Chances are you don't use fine china on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis if you have a set of it.More often than not, china dishes are used for special occasions once or twice a year.It is up to you to display or pack away your fancy dishes when they are not being used.Keep your china in tip-top shape by following some general guidelines.
Step 1: If you want to show off your china collection during the year, store it in a glass display cabinet.
display cabinets with glass fronts keep china safe from accidents and let you showcase your favorite piecesKeep pieces from touching one another by arranging your best china inside the cabinet in a visually appealing way.Cup and stemware should be placed on the top shelves of the cabinet.Put larger items like plates, bowls, and pitchers on the lower shelves and arrange some teacups or other interesting pieces in front of them to make the display look nice.If you have an extensive china set, you should put the pieces that you use the most or the best in the display cabinet, then pack the rest away in storage containers to use on special occasions when you need more dishes.
Step 2: Plates can be placed in a plate rack if you store them on a shelf.
Store displayed plates vertically to save space.Plates are less likely to get damaged if they are stored vertically and the edges are the strongest parts.Plates should not be bumped into one another if you keep the rack separate.
Step 3: To prevent damage, display bowls, cups, and mugs rim side up.
Place these dishes right side up and avoid stacking them.The most fragile parts of your china pieces are protected by this.Hang china cups from the handle.The handles are delicate and prone to break if you store them this way.
Step 4: There is a piece of tissue paper or foam between the pieces.
If you want to use a square of foam, fold up a piece of acid-free tissue paper.It's a good idea to put a piece between each piece of china to prevent it from cracking.A napkin, paper towel, or a paper plate can be used in a pinch.Soft dishes are better than nothing.Don't use newspapers because they make a mess on your china.
Step 5: Dust off your collection every few months.
Dust off your china pieces with a soft brush, like a sable paint brush.Dust can get embedded in unglazed surfaces and cracks and keep your pieces looking beautiful.If the brush you use has metal on it, be careful not to scratch the china.Allow the bristles of the brush to touch your dishes.
Step 6: Pack un-displayed pieces into containers.
If you want to avoid over packing China, opt for small containers.sealable plastic containers can be used to provide long- lasting protection.cardboard boxes can be used to store china.They are prone to water damage.
Step 7: Wrap each piece of china individually.
If you are going to move your china, you should use bubble wrap instead of wrapping material.Wrap each plate, bowl, cup, saucer, lid, and any other pieces of china you have in its own piece of butcher's paper or bubble wrap.Don't use newspapers because the ink rubs off on dishes, meaning more unnecessary washing for you to do whenever you want to use the china.
Step 8: Plates and bowls should be turned sideways to prevent stacking.
Plates are slid into the bins.Pack some extra butcher's paper or bubble wrap around the bowls to keep them upright in the bins.If the bin gets accidentally dropped, stacking items puts a lot of weight on them and makes them more prone to damage.If they are stacked, weakened or damaged items are more likely to break.
Step 9: Keep delicate items separate by placing cardboard dividers between them.
To fit around things like stemware, tea cups, and mugs inside the storage bins, fold and bend pieces of cardboard into squares or circles.The cardboard dividers should be placed between the delicate pieces to prevent them from bumping into one another.You can buy grid-shaped cardboard dividers from packing material supply shops.If you choose to use premade dividers, make sure they are big enough to fit your wrapped china.
Step 10: Keep track of what's inside with labels on containers.
List the types of dishes inside the bin and how many of them there are.The lists should be taped to the bins.You should know where everything is when you dig out certain dishes once or twice a year.
Step 11: You can store your china in a climate-controlled space.
Keep the bins where you have control over the temperature.It's a good idea to keep china out of extreme heat and cold.Stacking the plastic bins will cause your boxes of china to be too heavy.