Fancy tableware shouldn’t stay hidden in your cabinets just because you’re not sure how to take care of it. With a little know-how, you can learn how to properly care for your elegant tableware so that you can use it whenever you want rather than saving it for the once-a-year “special” occasions. Here’s a short guide to how to care for your tableware correctly:
If you have sterling silver tableware, you can wash it in the dishwasher with just a small amount of detergent. Make sure that you store your sterling silver away from anything rubber or wool, which can cause a chemical reaction. For gold vermeil and gold plated tableware, hand wash the tableware with mild soap and store vermeil pieces in a soft flatware case to avoid scratches.
Silver plate tableware is dishwasher safe, as long as you only use a small amount of citric-acid free detergent; make sure not to wash it next to stainless steel in the dishwasher, because the metals will react and discolor the silver. Stainless steel is dishwasher safe as well, but take care not to hand wash stainless steel with hard-bristled brushes or scouring pads, which can wear away the chromium oxide film.
White porcelain and decal or underglaze porcelain are dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Hand painted porcelain and metallic porcelain, on the other hand, should be hand washed with mild soap and are not microwave safe. Glassware is usually dishwasher safe, unless it’s blown glass, but crystal should not be washed in the dishwasher unless your dishwasher has a crystal setting. Instead, wash crystal by hand with mild soap.
Your luxury tableware doesn’t have to stay locked up behind a display case for fear of ruining it. Instead, take just a few minutes to learn how to care for your tableware so that you can enjoy it on a regular basis instead of on rare occasions.