How to Care for Ceramic Teapots

Whether you are a regular drinker of tea or simply a collector, ceramic teapots are a beautiful way to serve up a cup of tea or decorate your home. To prolong the life of ceramic teapots, there are a few easy ways to care for them. Read on to find out how.

Things You'll Need

• Sink
• Warm water
• Mild liquid dish soap
• Soft, clean towel
• Ceramic teapots

Instructions

1. 

   Make sure your teapot's decorations/colors are fired on. Do not wash pieces that are hand-painted, as it may damage the finish or remove the paint.

2. 

   Take your ceramic pieces to the sink or other area where you will be washing them. If your teapots have pieces that come apart or detach from the main pot, take them off carefully and set them aside; wash only one piece at a time.

3. Fill the sink with warm water--ceramic pieces do not react well to sudden temperature changes, so it is important to make sure your ceramics are at room temperature before washing or submerging them into water. While the water is filling the sink, add a few drops of mild liquid dish soap. Use a wet dish cloth to gently wash the ceramic teapot. Don't worry about rubbing colors off the teapot, as they are fired on and cannot be rubbed off. Keep a hold on the piece as you wash it to avoid dropping it into the sink. If you need to set it down, do so gently.

4. When you are done washing the piece, you can rinse it under warm water and dry it with a soft, dry cloth. If you have other pieces to wash, rinse the first piece and set it aside on top of a cloth until you are finished washing all pieces. Once you are finished, make sure to thoroughly dry all of the pieces before putting them back on the shelf or on display in your china cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• Ceramics are fragile and should be kept out of the reach of small children. Care must be taken when ceramic pieces are handled, so carefully treat all ceramics, especially decorative pieces such as fine china, and follow the steps below when your ceramics need to be cleaned. By following the steps above, when washing your ceramic teapots, you can effectively prolong the life of your pieces. It is also important to note that ceramic pieces such as teapots should not be used in the microwave, oven or stove or washed in the dishwasher.