Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-29
The Proper Care Of China.

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The preservation of decorated china In
good condition for any considerable Pc
Rod of time depends primarily upon ita
proper care and cleansing after use.
Barring careless nicking of tho edges and
breakage, this 10 the only way In which
the longest service may be secured and
the decorations be kept In the highest
state of perfection. Simple a. this
statement may appear, it may DO said TO
cover comprebensively the entire SUB.
iect of the durability and longevity OF
decorated china.
A housewife complains that the deco
rations, especially the gold, have quickly
worn off her china. In purchasing, she
selected a good china of standard repu'
tation, and felt she had right to expect
the decorations to wear we'll. She is
unable to account for the unsatisfactory
condition which has 80 early manifested
itself, aud makes protest to her deal.
or. 1t Is a familiar subject to him, for
he knows that the cause undoubtedly
lies in the faulty manner In which the
china has been washed.
Hot water, or water containing alkali,
all soaps, washing powders, soda, or any
cleansing PREPARATIONS, are apt to ruin
decorations and remove every vestige OF
gold. Decorations, except the under
glaze one, are placed upon the china al
ter the article itself has been fully COM
pleted in its process Of manufacture.
Particularly the gliding on fine china Is
practically on the surface. The most
skillful methods known to experts In
the china industry are employed in the
endeavor to make decorations lasting
and permanent, but we're the decorations
to be subjected to the same degree OF
heat as the china, they would entirely
disappear in the firing kiln. Gold dec
ora tions must be fred at q still lower
temperature, since gold melts at lesser
degree of heat than colOr-ingredients.
So that decorations upon china may be
regarded simply as a plating, but neces'
sarily far less durable than the china
itself. The ingredients used In it's com
position, and the processes OF firing in
intense heat, make the china extremely
hard, while the decorations are OF soft
or character. Therefore the decorations
alone are susceptible to injury from ex-
terror applications.
For these technical reasons, 1t Is i'm
perative that china be washed with the
greatest care, If its beauty is to be pre-
served. Hot water should never be
used, while yellow soap, liquids, or pow
ders are all injurious, to both gold and
colored decorations. The effects may
not be apparent at first, but gradually
the results from rough usage begin to
show, and the. housewife 10 unable to
understand why her china is losing its
perfection of artistic finish.
Properly, lukewarm water with the
purest of soaps, when soap is essential,
are all that ever should be used in cleans
ing china. Only few pieces at time
should be placed in the pan, they must
be washed quickly, rinsed in clear water,
and dried without delay. If warm
towel be used, the drying will be
more perfectly accomplished. China
should not be allowed to drip dry af-
ter washing. but should be carefully
wiped dry and put away. Standing the
pieces up and allowing them to dry is
apt to remove gold decorations entirely.
China should be washed Immediately
after using. 1t should not be left stand.
ing soiled, and, more especially, pieces
that have been used for serving liquids,
salads, gravies, sailed dishes, or any
food that leaves the china wet or damp.
1t is even worse to allow the dishes to
stand in water. Water-soakipg, or al
lowing the decorations to remain wet for
any length of time. tends to soften the
ingredients composing the decorations
particularly gold-and the rubbing of
The towel, when drying under such con-
dit 'ons, will imperceptibly remove the
decorations and gliding.
There is danger in using hot water
even for undecOrsted china, as a very hot
teacup will easily break into pieces in
the hands of the one who Is drying it..
The heat apparently makes the delicate
china susceptible to the least pressure.
Washing china carefully will proloug
its durability and beauty for many years,
but no matter how expensive, it may not
reasonably be expected to retain its
beauty if this care is not given 1t.