Setting a holiday table with fine china is a time-honored tradition that, for many people, is one of the highlights of the holiday season. Using your best tableware not only allows you to show off some of your most treasured belongings and create a festive atmosphere for special occasions, but it can also connect us to our past and remind us of loved ones who are no longer here to celebrate holidays and milestones.
But after the big meal is finished, all of those special—and often very delicate!—items must be washed. Washing fine china can be stressful, in part because delicate items require special handling, and also because these pieces hold significance or value.
Ahead, you’ll find everything you need to know about washing delicate china to ensure it remains beautiful for a long time to come.
How to Wash Fine China by Hand
Step 1: Scrape Food with Plastic or Silicone Utensils
Start by disposing of any food on or in the tableware by scraping it into the trash, compost bin, or garbage disposal. Use a plastic or silicone tool for the job, as scraping fine china with a metal utensil can cause scratching. Alternatively, use a paper napkin, paper towel, or your hands (donning dish gloves can make this feel less horrible!) to wipe food off of fine china before washing it.
Step 2: Rinse with Warm Water
Next, rinse the piece well under warm running water. When washing fine china, avoid the use of overly hot water, which can cause the glaze to crack, creating fine lines that mar the appearance of the piece.
Step 3: Briefly Soak (Optional)
If, after rinsing, there is still a significant amount of food present, briefly soak the piece in warm water. Soaking the piece for a few minutes will loosen any stuck-on food, allowing you to wash it away easily without the need to scrub.
Step 4: Wash with Mild Soap and Non-Scratch Sponge
Apply a few drops of mild dish soap to a non-scratch sponge and wash both the top and the bottom of the piece with warm water. Pay particular attention to handles, lips, and other design elements that can harbor stuck-on food.
Take care that you are not using more soap than is necessary, which can leave a soapy residue that will turn sticky over time, leaving china with a tacky feel and a dull appearance, and avoid soaps that contain citric acid, which can cause fading, or abrasives, which can leave scratches.
Step 5: Rinse Well and Dry Immediately
Rinse the piece thoroughly with warm water to remove all soap residue. Dry the piece with a clean, dry dish towel immediately after washing to prevent water spots from forming.
How to Clean China in the Dishwasher
Many pieces of delicate china can be safely washed in the dishwasher. Follow these guidelines to determine if your fine tableware is dishwasher-safe, and to ensure pieces that are dishwasher-safe don’t sustain damage during cleaning.
Check the Bottom
To determine if fine china is dishwasher-safe, turn the piece over and look for a manufacturer’s designation regarding care guidelines. If the piece is dishwasher-safe, it will usually say so. You may also consult the original packaging, if you still have it, for care instructions or seek that information on the manufacturer’s website, or a reference site like Replacements LTD. If there is no indication on the bottom of the plate that it is dishwasher-safe, you can assume that it is not and that it should be washed by hand.
Hand-Painted Patterns and Metal Detailing
Fine china that is hand-painted, features metal detailing, or trimmed with metals like gold or silver is not dishwasher-safe. The heat from the dishwasher can fade hand-painted designs and tarnish or erode metal detailing. Always wash hand-painted pieces and pieces that feature metal in their designs by hand.
Consider Its Age
Tableware that is more than 20 years old should be washed by hand rather than in the dishwasher. Newer china is stronger and therefore less prone to damage, but delicate older china can sustain damage if placed in the dishwasher.
Load and Unload with Care
When loading a dishwasher with fine china, make sure to space pieces apart, leaving enough room to ensure they are not touching, to prevent scratching or chipping. Then, when the dishwasher cycle is complete, allow the pieces to cool completely before handling them, as fine china is more fragile and prone to breakage when hot.
Choose the Delicate Cycle
Use the delicate cycle setting and, if your dishwasher allows control over water temperature settings, opt for a temperature below 140℉, as fine china should not be exposed to overly hot water to prevent damage. Your dishwasher’s owner’s manual or online product description will typically list the appliance’s temperature ranges and setting options.
Use a Mild Detergent
When washing delicate china in the dishwasher, it is important to use a mild dishwasher detergent to avoid damage. Look for a dishwasher detergent that is free of lemon and bleach, both of which can cause china patterns to fade.
When in Doubt, Hand Wash
Fine china and other special occasion items are often among our most prized possessions, and so if there is any doubt about whether or not it is safe to wash one of these items in the dishwasher, always opt to hand wash instead to avoid irreversible damage.
How to Remove Stains or Scuffs on China
To remove stains from food, discoloration caused by age, scuff marks, or scratches caused by cutlery on fine china, make a paste of baking soda and water, and apply it to the affected area using a non-scratch sponge or dishcloth.
Using firm but gentle pressure, work the paste in using a circular motion, then wash the piece with warm water and mild soap. For deep stains, allow the paste to sit, undisturbed, on the stain for 15-60 minutes before washing it away with warm, soapy water.
In addition to baking soda, stains and scratches on fine china can be removed with a paste of cream of tartar, Bar Keepers Friend, or Bon Ami.
Tips and Tricks for Washing Delicate China
Line the Sink
To prevent breakage, chipping, and other damage when washing fine china by hand, consider placing a dish towel in the basin of your sink to serve as a padded liner.
Wash Delicate Pieces in an Empty Sink
Another easy way to prevent damage when washing delicate tableware is to work in an empty sink, which eliminates the chance of damage caused by two pieces hitting each other, or one piece being dropped on the other. Instead of loading up the sink with dirty dishes, stack or place delicate pieces on one side of the sink, and designate another space to place them on a clean, dry towel once they have been washed and rinsed.
Hold the Pieces at Its Strongest Spot
To protect against dropping a piece of fine china, hold it at its strongest spot when washing it.
Dry Immediately
Use a clean, dry, lint-free dish towel to dry fine china after washing it. Drying these pieces immediately will prevent spots from forming as the water dries and will ensure any lingering soap residue is buffed off, both of which can cause discoloration over time.
Don’t Soak Longer Than a Few Minutes
China is porous, and extended soaking can compromise the glaze. If you need to soak a piece of fine china to make it easier to remove stuck-on food without laborious and damage-causing scrubbing, opt for warm water and a short soaking time of approximately five to ten minutes.
