Pottery and ceramic studios are popping up across the country, and many people thoroughly enjoy the process of designing and making their own handmade items and then taking them home. Creating your own pottery is a great way to channel creativity, and you can use the pottery that you made. Whether you created a mug, a bowl, or a serving dish, you are sure to find many uses for it. However, if you put a lot of time and effort into creating a piece of pottery, having it fired, and then glazing it, you are sure to want it to last for as long as possible. Use the following tips to help you care for your handmade pottery creation:
Wash With Care
If a piece of pottery is fired at a very high temperature, it should be safe to clean it in the dishwasher. However, it is best to place it on the top rack. It is important to carefully place your piece in the dishwasher, and make sure that it is not touching any other dishes--doing this helps reduce the risk of your work getting chipped during the wash cycle. If you opt to wash your piece of pottery by hand, make sure to use a soft cloth and warm soapy water, avoid using any type of scrubbing pad that could damage the glaze on the surface of the piece.
Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
Clay that has been fired is usually quite durable, but it does not always do well with sudden temperature changes. When using your pottery, it is important to pay attention to the temperature of food or beverages that you're putting inside it. For example, if you are using a cold mug, do not directly pour scalding hot coffee into it--you should warm up the mug by running it under warm water first. If you want to bake something, avoid preheating the oven; you are much better off placing the pottery in a cool oven and then turning it on.
Store Properly
Make sure that you keep your artwork in a safe area inside a cabinet. When taking out your pottery, handle with care to help ensure that it does not get chipped. If your pottery is stored properly and you always handle it with care, you can count on being able to use it for many years to come.
To learn more, contact your local ceramics studio today.