How should I care for my personalized plate? Display plates or fine china with gold should not be washed in a dishwasher with hot temperatures and detergents. Precious and special items like personalized...
Precious and special items like personalized ceramic plates require a certain amount of meticulous care. To preserve the fine condition of a decorative plate, one must practice a few easy steps to keep the plate clean and free from harm.
Cheryl Lyons, president of LDA Creations, Inc. for the past 10 years, suggests treating your personalized ceramic plates in the same manner you would treat your valuable china and collectibles. Display, store, transport and clean them very gently.
"Well-made plates are just like any fine china that you would buy," she says. "If it has 22-carat gold, use them for decoration. Like any fine china, you should not put them in the dishwasher."
Ms. Lyons mentions that some plates are designed without the 22-carat gold. "The colors are considered relatively durable in the dishwasher, but the temperature of the water or the dishwashing detergent that you use will often influence how well the color stands up."
Because of the risks involved when one places a delicate item in the dishwasher, it is best to avoid that appliance altogether when caring for your personalized plates. "Dishwasher detergents that have lemon scents are usually more acidic and will cause premature deterioration of design," Ms. Lyons explains.
Skilled in the special gift trade, she has become familiar with many aspects of ceramic plates, their design, personalization, style, colors, care and so forth. "Manufacturers of colors are kept dancing on a hot skillet to come up with pleasing colors that are safe according to the Food and Drug Administration and which also have durability," she explains. "It's an ever-changing situation. I think the best thing for consumers to do is to be gentle in their dishwashing of any type of decorative ceramic tableware."
A chief reason why ceramic items depreciate involves cracking, chipping and breaking. These damages may occur during transport, storage, display, cleaning and improper handling.
Ms. Lyons warns that damaged personalized plates will probably lose their value. Whether chipped or otherwise, these plates may not be worth fixing unless they are of sentimental value. "Generally, repairs are not easily made, and unless you pay highly for the service, the repairs will be seen. If you have done some significant damage, you would probably be better off buying a new plate," she advises.
Tips on how to care for your personalized decorative plates:
-Treat personalized plates like fine china.
-Use plates containing 22-carat gold for decoration only.
-Preserve the plates' color and condition by washing them by hand. Never put decorative plates in the dishwasher.
-Be gentle with ceramic plates and other delicate decorative items. Wash them gently with a soft rag and a mild detergent.
-Store or display your plates on a sturdy shelf or surface with a level plane. If you decide to put them away for storage, use plain, acid-free tissue instead of newspaper, which may leave ink spots and stains.
-If you decide to move your plates from one place to another, carry them in a basket with soft fabric or padding inside, or carry plates one at a time.
-If one of your personalized plates becomes chipped or damaged, consider its value before you pay for its repair. In cases of sentimental value, repairs may be a worthwhile investment.
