The difference between pottery and porcelain
What to do after purchasing tableware
What to do before using dishes
Use of microwave ovens
How to wash ceramic dishes
Smells and Stains on Pottery
Care of Pottery
The difference between pottery and porcelain
Pottery and porcelain have different properties and require different handling and care. Even within pottery, different surface finishes require different handling.
Pottery (earthenware) is made from clay and is fired at a relatively low temperature of 1000-1300℃. It absorbs water and is a bit more brittle than porcelain. When tapped, it makes a muddy, dull sound. Pottery, even when glazed, has countless invisible holes on its surface that can easily soak up dirt, causing odors and mildew if left unattended. Please keep in mind that pottery is more delicate, easier to clean, and requires more care than porcelain before purchasing and using it.
Porcelain is a ceramic ware made from crushed stone and fired at a high temperature of 1250-1400℃. The surface is white, hard and smooth like glass, non-absorbent and translucent. When struck, it emits a high-pitched metallic sound
What to do after purchasing tableware
There are a few things you should do to ensure the longevity of your tableware. Check the bottom of the bowl. If there is any roughness, scrub it carefully with fine sandpaper or lightly rub it together with the base of another dish to smooth it out. If left untreated, it may damage the table or other dishes when stacked on top of each other.
Then boil the pottery once. This will tighten the grain of the clay and make it stronger. Put the pottery in a pot, fill it with water until it is covered, boil it for about 30 minutes, and let it cool naturally. At this time, use rice water to fill in the grain of the clay and prevent dirt from seeping in.
What to do before using dishes
Soak pottery dishes in water for about 30 seconds before serving. The reason for this is to prevent grease from getting into the gaps between the particles of clay in soft earthenware such as powdered clay or unglazed High-fired unglazed pottery. Porcelain does not need to be cleaned because it is coated with glaze. In the case of powdered pottery, grayish spots will appear, and in the case of glazed pottery, crazing (a fine crack-like pattern) may or may not be noticeable, depending on the type of pottery. This phenomenon occurs when water penetrates the clay and is a characteristic of the glaze, so there is no problem at all. It is a characteristic of glaze, so there is no problem at all. The surface of the dish becomes moist when it contains water, which improves the appearance of the dish. For fried foods, it is recommended to lay out a sheet of paper for serving.
Use of microwave ovens
If you put highly absorbent ceramics or vases with penetrations in them in the microwave oven while they are still absorbing water, they may be damaged by the sudden rise in temperature caused by microwaves. Vessels with overglaze enamels (especially gilded and silvered ones) can also cause problems for both the vessel and the microwave. Porcelain and other dishes can be used in the microwave without any problems.
How to wash ceramic dishes
Washing as soon as possible after finishing a meal will prevent odors and stains from seeping in. If there are heavy oil stains, wipe them off lightly before washing. If the pottery is painted with colors or gilding, wash it gently with a soft sponge, as the painting may come off if you rub it hard. For rough surfaces such as High-fired unglazed pottery and the base, wash with a scrubbing brush. Ordinary dishwashing detergent can be used. Pottery is more fragile than porcelain, so it is best to avoid soaking it. It can chip or crack when it bumps against other dishes, and it can absorb dirt from other dishes during the soaking process. The last step is to run boiling water over the dishes to remove surface dirt and also to dry them quickly.
Using a dishwasher
Dishwashers are not recommended because the strong water flow can cause countless scratches. If you do use a dishwasher, make sure to line up the dishes so that they are not in contact with other dishes, and dry them thoroughly before storing them.
Smells and Stains on Pottery
If your pottery has a stinky smell (earthy, musty, etc.), try placing If this does not remove the smell, soak the pottery in a solution of baking soda in water for half a day to a day. If the smell is still not gone when the pottery is completely dry, repeat the baking soda water treatment process a couple of times.
If a stain has appeared on the surface of the pottery or in the penetration, soak it in diluted bleach as soon as you notice it. The same applies to tea stains and mildew. It is important to note that if the pottery is absorbent, rinse it thoroughly to prevent the bleach from penetrating the base of the pottery.
If the stain penetrates through the surface and into the clay, it will unfortunately be very difficult to remove. Please keep this in mind.
Care of Pottery
Dry the pottery well after use. Do not put the pottery away immediately after removing water with a cloth, but allow it to dry completely before storing. If the surface is dry but the inside is still damp, mold may grow if stored in an insufficiently dry condition. When storing earthenware pots for a long time, dry them in the sun in a well-ventilated place before storing
Pottery and porcelain pots should not be stored on top of each other. When storing them on top of each other, place a paper napkin or Japanese “Washi” paper between them. If possible, store them in a well-ventilated place.