- To safely support the continued weight of stacked china, your shelves should be strong and secure. Think about the last time you had to lift a pile of plates; 8 to 12 plates can be very heavy. If you choose to hang your cups, choose round hooks, not square ones. Make sure that all shelves are fixed at convenient heights for easy access. We recommend you store your dinnerware in dinnerware storage pouches. However, if your dinnerware is used more often, we recommend that you slip a napkin, paper towel or other cloth divider between each plate or saucer when stacking them in the cupboard. This will protect the glazed surface from scratching or scuffing by other items.
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	Always wash your crystal items one at a time. The fine rim is naturally the weakest part of stemware and deserves a little more care. Do not put your glasses upside down to "drip" dry or when storing them. Do not hold your glasses or bowls by the stem when washing them. This causes undue pressure which may damage the piece. Tip: Try "swishing around" sand or rice and warm soapy water to wash hard to reach places like inside vases or decanters.
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	Always wash china, crystal, silverware, cutlery and pans separately. Even when china is wet, rubbing plates together will scratch them very easily. Remember that the glaze on your china is glass, so we recommend that each piece be washed and wiped separately. If your hands can stand the temperature of the water, normal dish detergent should be adequate and will not harm your china. Do not use abrasives.
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	Dishwashers are very hard on your china and should not be used unless approved by your dinnerware manufacturer. Let's think about how dishwashers work for a moment: First you take extremely hot water, too hot to touch Then add it to a very strong detergent. Detergent that is strong enough to clean food and grease from the surface of the plates (without even touching them) Now your dishwasher throws this extremely strong, if not corrosive blend at your prized dinnerware Next, it proceeds with another rinse of hot, hot water Finally, your dishwasher dries your china, like baking them in the oven The temperature of the water and the detergent you choose has a lot to do with the degree of wear that will come from using your dishwasher. Some detergents are practically harmless when used at reasonable temperatures; others can be very harmful to decorated wares, especially if the water temperature is too high. Dishes claiming to be "dishwasher safe" have no metallic trim or above glaze decoration such as enameling. The effects are gradual, eroding anything above and including the glaze. Evidence of dishwasher wear on your china will not be apparent after one or two runs through. Nevertheless, eventually, the smooth shiny surface of the glaze will no longer be smooth. Try this fun little test: Drag your fingernail across a clean plate. It should glide smoothly across the glaze. There should be no resistance from the glaze and there should be little or no sound. If the sound of this test sends shivers up your spine, or sounds more like a chalkboard, then it is likely some damage has already occurred from being in the dishwasher. To hear what a dishwasher-damaged plate sounds like, click on the photo below If your plates sound similar to this even after only a couple of washings, there is a chance that your dishwasher is forming a protein deposit on your plates. This deposit occurs when drying your dishes in the dishwasher before they are rinsed completely clean. This deposit is very difficult to remove so we recommend that you allow your fine dinnerware to "drip" dry. We mentioned earlier that your dishes could scratch each other if rubbed together even when they are wet. So when washing your "dishwasher safe" dishes in your dishwasher, remember some shifting and vibrating may occur. So take care to assure that they can not touch each other. We certainly appreciate the convenience of not having to wash dishes after hours of preparation in the kitchen, However, there is a price for all of this convenience.
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	Never use an abrasive or other scrubbing material Hand wash one piece at a time to prevent chips and scratching. Rings, which can scratch, should be removed before washing. Allow your china and crystal to drip dry. A rubber nozzle on your tap can help protect your pieces. To serve on warm plates, place them in a cold oven and warm slowly. Do not warm them on top of the stove Moving? — Call a professional or consult our web page on packing instructions
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