Teaware can hold a special place in a tea drinker’s heart. That is why I cringe at just the thought of a damaged piece of teaware. Most of my collection is made up of porcelain items. To try to avoid such tragedy, properly caring for porcelain teaware is very important. This means everything from before use, during use and after use. There are many simple tips that can help extend the life of your teaware. Some are general and apply to any type of teaware, but the main focus here will be on porcelain.

Last year I got this full outdoor tea set from ZENS Lifestyle, and instantly fell in love when I took it out of the box it was safely stored in. This mat porcelain set consists of a teapot with infuser and a pour that I absolutely love, 4 tea cups, milk and sugar bowl with spoon and even a decorative piece for a tealight candle (but sometimes I just use it as a dish to display the leaves steeping in the pot). Naturally, once this elegant tea set was out of the box I began to feel a sense of worry, because now several pieces were no longer carefully snugged in bubble wrap. The last thing anyone wants is a broken piece of teaware.

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when caring for and cleaning porcelain teaware. These tips apply to porcelain teapots, tea cups, gaiwans and more. Hopefully this will help you make your beautiful teaware last for as long as possible!

Simple Porcelain Teaware Caring Tips

Before Using Porcelain Teaware

– Bathe in warm salt water. Whenever you receive any teaware you should always give it a good wash before making tea in it. Adding salt to the water before first use will also help extend the life of the porcelain. No soap is needed.

While Using Porcelain Teaware

– Only use fresh hot water and do not expose to temperature extremes. Your porcelain teaware should not be heated directly with a flame. Instead, heat water in a separate pot/kettle and then add to your teaware. Also, it’s important to make sure porcelain teaware does not go from very cold to very hot, as this can cause it to crack. Slowly warm up your porcelain teaware with warm water if it is cold before filling it entirely with boiling water.

– Carefully handle with both hands. Sometimes damages to teaware in general can be because of pieces being handled carelessly. Using both hands is a safe bet, especially when certain teaware pieces can be larger in weight and size. Also, make sure to never grab teaware just by the spout or knobs as they may not be as sturdy to hold as a handle or base.

– Avoid wearing anything that may scratch the porcelain. This may seem like another obvious caring tip, but even something as small as a piece of jewelry (ie. rings) might scratch and damage porcelain if it rubs against the teaware when being used.

After Using Porcelain Teaware

– Hand wash each piece of the porcelain teaware separately. You don’t want to crowd the sink and risk having pieces bang one another. Some teaware may say they are dishwasher safe, but it’s always a good idea to be extra safe and wash it yourself. If you wouldn’t put your teaware in a microwave, you wouldn’t want to put it in a dishwasher, either. When washing by hand, make sure to wait until your teaware has cooled off completely and do not to use any harsh chemicals or abrasive sponges. (see tips below for removing stains properly)

– Store your porcelain teaware somewhere safe. Only store your porcelain teaware when all of the piece are completely dry. Let them air dry by simply placing on a drying rack or mat. Find somewhere that your porcelain teaware can live, away from dust and other things that may accidentally cause damage (ie. in a cabinet). Bonus if you can find a great storing spot that also allows you to display the beautiful pieces of teaware!

How to Remove Stains from Porcelain Teaware

It’s inevitable that your teaware will eventually have visible tea stains, especially if it is bright white like this one from ZENS Lifestyle. I have a simple method that I find to be the easiest way to remove those stains without harsh chemicals or abrasive sponges that might damage the porcelain teaware.

Add a small amount of baking soda and warm water directly to the stained ware, and use a soft cloth to gently scrub it clean. When it comes to cleaning a porcelain teapot in particular, you might find it difficult to get stains out of the spout. I highly recommend finding a narrow kitchen brush with gentle bristles that you can fit through the spout for a deep clean. To minimize tea stains in the future, clean your teaware directly after use with warm water.

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Do you have additional tips when it comes to caring/cleaning teaware? If so, please share in the comments below.