May-hem!

So those of you who have been to the shop lately might have noticed a BIG change in the landscape.  The building next door that had the ice damage to it's facade was torn down.  Hooray!  The bit of the sidewalk between the building has been blocked off until they get the surface of the ground finished.  But we at Harry & Annies have remained open for business and have had NO damage.  We look forward to the work being finished, but have plenty of parking and easy access!

 As the last bits of weird winter and spring are fading away, many people change out their wardrobes, and their decorations.  Some people even change out their dinnerware!  Seems a perfect time to talk about the proper storing our fine china!

First of all, china LOVES to be used and adored!  The vintage china prices at Harry & Annies are so reasonable, you could have a set for each season!   Imagine setting the table with a beautiful china set that has seen many previous meals cooked and enjoyed with love- what a great tradition to start your dinner off with! 

Many of us have our good china stored in a hutch, and our everyday dinnerware stacked.  It makes sense.  But many of us ALSO have special china stashed away elsewhere for holidays or uber special events.  The first and most important thing is to make sure it is clean and absolutely dry before packing away.

It is extremely important not to store your china in areas like attics or garages where there are extreme temperature changes, because that can cause crazing and breakage.  Basements in a protected spot off the ground are a better option.  Back of a guestroom closet.  Bottom of a linen closet.   Even in special boxes under a guest bed are all possibilities with more moderate temperatures.

Vintage china, needs a little protection when storing.   Place something soft between plates when stacking. I like paper plates, paper towels or coffee filters. This protects you from scratching the surfaces, and lessens the chance of chips. Cups do well if you can hang them, don't stack more than three high. Depending on the shape of the bowls a four high rule may be best.
Try not to use plastic when storing your china it can get hot and stick, pulling up the finish, or metallic paint trim. If storing in container, or tote, an addition of acid free tissue paper is a good idea to prevent any moisture or archival issues from cropping up.  Best of all- pull it out, enjoy it, and use it regularly so it won't feel lonely and forgotten!

April Showers!

Here at Harry & Annies, April turns our hearts towards Spring, Easter, Easter Dinners....  Easter dinners make us think of vintage china!  Of course we love it here!  Even mismatched, lid missing pieces!  We like finding new ways to use orphan pieces of china!

But even more- we like RESCUING vintage pieces, so that it may be loved and admired once again!  This month, Kari is back with more tips on cleaning your antique china.

The first culprit of stained china is crazing.   Crazing is the fine lines or "cracks" that are on the top finish of your porcelain or china. It is damage to the finish. To avoid damage, care for it as discussed in our previous post.

If you see a stained piece that you fall in love with- don't hesitate to buy it.  There are a few tricks to restore it, that usually work most of the time! Each stain/china combo is different, but you may end up with a great deal by being willing to expend a little elbow grease!

The easiest way is to try a warm soak in stuff found right in your pantry.   A mix of equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt is fairly gentle.  Place your dish in it and soak, check every hour or so- make sure the shiny glazed surface of the piece is not being etched away.  I prefer to warm my container of vinegar slightly by setting the whole container in a pan of warm water.  If you have a stubborn spot, a little salt and water rubbed gently in small circles over the spot might dislodge surface crud.  Be sure not to use baking soda or you'll have a mess to deal with!

To kick it up a bit, this next tip is a bit more powerful.
Though fairly easy, please take proper safety precautions such as gloves and good ventilation.
Wear good quality rubber gloves if you try this method, as it is a bit caustic and can possibly burn your skin.
You will need Peroxide- and not the first aid peroxide you buy at the pharmacy. You need the beauty supply type- it is stronger.   In a plastic bowl (and plastic utensils) mix 1/3 water and 2/3 peroxide. Dip a q-tip or fine paintbrush with the mixture. Gently paint the spots that need cleaned, this will help to bleach the stain out. This can be a lengthy process and you'll probably need to repeat it several times to remove large stains.

Between these two methods you should be able to remove most stains!  Next month we'll chat about proper storing of  your treasures!

March Madness

So it's Ohio, and we're still socked into this cold yuckiness.  A perfect time to be indoors and admiring our pretties with a lovely cup of hot tea!  You just picked up a vintage set of china at Harry & Annies and now you want to know how to care for it you say?  Yay you!  What a great way to give instant warm and loving ambiance to any occasion!  Lets explore how to keep those treasures in great shape!

One of our vendors, Kari, used to work in the china department at Marshall Fields and this is how the china companies advised her on how to care for their patterns new and old.  Please keep in mind, each piece of antique china is unique, and may be more fragile than it looks.  Use your own best judgement as to whether or not these are the right steps for yours.  

1.  Don't use the dishwasher on anything made before 1960. The water is too hot, and detergent too strong.
2.  Use a gentle detergent. Dawn or Ivory are your best bet.
3.  Don't use boiling hot water. Warm is best. Too hot of water can lift gold or silver bands when touched.
4.  Avoid cleaners with bleach.
5.  Avoid lemon detergents too as they contain acid.
6.  Do you have a piece that needs a bit of scrubbing? Try a paste of baking soda- it won't harm the finish!

*Antique china should never be used in the microwave!

Stay tuned on our next post- we'll tell you how to take care of dark crazed spots on your china!