Caring For Your Tableware

The more cynical among you would probably think that we would rather you broke your plates, than looked after them. However, the reality is that we are never short of people looking for pieces. The problem is finding the items. It is therefore in our interest to keep discontinued pieces in circulation and in good condition. With this in mind, we have prepared this guide which we hope will help you to prolong your service's life and therefore your enjoyment of it.

Storage

If you are storing plates or bowls for a long period in a stack, place a paper napkin between plates to avoid stacking marks.

If you are packing away your service for some time and storing it in an attic or store room, ensure that the box is clearly labeled as fragile, in case someone else should come to move it. It is also a good idea to wrap the pieces in bubble wrap, for additional safety. Bubble wrap can be obtained from any good stationery or packaging supplier.

Moving

When you come to move your service from one location to another, then wrapping the pieces in bubble wrap reduces the likelihood of damage and does not leave black smudge marks that newspaper print does.

Try to avoid placing items too close to the edge of a box. Screwed up newspaper, shredded paper and old torn cloths are good for providing cushioning at the sides of a box.

It is also a good idea to keep a documented list of your service, including the name of the manufacturer, the pattern and a list of the pieces you have. A photograph is also a good idea. Boxes sometimes go missing, particularly when moving house. These details will not only help you replace the pieces but will also help with any insurance claim you decide to make.

Cleaning

If you hate washing up after a large meal, and leave it to the next morning, always rinse the worst of the grime off before leaving plates, bowls and serving ware overnight. This helps to avoid unnecessary scrubbing which could damage your set, particularly if it is one of the handpainted ranges.

Do not clean or scour your tableware with abrasive pads or wire wool. Over a period of time such action would leave severe scratching and even wear through the glaze. It is far better to be patient and leave really stubborn dirt to soak in hot soapy water.

Tea can leave brown stains called "tanning" in tea cups, on saucers and of course tea pots. Simply washing up will not always remove it, and if left untreated the tanning will worsen, spoiling the look of your tea service. We recommend Astonish “Tea & Coffee Stain Remover. It's easy to use, inexpensive and will restore your service to it's former glory.

Breakages

If the worst should happen and you do incur a breakage, do not immediately throw away all the pieces. If you have chipped a teapot spout, but the lid is intact, keep the lid. It increases the chances of finding a replacement if we only have to find part of the piece. The same applies to lidded casserole dishes and serving ware, coffee pots, mustard pots and storage jars.

Similarly, if you should drop a salt or pepper pot, ALWAYS keep the stopper as these are often difficult to come by.

If it is the stopper itself that has broken or been lost then contact us as we are sometimes able to supply these. See our Accessories page for details.

If you do not know the name of your service and you do not have a photograph, keep one of the broken pieces to send to us. This will help us to identify the design.

Finally, notify MrPottery as soon as possible and we will do our best to help.