Properly caring for ceramic dinnerware
Ceramic Dinnerware
Proper Care
Cleaning stoneware, removing stains, dishwasher or hand wash – the complete care guide for your ceramic dinnerware.
Proper care maintains the beauty of ceramic dinnerware for many years.
Ceramic dinnerware is not only functional but also an aesthetic highlight in any kitchen. Whether handmade or machine-made, ceramics require proper care to preserve their beauty and longevity. With the right techniques, your dinnerware will remain in pristine condition for years.
In this guide, you will learn how to properly clean ceramic dinnerware, remove stubborn stains, and avoid common care mistakes. Töpferkunst dinnerware is particularly robust – but even with stoneware fired at the highest temperatures, careful care pays off.
How to care for ceramic dinnerware properly – the most important basic rules?
Ceramic is a robust but not indestructible material. If you follow two simple basic rules, you will enjoy your dinnerware for decades.
1. Avoid sudden temperature changes. Never place ceramics directly from the refrigerator into the microwave or hot water – thermal shock causes fine cracks. 2. Use gentle cleaning agents. Abrasive scouring agents and steel wool will permanently damage the glaze.
Gentle handling in everyday life
Ceramics are sensitive to strong impacts. Stack plates and bowls carefully and place a soft cloth or felt protector between each piece to prevent scratches. Töpferkunst stoneware, fired at over 1,200 °C, is particularly resilient – but even here, careful handling significantly extends its lifespan.
Avoid temperature changes
Sudden temperature changes are the most common cause of cracks in ceramics. Let hot dinnerware cool to room temperature before immersing it in cold water or placing it in the refrigerator. Conversely, do not put cold ceramics directly into a preheated oven – it's better to heat them up with the oven.
Felt protectors between plates prevent scratches when stacking.
How to clean stoneware dinnerware – dishwasher or hand wash?
High-fired stoneware dinnerware is dishwasher safe – the glaze is insolubly bonded to the body. However, for more delicate pieces and maximum longevity, hand washing is recommended.
Mild dish soap and a soft sponge are sufficient. Warm water reliably removes grease and food residue. Do not scratch with hard brushes – this will damage the glaze over time.
High-fired stoneware dinnerware, like that from Töpferkunst, is dishwasher safe. Do not place pieces too close together to prevent them from hitting each other. Do not let the undersides rub against neighboring plates.
Apply baking soda paste (baking soda + water) to the stain, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, rub off with a soft sponge, rinse. For limescale stains, a citric acid solution or a water-vinegar mixture (1:1) helps.
Scouring agents, steel wool, and chlorine-based cleaners will permanently damage the glaze. Handmade ceramics with reactive glazes, in particular, should only be cleaned with mild agents.
What special care tips are there for handmade ceramic dinnerware?
Handmade ceramics deserve special attention – not because they are more fragile, but because their unique glazes and textures should be preserved.
- First Use: Rinse new dinnerware briefly with warm water to remove any dust residue from transport.
- Microwave: High-fired stoneware is completely microwave safe. No metal, no gold decorations – these can cause sparks.
- Oven: Stoneware is oven safe up to approx. 220 °C (428 °F). Do not place directly from the refrigerator into a preheated oven – always heat slowly.
- Coasters: Stick felt pads to the bottom to protect delicate table and kitchen surfaces.
- Regular Inspection: Occasionally check handmade pieces for fine cracks or chips – early treatment can prevent greater damage.
- Patina as a mark of quality: Over time, stoneware develops a natural patina – a sign of use and the life imbued in the piece.
Left: Robust reactive glaze by Töpferkunst. Right: Natural household remedies for cleaning.
Proper care and cleaning of ceramic dinnerware is not complicated – it just requires a little attention. Gentle cleaning agents, no sudden temperature changes, and occasional checks are all you need to keep your dinnerware in top condition for years. Töpferkunst dinnerware made from high-fired stoneware is particularly easy to care for and suitable for everyday use. Discover our collections and choose a piece that will accompany you for a lifetime.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Stoneware dinnerware is best cleaned by hand with warm water and mild dish soap. For stubborn stains, a paste of baking soda and water helps: apply, let sit briefly, rinse. Avoid abrasive scouring agents and steel wool – they will permanently damage the glaze.
High-fired stoneware dinnerware (from 1,200 °C) is generally dishwasher safe. The glaze is firmly bonded to the body and does not flake off. However, more delicate ceramics or handmade pieces with thin glazes should preferably be hand-washed – this significantly extends their lifespan.
Stubborn stains can be removed with a paste of baking soda and water: apply the paste, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, rub off with a soft sponge, and rinse thoroughly. For more severe discolorations, a solution of water and household vinegar (1:1) helps. Citric acid solutions are suitable for limescale stains.
Sudden temperature changes – for example, from the refrigerator directly into the microwave or hot water on cold ceramics – create thermal shock. The outside cools or heats faster than the core, leading to internal stresses and fine cracks. Always allow ceramics to adjust slowly to new temperatures.
Durable Dinnerware from Töpferkunst
Handmade stoneware that is dishwasher safe, oven safe, and made for everyday use.