The Cleaning Essential You Should Never Use On Fine China

You inherited a set of fine china or picked one up while thrifting, and now you want to get it sparkling clean. Here's where you must avoid making one of the most common mistakes: using paper towels. A cleaning essential, paper towels may be fine for other household items, but their rough texture can scratch your china. They could also leave lint bits all over it, making the shiny surfaces look messy instead of glamorous. A safer alternative is a non-abrasive option to clean and dry it.

"Fine china" refers to dishes made of porcelain or china, terms often used interchangeably by manufacturers. There's also bone china, a thinner porcelain variety using similar materials (kaolin, clay, feldspar, and quartz) alongside bone ash, or incinerated animal bone. Regardless of which type you have, they're all ceramics that are fired and shaped into tableware. The finished piece often receives a protective glaze that fortifies it and gives it a beautiful luster. Despite the hard finish, this is still one of many common things you shouldn't clean with paper towels because you risk the slightly abrasive sheet scratching the glaze or the dish's surface, potentially leaving marks and scuffs that may be hard to remove. Not only do these marks mar the piece's beauty, but they can also create small grooves where food or liquids may settle. In addition to making the china harder to keep clean after use, this increases the chances of bacteria growing. Yet, even without paper towels and with a little careful handling, you can keep your fine china in great shape.

If you want to make the stains disappear off your china, it's best to handwash it with a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner. Avoid using bleach or scouring pads. China is one of the things you should never put in the dishwasher, as the hot temperatures and harsh cleaners can be too much for the delicate material, despite any indication it's "dishwasher-safe." Wash your fine china in the sink with warm (not hot) water, tackling each piece individually to avoid rubbing them together. Before you begin washing, cover the bottom of your sink with a rubber mat or towel to prevent your china from bumping against it. 

Use a mild dish soap, like Dawn, and a soft sponge, carefully going over the item's surface to remove any food or spills. For particularly tough spots, soak until the food softens and you can dislodge it. Don't scrub roughly, or you may scratch the surface. Once your pieces are clean, rinse them carefully, and then either air dry or towel dry them with a lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber one. By following these steps and avoiding paper towels, you can protect your fine china so it's ready for any special occasion.