soapy water. Do one piece at a time, wash quickly, rinse and let air dry.

When air-drying quite a few pieces at a time, line a large area with layers of newspapers (12 - 15 sheets or more), then completely cover the newspapers with a single layer of paper towels.

Items will air-dry in a fairly short time, as the newspaper will really soak up excess water.

Cold Painted Collectibles

Cold painting is when the decoration is added after the firing or it can be one with the paint fired on without a final glaze.

The only way to safely wash such an item would be very carefully with a slightly wet cloth. Be very careful when cleaning the painted areas. If not, don't be surprised if you wind up with an flaked off design.

Completely Glazed Kitchen Ceramics

Never soak any ceramic in soapy water. Even with a hard glaze, there could be minute hairline cracks or crazing. Those areas will allow water to seep into the piece.

It's best to fill a lined sink with warm soapy water: do one piece at a time: dip into the water and use a cloth or sponge to quickly wash, rinse off and let air dry.

The Best Cleaning Products for China and Ceramics

Swiffer Dusters

These are much better than dusting with a cloth or feather duster.

They scoop up the dust and hold it.

The little wand is lightweight and flexible.

The Swiffer Dusters work really well getting into crevices of fragile pieces.

Pledge Furniture Wipes

Ceramic and pottery pieces seem to be a magnet for grease and grime in the kitchen.

Furniture polish wipes can really clean that dirt off and even leave ceramics with a bit of shine.

There are two downsides to using wipes. You'll go through quite a few wipes in a short amount of time and they're still not be as clean as after washing them.

Goo Gone

It's wonderful for taking off sticky price stickers, old pencil marks or accumulated grease that just won't come off otherwise.

However, be careful and make sure you test a inconspicuous area first.

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