How to Take Care of Vintage Teaware

So, you have decided to purchase your first piece of vintage teaware...

You carefully checked for cracks or chips, and felt the edges of the cup. Or maybe you already have some tea ware and just recently decided to take it out and use it for the first time.

Whether it was a found treasure, or passed down from someone special, you have a delicate piece that is meant to be cherished.

If you’re starting out with collecting, you will want to take gentle care of your items. So today, we will teach you {our friends and fae} how to take care of your vintage tea ware!

Displaying Your Vintage Teaware

You can choose to display your tea ware using open display shelves, however, that can lead to a lot of dusting! We believe that closed cabinet is the safest way to display your treasures. Be sure to place your tea ware out of reach to prevent any accidental bumping, but close enough for you to still be able to grab them for teatime.

And don’t forget to dust! Dust sitting on vintage tea ware can damage the surface, so if you are purely displaying them then we recommend gently dusting at least every 6 months. 

Cleaning Your Vintage Teaware

When you first purchase your teatime treasures, you should wash it thoroughly before you first use it. 

Here are some guidelines to follow when washing your teaware:

• For regular use: always hand wash immediately after use to avoid stains
• When washing your tea ware, always wash by hand. Do not use a dishwasher. Handwashing preserves hand painted designs and metallic details, among other things.
• Consider putting a towel in the base of your sink to prevent any bumping and cracking in the water. 
• Use warm but not scorching hot water. If you are unable to put your hands in the water, then it might be too hot for those vintage pieces, which could damage the surface and lead to breakage. 
• Use gentle dish soap and water. 
• Have your tools available such as a sponge, brush, and a small brush to get to those hard to reach places like the spout of your teapot. Make sure your brush doesn’t have a metal at the end as this can scratch your teaware. Gently wash and scrub the teaware.
• Dry by hand with a soft towel, or airdry by using a drying mat and leaving everything upside down.

 

Dealing With Stubborn Stains

Your vintage teaware will stain, especially if you are serving tea regularly - but that does not mean that those stains must be permanent!

If you're like the fairies and fae here at Gilded Coach Teas then you have a magic wand, or know of a spell or three that will help remove pesky stains. However, if you prefer to clean manually - here are some things you can do to help remove those tough stains:

• Treat the stains early and don’t let leftover tea stand in teacups or teapots for too long. 
• Put a small amount of vinegar in your wash water to remove light stains. 
• Make a paste of vinegar and salt and baking soda. Apply to stains and gently scrub the area to remove stains. 
• If your stain still remains, you can make a solution of vinegar and baking soda and allow the teaware to sit covered in the solution. Several hours to overnight might be needed. This is great for the inside of teacups and teapots.

 

Storing Your Vintage Teaware

Once you’re done using your vintage teaware and have decided to store them instead of displaying them, you will want to make sure that they stay safe from any damage. 

Do’s and don’ts for storing your vintage teaware:

• Make sure you’re storing your vintage teaware in a temperature controlled environment. Do not store them in your garage or attic as the temperature variations can damage your teaware.
• Do not store your teaware using newspaper. It’s not a good cushion and can leave marks. 
• Do not store teaware using packing peanuts. They can adhere to the teaware, making it difficult to get them off, and damage the surface. Use bubble wrap instead or soft rags or towels.
• Separate items you are stacking with some kind of soft cushion such as towels.
• Store your vintage teaware where it can be protected, ie. in plastic bins. Carefully storing them is essential to prevent any cracks or chips. 
• You can also use cardboard boxes with dividers. Be sure to always cushion your teaware pieces.
• Label your boxes and make them easy to lift. Your teaware can be heavy so you don’t want to hurt your back, or risk dropping the boxes.

 

Enjoy Your Teaware!

This all may seem like a lot of work, dear friends and fae, but we can assure you that it is extremely doable and worth it! If you have special vintage teaware that has been tucked away for years, we are here to encourage you to take these treasures out and enjoy them now that you know how to care for them! 

So, friends and fae, treat yourself and pick out a teacup and make yourself your favorite choice of tea and teatime treat and enjoy cherishing your precious teaware!

If you’re seeking a new vintage teaware item, we also sell vintage teaware! Check out our Etsy shop.