Gaming

How to determine if your china is dishwasher safe

Fine china plates are gorgeous. They are richly designed, easy to touch and add ambience and sophistication to every meal, both formal and informal. What keeps people from using porcelain plates more often is the hassle involved in cleaning them up afterward. Simply put, it’s a huge pain in the neck. Once upon a time, porcelain plates could only be washed by hand, which is time consuming and leads to breakage, but people were okay with that. But in our hectic and busy lifestyles, who has time to spend an hour every night doing the dishes? And so the china remains in the cabinet, brought out only for important events where nothing less will do.

The good news is that china makers have begun to recognize how much the hassle of post-use cleanup has hurt their business and have started making a lot more dishwasher-safe china patterns. . The question is how to determine if your pattern is safe or not.

There are three simple things you need to do first to help you determine if your china is dishwasher safe:

  • Check the stamp on the back (or the original box and papers).
  • Check the company’s website or give them a call.
  • Check replacement company sites for discontinued patterns.

Check the rear seal:

Flip over a piece of your china set, preferably the dinner plate (which usually contains most of the information). Many patterns, especially newer ones, will say “Dishwasher Safe.” Voila, you already know! If not, don’t be discouraged, it may still be dishwasher safe. Continue with the next step.

Contact the manufacturer.

Start by visiting the company’s website. If the pattern is still active, there will be a lot of information about ii, including the status of the dishwasher. If it is a discontinued pattern, there is still a chance that some information is available.

If your Internet search gets you nowhere, call the company. Most of the time, they will be able to help you with active patterns. However, discontinued porcelain will be more difficult. For help with these patterns, see the next step.

Check the replacement sites:

Some replacement plate sites have information on all of the older china patterns they sell, even if they’re dishwasher safe or not. The information found there is generally well researched and can be trusted.

What to do next:

If all of the above fails, then we enter the guessing game. There are some general rules about what will go through the dishwasher and what won’t, but remember that they don’t always apply, so be careful here.

Patterns with metallic trim, gold or platinum, tend to be the worst in the dishwasher. They can be completely erased after a few cycles. Heavily decorated patterns should also be avoided in the dishwasher, as the design can be easily rubbed off. The general rule of thumb is that the less design the pattern has, the more likely it is to come out of the dishwasher safely.

It is important to remember that the way you use the dishwasher is crucial. Stack them carefully so they don’t splinter or break. Use a mild detergent and avoid lemon-scented products, whose acid will eat away at your dishes. Lastly, allow the load to cool to room temperature before removing it, as it is most vulnerable when hot.

Experts agree that under all circumstances, porcelain will last longer and look better when washed by hand, even designs that have been certified dishwasher-safe by the manufacturer. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying your beautiful china on a regular basis. If using the dishwasher means using your fine china more often, then go for it. Your china may not last as long, but the memories you create at your family meals will last forever.

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