How to Care for Vintage China and Pottery

Vintage china and pottery often carry both practical and sentimental value. Whether it’s a well-loved dinner service, a treasured tea set, or carefully collected pieces gathered over time, proper care is essential to keep them looking their best and to ensure they last for many more years to come.

Unlike modern tableware, older pieces, particularly those now considered discontinued, can be more delicate, and replacement pieces are not always easy to find. With the right approach, however, vintage china and pottery can continue to be used and enjoyed safely in everyday life.

Understanding Your Tableware

Before caring for any piece, it’s helpful to understand what you have. Vintage tableware generally falls into three main categories:

• Bone china – fine, lightweight and often more delicate

• Earthenware – softer and more porous, often with decorative glazes

• Stoneware – heavier and more durable, commonly used for everyday tableware (such as Denby and Poole)

Each type has slightly different care requirements, but all benefit from gentle handling and thoughtful storage.

Washing and Cleaning

One of the most common questions is whether vintage china can go in the dishwasher.

If they were manufactured before dishwashers became household items and they are not stoneware, we would recommend against it. However, the majority of known brands were make their ungilded tableware "dishwasher safe" from the 1980s onwards. 

That said, in our experience, even modern day tableware can experience some glaze and pattern wear, with prolonged dishwasher exposure. To avoid this see the dishwasher guide below. 

While some stoneware pieces may tolerate it, handwashing is always the safest option for older pieces, gilded items (with gold or silver trim) and items of sentimental value.

Handwashing (Recommended)

• Use warm (not hot) water and a mild washing-up liquid

• Avoid harsh detergents or abrasive cleaners

• Use a soft sponge or cloth, never a scouring pad

• Wash items individually rather than stacking them in the sink

Gold or silver gilt decoration, hand-painted details and older glazes can be particularly vulnerable to wear, so extra care should be taken with these.

Dishwasher Use

If you do choose to use a dishwasher:

• Only use it for robust stoneware pieces, or items marked as "dishwasher safe"

• Select a low temperature, gentle cycle

• Avoid overcrowding to prevent items knocking together

However, for discontinued or sentimental pieces, handwashing remains the best practice.

Avoiding Thermal Shock

Sudden changes in temperature can cause cracks, fractures or crazing, sometimes referred to as thermal shock.

To avoid this:

• Do not pour boiling water into cold cups or teapots

• Allow items to warm gradually before use (use some warm water from the tap)

• Avoid placing hot items directly onto cold surfaces, or cold items directly onto hot surfaces

This is especially important for older pieces

Storing Your China Safely

Proper storage is just as important as careful use.

Stacking Plates and Bowls

• Place a soft liner (such as felt, cloth or kitchen paper) between each item

• Avoid stacking too many pieces at once

• Store heavier items at the bottom

• Rotate plates and bowls so that wear and tear is even (unless you want to save some for best or have spares)
  
• Ensure wall cupboards are properly installed and supported.
  
  
• Place commonly used items at the front of cupboard to avoid knocking off any when getting items from the back. 

Cups and Handles

• Avoid hanging cups by their handles unless they are specifically designed for it

• Avoid stacking cups

• Place commonly used items at the front of cupboard to avoid knocking off any when getting items from the back. 

Display Cabinets

If displaying your china:

• Keep it away from direct sunlight, which can fade decoration

• Ensure shelves are stable and not overcrowded

Preventing Scratches and Wear

Over time, cutlery can leave grey marks on plates. These are often not scratches, but metal deposits.

To minimise this:

• Use stainless steel cutlery of good quality

• Avoid dragging cutlery across the surface

• Light grey cutlery marks which have not been too layered will often clean off with a non-abrasive cleaner if needed (we recommend Astonish Oven & Cookware Cleaning Paste). 

Some glaze wear, particularly on frequently used items, is normal and part of the character of vintage tableware.

Dealing with Crazing

Crazing refers to the fine network of lines that can appear in the glaze of older ceramics.

While often harmless, it can:

• Absorb moisture

• Retain staining over time

To minimise issues:

• Dry items thoroughly after washing

• Avoid soaking pieces for long periods

• Store in a dry environment

In most cases, lightly crazed pieces remain perfectly usable, especially for everyday dining.

NB It is worth noting that we never sell crazed items. See our guide to our used tableware grading system for more information.

Stain Removal

Tea, coffee and food can sometimes leave stains on vintage china.

To clean gently:

• Use a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water 

• Apply with a soft cloth and rinse thoroughly

• Alternatively, use a specialist cleaner for removing tea stains (we recommend Astonish Clean & Revive)

Avoid bleach or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the glaze or decoration.

Using Vintage China Every Day

One of the joys of vintage tableware is that it was made to be used. With sensible care, many pieces are still perfectly suitable for everyday use.

However, it’s worth considering:

• Reserving your rarest or most sentimental items for special occasions

• Using more common pieces for daily meals

• Keeping an eye out for replacement pieces in case of breakages and stocking up on a few spares

Replacing Missing Pieces

Despite the best care, accidents do happen. When they do, replacing a piece from a discontinued pattern can sometimes be a challenge.

At MrPottery, we specialise in sourcing replacement china and discontinued tableware, helping customers maintain their sets for longer. Our catalogue includes thousands of patterns, and new stock is added regularly.

If you’re unsure of your pattern, you may find our guide on identifying china patterns helpful, or you can contact us for assistance.

A Final Thought

Vintage china and pottery are more than just functional objects, they often carry memories, history and a sense of continuity. With a little care and attention, these pieces can continue to be used, enjoyed and passed down for generations.

Looking after them properly not only preserves their appearance but also helps ensure that your tableware remains part of everyday life, rather than something kept only for display.