Handmade Pottery Care Guide
Handmade pottery is made to be used. With a little attention to cleaning, heat, storage, and everyday handling, ceramic pieces can remain part of your daily routines for years.
Because handmade ceramics vary in clay body, glaze, firing, and construction, care recommendations are not identical for every piece. This guide covers the best ways to care for handmade pottery and explains what to consider before putting ceramics in the dishwasher, microwave, or other high-heat environments.
Altar Ceramics pieces are handmade and kiln-fired in Nevada City, California.
How to Care for Handmade Pottery
For everyday use, the most important thing is to avoid unnecessary stress on the ceramic.
A few simple habits go a long way:
- Wash pieces soon after use rather than allowing food or drinks to sit for long periods.
- Avoid abrasive scrubbers that can scratch glazed surfaces.
- Do not expose pottery to sudden, extreme temperature changes.
- Stack and store pieces carefully so rims and handles do not strike one another.
- Follow any care instructions provided for a particular Altar piece.
Handmade pottery naturally carries small variations in surface, glaze, form, and finish. Those differences are part of the making process and should not be confused with damage.
Is Handmade Pottery Dishwasher Safe?
My handmade pottery is dishwasher safe. However, I recommend handwashing to increase longevity.
Even when a ceramic piece can be washed in a dishwasher, handwashing is often the gentler option. Repeated contact with other dishes, aggressive detergents, and the movement of a dishwasher cycle can create more wear than careful handwashing.
If using a dishwasher, give handmade pieces enough space that rims, handles, and neighboring dishes cannot knock together during the cycle.
Is Handmade Pottery Microwave Safe?
Microwave safety also depends on how a piece was made and finished.
Altar Ceramics pottery is microwave safe. However, be aware that handmade pottery typically becomes hotter than machine manufactured pieces. Take care when removing it from the microwave. If you like your drinks very hot, I recommend using a coffee cup sleeve.
How to Clean Handmade Pottery
For routine cleaning, use warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge or cloth.
Avoid steel wool, harsh scouring pads, or aggressive abrasive cleaners unless the maker specifically recommends them. These can dull or scratch some glazed surfaces even when the ceramic itself is structurally sound.
Coffee and Tea Stains
Dark beverages can sometimes leave marks over time, particularly on lighter interiors.
Gently scrubbing with a little baking soda can often remove or lighten coffee and tea stains.
Start with the gentlest cleaning method available rather than immediately using abrasive products.
Dried Food
Soaking a piece briefly in warm soapy water is generally preferable to forceful scraping.
Avoid sudden changes from very cold to very hot water while cleaning.
Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes
Ceramics are strong, but rapid temperature changes can place stress on the material.
Avoid situations such as:
- moving a very cold ceramic piece directly into intense heat;
- pouring boiling liquid into a piece that is extremely cold;
- placing hot pottery onto a very cold or wet surface;
- transferring ceramics directly between temperature extremes.
This is commonly referred to as thermal shock.
Gradual temperature changes are kinder to handmade pottery than abrupt ones.
Chips, Cracks & Handmade Variation
Handmade pottery does not look exactly like factory-produced ceramics.
Small differences in glaze, surface, color, form, and dimensions are expected from piece to piece. These variations reflect the handmade process rather than flaws.
Actual damage is different.
If a functional piece develops a significant crack, sharp chip, or other damage that could affect safe use, retire it from food or drink service rather than continuing to use it normally.
For commercial settings such as cafés and restaurants, inspect frequently handled pieces regularly and remove damaged ware from service.
Storing Handmade Ceramics
Store handmade ceramics where they will not be crowded or knocked against harder objects.
When stacking plates, bowls, or similar pieces:
- lower them into place rather than sliding them against one another;
- avoid putting excessive weight on delicate pieces;
- give handles and rims enough clearance;
- use protective separators if a particular surface is prone to marking.
Mugs and handled pieces are often safer stored with enough room that their handles do not bear weight from neighboring ceramics.
Food Safety
Functional pottery intended for food and drink should be made with appropriate materials and finishes for that use.
All Altar Ceramics pottery is made with non-toxic surfaces and is food safe.
Oven & Direct Heat
It is not recommended to put pottery from Altar Ceramics in contact with intense, direct heat.
Pottery for such uses requires specific formulations. I recommend avoiding:
- conventional ovens;
- stovetops;
- open flames;
- broilers;
- direct heating elements.
Handmade Ceramics for Everyday Use
Altar Ceramics creates functional handmade pottery intended to become part of everyday life rather than sit untouched on a shelf.
Each piece is made by hand and kiln-fired in Nevada City, California, with the natural variations that come from an individual making process.
Handmade Pottery for Shops, Cafés & Interiors
Altar Ceramics is also currently welcoming new wholesale partners.
The full collection is available for wholesale ordering for independent shops, and I also welcome new partnerships with cafés and interior projects.
Wholesale orders begin at 12 pieces, typical lead time is 2–4 weeks.
Custom designs and logo work may also be available for larger orders or long-term repeat wholesale relationships.
Questions About Caring for Your Altar Ceramics?
If you are unsure how to care for a particular piece, contact me with the product name and your question.
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