Care and everyday use
Most bone china is made to be used. What it will tolerate depends less on the body than on its decoration — and on the maker’s instructions.
A properly made bone china body is vitrified, glazed and non-porous, and it is used daily in hotels and homes. The limits mostly come from decoration — and they vary from maker to maker, so the label on the piece always wins.
Dishwashers
Makers’ guidance differs. Royal Crown Derby says all its dinnerware is dishwasher safe, but recommends hand washing anything with gold or platinum. Halcyon Days says pieces decorated with precious metals should always be hand washed. Royal Albert advises that its pieces should not go in a dishwasher at all. Where machine washing is allowed, makers commonly suggest a gentle cycle, moderate temperatures and non-abrasive detergents, and careful loading so pieces cannot knock together.
Microwaves
Every maker we checked agrees on one point: pieces with gold, platinum or other metallic decoration must not go in a microwave. Several makers say their undecorated bone china is microwave safe; others do not use it for cooking at all. Check the specific product.
Heat and temperature
Avoid sudden extremes, such as pouring boiling water into a cup straight from the fridge, or putting a hot plate onto a cold, wet surface. Plates can be warmed gently; makers give their own limits for ovens and warmers, and some advise against cooking in bone china.
Stains and cleaning
The glazed surface is non-porous, so tea and coffee marks generally sit on the glaze rather than in the body. Avoid scouring pads and abrasive cleaners, which can dull glaze and decoration. Some makers suggest soaking stubborn marks; follow the maker’s advice for the specific pattern.
Storage
- Stack plates with care, with a cloth or paper between gilded pieces.
- Do not hang cups by their handles in long stacks.
- Treat rims gently — most damage to fine tableware happens at the edge.