So you have taken that step and purchased your first piece of vintage china. You used the tools in selecting them – checking for cracks, crazing or chips. You have felt the edges of the cup or made sure that the teapot is level. Or maybe you already had some and just decided to take it out and use it. A treasure that was given to you or passed down from someone special – you have decided it would be nice to hold. As you come along this journey and learn to celebrate the art of tea, you know that your tea cups and teapots become your friends. They welcome you in the morning or give you comfort in the afternoon. They remind you of fond relationships past or have you thinking of the history of your new purchase. In any case, if you are starting out, you will want to take gentle care of your tea treasures. So today, we will learn how to take care of your vintage china.
Displaying Your Vintage China
If you have followed me, you know that I am a big proponent of using your china and I like to display it so I use open display shelves. Now, certainly having an open display is easy to use your treasures but lead to that dusting challenge (and I live where the dust does not sleep).
A closed glass cabinet is the safest way to display your vintage china. But whether in a open or glass display, you are able to view your vintage china and its still protected. Placed out of reach from littles and free of incidental bumping, but close enough for you to be able to reach.
Don’t forget to dust….dust on vintage china can damage the surface. So its recommended that at the least every 6 months, your china gets a gently dusting.
Display your teacups upright so they can be enjoyed. Though I have several hanging by the handle, it is not recommended as this is the most vulnerable part of the teacup.
Cleaning Your Vintage China
Now that you have decided to use your vintage china and need to know how to clean it. Of course if you have just purchased your piece of teatime treasure, you will want to wash it thoroughly before you first use. Obviously you want it clean but you can also see if there are cracks or imperfections you couldn’t see before.
Here’s come guidelines to follow:
- When washing your vintage china, always wash by hand. Do not use your dishwasher for the vintage pieces. Some other pieces of china allow you to put them through the dishwasher, but I don’t put any of my vintage china or glassware through the dishwasher.
- Consider putting a towel in the base of your sink to prevent bumping and cracking in the water. I do this when I have a lot of china to wash. Using a plastic bin is an alternative but the towel is the softest.
- Use warm not scorching hot water. If you can’t put your hands in it – it might be too hot for those vintage pieces. This can damage the surface and can also break the china. Use soap and water – I like to use Dawn.
- Have your tools available – sponge, brush and a small brush to get to those hard to reach places like the spout of your teapot. Make sure your brush doesn’t have metal on the end – it will scratch your china. Gently wash and scrub the dishes
- Dry by hand with a soft towel or use a drying mat, leaving everything upside down so that the water doesn’t pool. Place the mat where your china won’t be bumped.
Dealing with Stubborn Stains
Frequently your vintage china will have stains or marks, especially if you are serving tea or coffee. Here are some things you can do to help remove those stains.
- Treat the stain early and don’t let leftover tea or coffee stand in the teacup or teapot for too long.
- Put a small amount of vinegar in your wash water to help remove light stains.
- Make a paste of vinegar and salt or baking soda. Apply to the stain and gently scrub the area to remove the stain.
- If your stain still remains, you can make a solution of vinegar and baking soda and allow the piece to sit covered in the solution. Several hours to overnight may be necessary. This is great for the inside of teacups and teapots.
- Some articles reference using Oxyclean or Hydrogen Peroxide 20% (you will have to order this) and you can use a very small amount of bleach. Be cautious with these methods – they can be caustic and damage your vintage china’s finishes.
Storing Your Vintage China
Once you are done using your vintage china and you have decided to store rather than display, you will want to make sure its safe from damage. Here are some do’s and don’ts for storing your vintage china:
- Make sure that you are storing your vintage china in a controlled temperature environment. Do not store your vintage china, or any china for that matter, in your garage or your attic. The temperature variations are too wide and can damage your china.
- Do not store your vintage china using newspaper. Its not a good cushion and it can leave marks on your china.
- Do not store your vintage china using packing peanuts. Now you might have china shipped to you using packing peanuts (hopefully it is bubble wrapped first). These peanuts can actually adhere to the vintage china or treasure making it difficult to get them off risking damage. Bubble wrap is a great alternative. I like to use soft rags or pieces of material. Old towels are great.
- Separate your plates or anything that you are stacking with some kind of cushion. If stacking plates for instance, layer something soft in between. I will use old rags if I am packing them away where you cannot see them.
- Do store your vintage china where it can be protected. There are several options. I will wrap my seasonal cups in cloth and place them in plastic bins. Either in a china cabinet drawer or tucked away in a closet, careful storing of your unused vintage china is critical to prevent cracks or chips.
- There are also many great china storage options you can purchase as well.
- You can use cardboard boxes that have dividers to help. You may still want to cushion around your piece.
- Label your boxes and make them easy to lift. Your vintage china can be heavy so you don’t want to hurt your back or risk dropping the box.
- Consider making a list of your vintage china for replacement needs. Or like in my case, so you don’t have a repeat purchase…”Ooops, I already have that one!”
Now Enjoy Your China
This may seem like a lot of work – it really isn’t. Many of us have been doing this for years and its absolutely worth the outcome. So many of you have written that you have special pieces that have been tucked away for years and that you don’t ever take them out. I am here to encourage you to take those treasures out and enjoy them! And now you know how to care for your vintage china. Its absolutely the right thing to do
Treat yourself and pick out a cup, make yourself a cup of tea, get a teatime treat and sit back. Feet up as I like to say. Enjoy!
A reminder: If you are inclined to find some vintage china. My post on Tools for Vintage China Shopping https://teastheseason3.com/tools-for-vintage-china-shopping/