Care Guide
Storing your Royal Doulton tableware
To avoid scratching, when plates are stacked together they should not be slid out from a stack - always lift them out carefully.
Washing by hand
We suggest that, as a matter of hygiene, you always wash any new purchases of tableware before first use, in a mild solution of liquid detergent.
Washing-up is one of the occasions when tableware can be damaged if it is not properly handled during both washing and draining. Even in water, the glazed sufaces can become scratched if rubbed against each other with any force. So avoid putting too many plates into the water at any one time.
Normal dishwashing products used in hand-hot water will not harm your tableware. Tea and coffee stains can be removed with any tea/coffee stain remover. Bar Keeper’s Friend or tooth powder will remove ‘pencil marks’ which can be caused by minute deposits of metal from certain types of cutlery. Abrasives and harsh scourers should not be used on your Royal Doulton tableware.
Washing Royal Doulton tableware in a dishwasher
Follow these simple guidelines, and you can be totally confident that your Royal Doulton tableware can be washed in an automatic dishwasher with no adverse effects to its appearance and durability.
- Load the washer so that pieces do not touch each other, to avoid the risk of scratching, and do not overload.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions on quantity of detergent to be used.
- As soon as the wash water has drained away, there should be an immediate rinse cycle to flush away deposits of detergent that will form a film if allowed to dry on the tableware.
The Royal Doulton laboratory carries out an extensive testing programme on currently available dishwasher detergents to ensure that the detergents endorsed by Royal Doulton meet the highest possible standards in caring for your tableware. View our Dishwasher Guide.
Hard water
In hard water areas, deposits may form on your tableware in time if the water is allowed to dry on the ware. These soluble deposits can easily be removed with a dilute acid such as vinegar.
Microwave ovens
Most Royal Doulton tableware has gold, silver or platinum edge decoration that would be damaged by microwaves. If there is no precious metal decoration, your Royal Doulton tableware can be used in a microwave oven.
Freezers
Royal Doulton tableware can safely be used in freezers. Care should, however, be taken when re-heating frozen food. No matter how strong the tableware, sudden changes of temperature (e.g. taking from the freezer and placing directly into a hot oven) are likely to cause thermal-shock that will damage the ware.
Warming your Royal Doulton tableware
It is perfectly safe to warm your tableware gradually and evenly to 100°c. However, it should never be exposed to direct heat from a naked flame or to rapid changes of temperature.
