The Secret To Sparkling Crockery

There is nothing quite as beautiful as the gleam of sparkling crockery, whether it's a table set for a dinner party or a peek into a kitchen cupboard by a prospective house purchaser. But for most people, sparkling crockery seems to be the stuff of fairy tales as they regard their streaked and stained cups and glasses. So here are a few tips to help you make your crockery really shine:
Do
- Do use detergents that are specially formulated to protect fine tableware and follow instructions on the recommended amounts of detergents, when using a dishwasher. Also make sure that the rinse aid and salt reservoirs are topped up.
- Do try to remove most stains or burnt particles by just soaking in warm soapy water first, before washing. Leave it to soak for at least 15 minutes, before washing gently using a cloth, nylon net pad or a plastic sponge but never a harsh abrasive cleaner, metal pad or steel wool. Rinse well in hot water and wipe dry with a towel.
- Do use tooth powder to remove minute marks caused by metal deposits from cutlery.
- Do use vinegar to remove general stains: vinegar is very effective at cutting through grease and will also "freshen up" crockery in general. However, it can leave a potent smell.
- Do use baking soda to remove stains from tea and coffee: dip a damp cloth in baking soda and rub gently, before rinsing clean.
- Do use vegetable oil to remove water marks from highly-glazed crockery - rub the surface and then allow to stand for 2 hours, before cleaning as usual.
- Do use white vinegar in your dishwasher: place a cup on the bottom rack and run for the full cycle to prevent a soapy film on your glassware. You should also use a cup of white vinegar once a month to reduce the soap scum on the inner machinery.
- Do use lemon juice on a variety of stains: choose one that is bright and firm, with a fine-grained skin and that feels heavy as this will be a better indicator of juicy flesh than overall size. Lemon juice will usually work on the same stains as vinegar (e.g., hard-water stains) but it will smell nicer.
- Do be careful when using turmeric - this bright yellow spice will stain anything it touches and is particularly lethal to white crockery. Again, baking soda (made into a paste with water) is useful on these types of stains, as well as vinegar and lemon juice, followed by normal washing in detergent.
Don't
- Don't use fine bone china for cooking and never expose it to a naked flame or a sudden temperature change, such as washing a hot plate in very cold water.
- Don't use any crockery which has gold or other metallic trims in the microwave
- Don't use dishwasher detergents that are strongly caustic or scouring powders, if washing crockery in the dishwasher.
- Don't use scourers or abrasive materials that may damage the surface, if washing crockery by hand.
- Don't slide plates one over the other when storing them, as this can scratch the glaze. For long term storage, it is best to use paper or tissue between them to minimise scratching.
- Don't ignore hard-water stains (limescale stains): these are the result of calcium and magnesium deposits when "hard water" reacts with metals or soaps to form insoluble build-ups. Not only are they unsightly but they can affect the taste of the crockery contents, such as coffee. Tackle them by rubbing with vinegar or lemon juice.
With considerate use and careful cleaning, you should enjoy many years of use from your crockery and ensure that they always look their sparkling best.
You might also like...
Re: Cleaning Stains in Spa Hot Tubs
Hi ive a dirty yellow stain around the inside of my lazy spa miami and on the floor i cant seem to get it out and would really…
Re: How do I Remove a Burn Mark from my Kitchen Sink?
There seems to be a pan burn mark on my composite granite black sink, how do you remove it, I have…
Re: Dealing with Stains on Walls
Can anyone please help, I have cleaned my smooth walls with magic eraser and now they are streaky and patchy ?? is there anything…
Re: Removing Tippex Stains
From now on WD40 will always be in my kitchen cupboards! Teenager managed to chuck tippex all over one side of a new jacket! THANKS for…
Re: Dealing with Stains on Walls
My son has been leaning against his bedroom wall which left a mark, but worse, an odour. The wall has recently been repainted with…
Re: How Do I Remove Dye That's Run Into a Garment?
I washed my off white knitwear dress with my jean top now my whole dress is baby blue what do i do
Re: Cleaning Stains in Spa Hot Tubs
We have a hotspring world flash hot tub and unfortunately the speakers have turned a horrid shade of beige. Anyone have any…
Re: Removing Sun Cream Stains From Clothing
Hi This is a strange one..... We have v good quality coloured towels at our holiday rental apartment. The last…
Re: Cleaning Stains in Spa Hot Tubs
I was wearing a red bathing suit in our hot tub and the dye has leaked and stained the sides red and I can’t seem to get it…
Re: Cleaning Stains in Spa Hot Tubs
Hi, I had left the water in my cleverspa hot tub and I use to put a floater in there too with a couple of chloride tablet put…