Style & Living April 09, 2026

How to Care for Your Hand-Painted Plates (So You Can Actually Use Them)

There is zero point in owning beautiful things if they just sit in a cupboard collecting dust. Yes, those hand-painted plates are stunning, but they are absolutely made to be used. Here is the ultimate, non-fussy guide to looking after your ceramics without treating them like museum pieces.

By Lara Silva

The Dishwasher Debate

Let’s tackle the elephant in the kitchen immediately: the dishwasher. We all love the convenience, but when it comes to hand painted plates, the machine is usually public enemy number one. The intense heat, combined with harsh, abrasive detergents, can dull those vibrant colours and chip away at delicate glazes over time. But hand washing doesn't have to be a chore. Treat it as a quick, mindful moment.

A soft sponge, some gentle, eco-friendly dish soap, and warm (not scalding) water are all you need. Avoid anything with a scouring pad, as this is the quickest way to ruin a beautiful pattern. If you’ve hosted a dinner party and the thought of washing up makes you want to cry, simply leave them to soak in soapy water overnight. The next morning, any residue will wipe away effortlessly, keeping your favorite pieces completely intact and ready for the next meal.

Dealing With Stains and Spills

You are going to use these plates, which means they are going to encounter messy food—turmeric, beetroot, and rich tomato sauces are notorious for leaving their mark. If your hand painted plates have a light-coloured or crackle glaze, they can occasionally hold onto these stains if left sitting for too long.

The best advice is to scrape and rinse them as soon as the meal is over, even if you aren't going to fully wash them right away. If a stubborn stain does appear, skip the harsh bleach. Instead, make a quick paste out of baking soda and a little water, rub it gently onto the mark with your fingers or a soft cloth, and let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing. It’s a completely natural, gentle abrasive that lifts the colour without eating into the glaze, keeping your ceramics looking as fresh as the day you unboxed them.

Navigating Temperature Shocks

One of the quickest ways to damage beautiful ceramics is through thermal shock. This sounds highly technical, but it really just means moving your hand painted plates from extreme cold to extreme heat too quickly. If you’ve had a plate chilling in the fridge with leftovers, do not shove it straight into a hot microwave or oven.

The rapid change in temperature can cause the glaze to craze (those tiny, spiderweb cracks) or, worse, the plate to literally snap in half. Instead, let the plate come to room temperature first. This is just good practice for any high-quality tableware. By being mindful of these sudden temperature shifts, you ensure the structural integrity of the piece remains solid. It’s a tiny habit change that vastly extends the lifespan of your best dishes, allowing you to use them for daily lunches and hot dinners without a second thought.

Smart Stacking Strategy

How you store your plates is just as important as how you wash them. When you stack heavily glazed or specificall

decorative plates, the rough, unglazed bottom ring (the foot) of one plate can easily scratch the painted surface of the one below it. If you’re pulling plates in and out of a stack every day, those micro-scratches quickly add up, dulling the design. The cool-girl fix for this is unbelievably simple: slip something between them.

You don't need fancy, purpose-bought felt dividers; a simple paper napkin, a spare piece of linen, or even a basic coffee filter works perfectly to create a soft barrier. It takes an extra two seconds when you’re putting things away, but it completely eliminates the risk of scratching. It’s a low-effort storage hack that keeps your collection looking completely pristine, even if you are incredibly clumsy.

What You Should Know

Can hand-painted plates go in the dishwasher?

While modern convenience is tempting, the dishwasher is generally not recommended for hand-painted ceramics. The combination of intense heat and harsh detergents can dull vibrant pigments and erode delicate glazes over time. For the best results, use a soft sponge and gentle, eco-friendly dish soap in warm water. If you're dealing with stubborn food, a quick overnight soak in soapy water will make cleaning effortless the next morning.

How do I prevent my decorative plates from cracking or "crazing"?

To protect the structural integrity of your plates, avoid thermal shock. This occurs when a ceramic piece moves too quickly between temperature extremes—such as taking a plate from the fridge and placing it directly into a hot microwave or oven. This sudden shift can cause the glaze to develop tiny "spiderweb" cracks, known as crazing. Always allow your everyday dinnerware to reach room temperature before applying heat.

What is the best way to stack and store glazed ceramics to avoid scratches?

The unglazed "foot" at the bottom of a plate can act like sandpaper against the painted surface of the dish below it. To keep your ceramic bowls and plates pristine, place a soft barrier between each item in the stack. You don't need professional dividers; a simple paper napkin, coffee filter, or scrap of linen works perfectly to prevent micro-scratches and keep the artwork looking fresh.

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How to Care for Your Hand-Painted Plates (So You Can Actually Use Them)

The Dishwasher Debate

Dealing With Stains and Spills

Navigating Temperature Shocks

Smart Stacking Strategy

What You Should Know

Shop the look

More from the Magazine

Transitional Decor for September: Our Editor's Picks

Time For A Little Je Ne Sais Quoi

The Best European Galleries You Must Visit

A Flâneur's Guide to Florence