Ceramics have a certain appeal that can add a striking aesthetic value to any space. If you have a collection of fine china dinnerware in your home or an elaborately designed porcelain vase in your office, it can definitely bring a wow factor in a way that no other kind of material can. But while they hold more value over time, their colours can also fade when not taken care of properly — as how experts in china restorations can attest to.

Discolouration and fading can significantly degrade the value of any ceramics. In this article, we’re giving valuable tips on how to preserve the colours of your treasured fine china and other ceramics.

Handle them with care. If you ask professionals specialising in porcelain restorations, the most basic thing that you can do is to handle your ceramics with care. When moving them to another place, make sure to support them with both hands. Don’t forget to remove any jewelry or accessories that can scratch its surface. Your hands should also be clean as your fingermarks can leave a residue that can affect their colour and other decorative finishes.

Test clean first. To prevent your fine china’s colours from fading, cleaning is essential. However, you have to keep in mind that different types of ceramics require different cleaning techniques. You have to ask your supplier about the best cleaning practices for your ceramics. To avoid causing any damage while cleaning, it’s advisable to test clean a small portion first. Also, don’t put any of your ceramics in the dishwasher — wash them by hand meticulously and carefully.

Be mindful of potential problems. When you talk to an expert in china restorations, you’d know that sometimes, cleaning ceramics that already have an issue (e.g. Cracks) can do more harm than good. This is why you have to be especially keen on these potential problems before cleaning your ceramics just to preserve their colours. These problems include cracks, chips, crazing, and flaking.

Get help from restoration pros. If you want to tackle the abovementioned problems and make sure your ceramics’ colours won’t fade, you have to turn to experts in porcelain restorations. They won’t only help you address structural weaknesses, they could also offer their retouching skills to maintain the aesthetics of your ceramics. For instance, they can fill areas of loss with resin and disguise them as part of the original by painting them with the same colours.

Store them properly. For ceramic plates, experts advise that they should not be stacked more than four high. But if you can, it’s still better to store them on their sides and use quality dividers. For other items that are not on display, you have to wrap them individually to prevent them from damaging one another. You can also invest in specially designed containers for ceramics (Don’t forget to label them properly). You also have to strategically choose low-traffic storage areas to prevent them from getting bumped or broken. If it will be broken, make sure to collect all the pieces and have them repaired and repainted by a professional.
For porcelain restorations and china restorations, only trust the experts. Contact Bradshaw Ceramic Restoration today to enquire about our services.