Your newest creation is ready and is sitting proudly in your kitchen cabinet. You can’t wait to drink a cup of coffee from it, or serve a delicious cake on it… But once you’ve done that, you’re faced with a choice. Wouldn’t it be better to wash that beautiful cup or plate by hand? Or do you just put it in the dishwasher?
What kind of piece is it?
In most cases, you can put your ceramics in the dishwasher without worry. Especially if it’s a piece in porcelain or stoneware, because these are fired at high temperatures. That means these pieces are harder and less absorbent than clays that you bake at low temperatures, such as earthenware. So if you have an earthenware creation that you want to wash, you’d better be a little more careful.
In addition, you should also consider the shape of your piece. Does it have very thin walls or very delicate decorations? These could well break off during a cycle in the dishwasher. It’s a risk you might prefer to avoid.
And what kind of glaze?
Most modern glazes resist the dishwasher well. Only if something went wrong in the application or firing of the glaze can you expect problems.
Are you a little nervous and want to be extra careful? Then you can lower the temperature or choose a shorter cycle. It’s also not a bad idea to choose a mild detergent, as some overly strong detergents can cause the colours of your workpiece to fade over time.
Did you use underglaze for your piece? If so, it is best to avoid the dishwasher, unless you have applied a layer of transparent glaze over the underglaze to protect it. Have you used an overlay glaze such as a luster glaze?
In that case, the dishwasher is not your best friend, because the shine of a pearl luster, for example, will quickly become dull after a few rounds in the dishwasher.
Ceramics that have not been glazed are generally a lot more fragile, as they absorb water more easily. So it is not advisable to put a piece like that in the dishwasher. It is better to clean it with a sponge and some detergent, and rinse with clean water.
But if a stoneware clay or porcelain has been fired to its sintering point, that is, as close as possible to the maximum temperature of the clay, it is completely watertight and therefore should not cause any problems.
