When purchasing a new handmade pottery, It is not always clear how to care for it. I wrote this article to enlighten you a bit more on and answer the questions you might have on that topic.

First, if you purchased one of my handmade pottery, Thank you so, so much ! 
I cannot express enough how much this means to me. I have put a lot of work and love in making all of my ceramic pieces and now, it is time for you to take care of it !

How To Care For Your handmade pottery ?

Do not worry, they are not as fragile as we believe. In fact, with good care, they can last lifetimes ! (Please, don’t try to drop them as a test. They might handle it, or they will definitely not. But that is another topic.)

Here are a few recommendations I would like to share with you :

Washing your pot

Is your hand-crafted pottery dishwasher safe ?

Short answer is YES, you can put them in the dishwasher, but I would recommend to hand-wash if you want it to last longer and keep it pretty overtime (especially if they have gold details on them).
Dishwasher are quite aggressive way to wash all your dishes and not just for your ceramic pieces. We all have those stained glasses from too many cycles and those forks that are not so shiny anymore, etc…. Well, it is what it is. It is better for longevity that your lovely handmade pieces to be wash by hand. Hand-washing is always the best option.
If you do wash by hand, make sure to not use a metal scrub or anything too scratchy. A gentle rub should be enough.

Microwave use

Are handmade pottery microwave safe ?

Please do not microwave your pieces. Some potters say it is okay to do so but from my experience, most of the pieces might get very hot and difficult to handle anyways.

 Instead, it is better to store your piece at room temperature and pour hot water in them when needed.
Avoid extreme temperature change to avoid cracks and you should be perfectly fine.

Oven safety

Can I put my handmade ceramics in the oven ?

Clays are fired to really, really high temperature to become the ceramic piece you are holding in your hands right now. A lot higher than what your actual home oven can handle. You can absolutely put your pieces in your home oven to bake with.

However, do not use them on a stove-top. The difference of temperature between the bottom and the top of your piece might create too much tension, which will eventually lead the piece to crack.

Storage

How do I store my hand-crafted pottery ?

Make sure your pottery pieces are dry and then store them away as you would normally do.

I believe that is all the tips I have for you today, I hope this will help you know keep your beautiful piece safe and sound.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask in the comment section below.

Thank you for reading.

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