Clean and care handcrafted ceramics?
Our MOCA ceramics, whether bowls, plates, or cups, are all made from two materials: porcelain and a food-safe glaze. Porcelain, unlike other types of ceramics, becomes extremely dense once fired at high temperatures, meaning it doesn’t absorb the liquids it holds. In fact, we could sell our cups without any glaze! But it wouldn’t feel as smooth or pleasant when it touches your lips or when a spoon scrapes the surface. That’s why you’ll find glaze on the inside of each piece and bare porcelain on the outside for a matte finish. It also makes it easier to clean handcrafted ceramics.
The blue patterns of the “dripping” effect are made from colored porcelain and are embedded into the material itself. So, no matter how hard you scrub with a sponge, you’ll never be able to remove them unless you scrape off a few millimeters of the material.
1 – How to handle our ceramics?
Porcelain is a material that is very strong, but brittle and sensitive to impacts. The same goes for the glaze we use to protect the porcelain.
We recommend that you take care of your MOCA handcrafted ceramics by handling them gently and with care! For example, stack them carefully, avoid putting strain on the porcelain, and of course, try not to drop them.
2 – Cleaning tips for our MOCA ceramics
To clean and care for handcrafted ceramics, we always recommend using a gentle method:
Handwashing?
Handwashing with a simple sponge, warm (not boiling) water, and dish soap is the ideal solution.
If there are any lingering coffee, tea, or food stains, you can soak them in warm water for a few minutes before cleaning.
Avoid using metal sponges, which could scratch the glaze or the surface of the porcelain. Likewise, try to avoid an overcrowded sink when washing, as you wouldn’t want the pieces to bump into each other and get damaged.
Dishwasher cleaning?
Our ceramics hold up well in the dishwasher: we know this because our families wash their MOCA ceramics in the dishwasher daily. You can do the same, but for safety, we still recommend washing them by hand. If you prefer using the dishwasher, opt for medium or low-temperature cycles. Thermal shocks or the chemicals in dishwasher tablets could damage the glazed surfaces, for example.
Industrial dishwashers:
Best to avoid: their extreme temperatures increase the risk of thermal shock.
3 – Can MOCA ceramics go in the oven/microwave?
We don’t recommend using our ceramics in ovens or microwaves; they’re still handcrafted, and we haven’t done enough testing. Plus, sudden temperature changes could damage your porcelain.
4 – Caring for your ceramics: Things to avoid
- Avoid clinking the porcelain pieces together: this could create a crack in the glaze or the porcelain, which might lead to breakage over time.
- Make sure to store your porcelain in a safe place, away from potential impacts or curious young children!
- If you’re stacking your MOCA plates or bowls and want to be extra careful, you can place a soft cloth between each piece to prevent scratches.
5 – Conclusion
We hope we helped you to clean handcrafted ceramics! After all this advice, we still want to tell you not to worry! Use our MOCA Tableware pieces normally. Our items are quite thick for porcelain and sturdy. We use them daily ourselves and never have any issues—except for our clumsiness. We also invite you to visit again our webshop and pick the tableware you prefer!
