Our Complete Guide to Clean Porcelain
When cleaning porcelain, the most important thing to avoid is any change in temperature. Don't use water which is too hot for either washing or rinsing, and try to slide thin items like plates slowly into the water, using the larger surface first to allow the piece to acclimatise. Metal-trimmed dinnerware is also easily damaged, and can flake off when in contact with heat.
Top Tip
When cleaning a delicate material like porcelain, it is essential to use cool or warm water. Water that is too hot could damage the delicate finish!
Many people have a china dinner set in the house for special occasions, but it can be a worry when it comes to cleaning off tea rings and cutlery marks. Fortunately, there are a few gentle methods to get rid of any food or drink stains on porcelain.
Though china variants, such as stoneware, are dishwasher and microwave-safe, it's usually advisable to hand-wash porcelain and bone china dishes. Despite the hardness of the material, these pieces are often brittle and easy to damage.
Bleach and chemical cleaners should always be avoided when cleaning porcelain.
Instead, tackle marks and stains by dampening a soft sponge and sprinkling over some baking soda, rubbing the area gently to remove the mark. You can substitute this for toothpaste, but never use a toothbrush or anything too abrasive for porcelain cleaning.
If this doesn't work, try combining a solution of equal parts salt and vinegar, leaving the solution soaking on the stain for up to an hour
Then wash as normal.
For really stubborn stains, soak stains for longer, or consider purchasing a porcelain cleaner with added peroxide from your local hardware store
