The fine china dishes are beautiful. They are richly designed, easy to play, and add atmosphere and sophistication to every meal, both formal and informal. What prevents people from using porcelain dishes more often is the hassle of cleaning them afterward. Simply put, it is a huge neck pain. Once upon a time, bone china dishes could only be washed by hand, which takes time and leads to breakage, but people agreed with that. But in our busy and busy lifestyle, who has time to spend an hour doing the dishes every night? And so the porcelain remains in the cabinet, brought out only for important events where nothing less will do.

The good news is that porcelain manufacturers have begun to recognize how much the after-use cleaning issue has affected their business and have begun to manufacture many more dishwasher-safe porcelain patterns. Therefore, it is highly likely that your pattern can be used safely in the dishwasher. . The question is how to determine if your pattern is safe or not.

There are three simple things you should do first to help you determine that your porcelain is dishwasher safe:

• Check the stamp on the back (or the original box and papers).
• Check the company’s website or give them a call.
• Check replacement company sites for discontinued patterns.

Check the backstamp:

Turn over a piece of your china set, preferably the dinner plate (which usually contains the most information). Many patterns, especially the newer ones, will say “Dishwasher Safe”. Voila, now you know! If not, don’t be discouraged, it may still be dishwasher safe. Proceed to the next step.

Contact the manufacturer.

Start by visiting the company’s website. If the pattern is still active, there will be a lot of information about ii, including the status of the dishwasher. If it is a discontinued pattern, there is still a chance that some information is available.

If your Internet search gets you nowhere, call the company. Most of the time, they will be able to help you with active patterns. However, discontinued porcelain will be more difficult. For help with these patterns, see the next step.

Check the replacement sites:

Some plate replacement sites have information on all of the antique porcelain patterns they carry, even if they are dishwasher safe or not. The information there is often well researched and can be trusted.

What to do next:

If all of the above fail, we enter the guessing game. There are certain rules of thumb about what will and will not go through the dishwasher, but remember they are not always applicable, so be careful here.

Patterns with metallic ornaments, gold or platinum, tend to be the worst in the dishwasher. They can be completely removed after a few cycles. Highly decorated patterns should also be avoided in the dishwasher, as the design can be easily erased. The general rule of thumb is that the less design the pattern is, the more likely it is to come out of the dishwasher safely.

It is important to remember that the way you use the dishwasher is essential. Stack them carefully so they don’t chip or break. Use a mild detergent and avoid lemon-scented products, the acid of which will eat up your dishes. Lastly, allow the load to cool down to room temperature before removing it, as it is most vulnerable when hot.

Experts agree that in all circumstances, porcelain will last longer and look better when hand washed, even patterns certified as dishwasher safe by the manufacturer. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying your beautiful porcelain on a regular basis. If using the dishwasher means using your fine china more often, go for it. Your china may not last that long, but the memories you create at family meals will last forever.