Judgment of the washability of ceramic tableware

The ease of cleaning of ceramic tableware directly affects the daily usage experience. Its judgment needs to be comprehensively analyzed in combination with the material characteristics, process design and actual usage scenarios. The following is an analysis from four dimensions: glaze surface treatment, vessel structure, craftsmanship details, and cleaning tests:

First, glaze treatment: The core factor determining the difficulty of cleaning

1. Glaze types and characteristics

Glossy glaze vs. matte glaze

Glossy glaze: The surface is as smooth as a mirror, making it difficult for oil stains, tea stains and other dirt to adhere. After rinsing, there is almost no residue. It is suitable for frequently used tableware (such as breakfast bowls every day).

Matte glaze: The glaze surface has a frosted texture. Although it can enhance the anti-slip property, the micro-porous structure is prone to absorbing grease. When cleaning, it needs to be done with a brush. It is suitable for low-frequency use or decorative tableware.

Glaze layer thickness

The thickness of high-quality ceramic glaze layers is usually between 0.3 and 0.5mm. If it is too thin, pinholes may appear, allowing stains to seep in. If it is too thick, cracks may occur due to uneven firing. The thickness can be judged by observing whether the reflection on the glaze surface is uniform.

2. The differences between underglaze painting and overglaze painting

Underglaze painting: The colored material is located beneath the glaze layer, and the surface is completely covered by a transparent glaze. There is no need to worry about the colored material peeling off during cleaning. It is suitable for daily storage of acidic foods (such as tomato soup).

Overglaze painting: The colored materials are directly painted on the glaze surface. Long-term contact with hard objects or alkaline cleaners may cause the colored materials to peel off. When cleaning, avoid using tools such as steel wool balls. It is recommended to hand wash and shorten the soaking time.

3. Cleaning challenges of crackle glaze

Crackle pattern: Fine cracks naturally formed on the glaze surface (such as in Ge Kiln porcelain), although it can enhance artistic value, stains are prone to seep into the pattern. When cleaning, use a soft-bristled brush dipped in neutral detergent to gently brush to avoid lateral friction that may expand the cracks.

Imitation crackle glaze: Some low-end products create crackle effects through chemical corrosion, with rough patterns that are prone to dirt accumulation. It is recommended to choose genuine crackle porcelain fired at high temperatures.

Second, the structure of the vessel: A key design that affects the cleaning efficiency

1. Ratio of opening to depth

Wide-mouthed shallow plates: such as Western dinner plates and salad bowls, the ratio of the opening diameter to depth is greater than 3:1. When cleaning, the water flow can directly rinse to the bottom, leaving less residue.

Narrow-mouthed deep cups: such as mugs and teapots, when the depth exceeds 10cm, a cup brush is needed to clean the bottom. If the diameter of the cup mouth is less than 6cm, the cleaning difficulty increases significantly.

2. Edge and handle design

Rounded and rolled edges: Tableware with arc-shaped transitions at the edges (such as Japanese-style bowls), stains are less likely to get stuck at the corners and can be removed by rinsing.

Right-angled edges/embossed edges: Tableware with right-angled or three-dimensional patterns on the edges (such as European-style bone China plates) requires cotton swabs or soft brushes to clean the gaps, which increases the time consumption by more than 50%.

Handle shape: The arc-shaped handle (such as a coffee cup) is easier to hold and clean than the right-angle handle, and it is less likely to leave water stains.

3. Bottom structure

Flat-bottomed versus recessed: Flat-bottomed tableware (such as Chinese rice bowls) should be thoroughly cleaned without any blind spots. Recessed tableware (such as some Western-style soup bowls) needs to be rinsed at an Angle. If the recessed depth exceeds 1cm, it is prone to water accumulation and bacterial growth.

Foot sole design: When washing tableware with high feet (such as high foot plates), they need to be turned over. If the diameter of the foot sole is less than 3cm, it is difficult for fingers to reach in to dry. It is recommended to use a rotary drying rack.

Third, process details: Hidden cleaning risks

Firing temperature and density

High-temperature porcelain (above 1280℃) : The porcelain body structure is dense, with a porosity of less than 0.5%, making it difficult for stains to penetrate and leaving no unpleasant odor after cleaning.

Medium-temperature porcelain (1100-1280℃) : The porosity is approximately 1%-3%. After long-term use, oil stains may seep into the porcelain body. It is necessary to regularly soak it in baking soda water to remove the odor.

Low-temperature porcelain (below 1100℃) : It has a loose texture and is prone to absorbing water. After cleaning, it should be dried immediately; otherwise, mold spots may occur.

2. Glaze surface defects

Pinholes/orange peel pattern: Minor defects produced during the firing of the glaze surface can become hiding places for stains. It needs to be observed at an Angle under strong light. If holes with a diameter exceeding 0.5mm are found, the difficulty of cleaning will double.

Glaze cracking: Fine cracks appear on the glaze surface (not crackling effect). During cleaning, stains may seep into the cracks. Stop using it immediately and contact after-sales service.

3. Connection points of accessories

Gold-inlaid/gold-painted edges: If there are gaps at the junction of the metal edge and the glaze surface, water stains may seep in during cleaning, causing metal oxidation. A cotton swab dipped in 75% alcohol should be used to wipe regularly.

Decal decoration: Non-high-temperature fired decal patterns are prone to fall off during cleaning. It is recommended to choose underglaze decal or hand-painted techniques.

Fourth, cleaning test: Verify the ease of cleaning through practice

1. Basic testing method

Oil stain test: Apply a thin layer of olive oil to the inner wall of the tableware, let it stand for 10 minutes, and then rinse it with warm water at 40℃. Observe whether tools are needed for cleaning.

Excellent: The water flow directly rinses it clean, leaving no residual oil film.

Qualified: It needs to be gently wiped with a sponge once to remove.

Unqualified: Requires repeated scrubbing or leaves oil stains.

Tea stain test: Soak the tableware in strong tea for 2 hours, then wipe it with a soft cloth. If there is no discoloration on the glaze surface and no tea stain residue, it has good stain resistance.

2. Extreme scenario testing

Dry sugar stains: Heat the caramel to 150℃ and pour it into the tableware. After cooling, observe the difficulty of cleaning. High-quality ceramics can be soaked in hot water for 5 minutes and then scraped off. Inferior ceramics may leave scorch marks.

Acidic corrosion resistance: Soak tableware in lemon juice (pH≈2) for 24 hours. If the glaze surface does not turn white or peel, it has strong acid resistance and is suitable for holding acidic foods.

3. Long-term use simulation

Clean continuously for 30 times: Record the time of each cleaning and the wear and tear of the tools. The cleaning time for high-quality ceramics fluctuates by no more than 10%, while for inferior ceramics, the cleaning difficulty may increase exponentially due to the wear of the glaze surface.

Fifth, comprehensive assessment suggestions for easy cleaning

1. Priority choice

Underglaze high-temperature porcelain: It combines aesthetics and practicality, and no special care is required during cleaning.

Wide-mouthed glossy glazed vessels: such as Western dinner plates and large-capacity soup bowls, with high cleaning efficiency.

One-piece molding design: Simple tableware without seams or reliefs, reducing cleaning dead corners.

2. Choose carefully

Matte glaze/crackle glaze tableware: Suitable for low-frequency use or display, daily cleaning requires more time.

Complex shapes: such as irregular-shaped coffee cups and multi-layered fruit plates, require the use of various tools during cleaning, making them suitable for users who pursue a sense of ceremony.

Overglaze/gilded tableware: It is recommended to use only for dry foods (such as bread, nuts) and avoid contact with oil stains.

3. Usage and maintenance tips

Pre-treatment: When the oil stains are heavy, first use kitchen paper to absorb the surface grease, and then rinse to reduce the difficulty of cleaning.

Water temperature control: It is recommended that the water temperature for cleaning ceramic tableware should not exceed 60℃ to prevent hidden cracks on the glaze surface due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Drying method: After cleaning, turn it upside down in a well-ventilated area to air dry naturally, or gently wipe the inner wall with a suede cloth to avoid water stains remaining.

By using the above methods, the ease of cleaning of ceramic tableware can be accurately judged, and the products that best suit one's own usage habits can be selected. The core principle is to give priority to the glaze surface, keep the shape simple, and take craftsmanship as the foundation, avoiding sacrificing practicality in pursuit of design sense.