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How to care for ceramics

Learn how to clean your ceramic objects. Since rough or careless handling is one of the most common causes of damage to ceramics, the pieces should be handled as little as possible. Most ceramics can be handled without gloves, as long as your hands are clean and dry. Remove jewelry that can scratch ceramic surfaces such as watches, bracelets, and rings.

Here are a few basic rules for getting the most out of your ceramic objects and ensuring their longevity:

• Place ceramic vases and lamp bases on felt pads.
• Never use a dishwasher to clean ceramics.
• Avoid lifting ceramic objects by their protruding parts (such as finials).
  
  

Cleaning & maintenance

Avoid using acidic cleaning agents or household bleaches as these can cause irreversible damage. Abrasive creams and cleaners can damage delicate decorations or dull the glaze.
Before cleaning a ceramic lamp base, make sure you unplug the power cord. Then remove the bulb and the lampshade. While cleaning the lamp base, make sure no water or any other liquid spills into the lamp socket. (Polish metal-finished parts with products made especially for the care of polished metals).
Clean the ceramic object with lukewarm water, a pH-neutral sulfate-free cleaner, and a soft sponge or wash cloth. Avoid loofahs, scrub brushes, and other materials that may scratch the surface. Clean a small area to make sure you won’t damage the surface before cleaning the rest of the object. Often the effect is not noticeable until the object has dried.
If the ceramic surface is grooved, use suitable cleaning pads or soft brushes to dislodge dirt from the recesses. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to ensure all the cleaning agent is removed. Dry the surface with a soft cloth or chamois.