12 Best Tips For Storing China For Special Occasion Use

Having people over can be a doozy, especially when you have to pull out the fine China. If you have a set of beautiful ceramics and dishware but don't know where or how to store them, this article will provide the best tips for storing china and glassware.

1. Choose which Ones to Keep and Display

Before attempting to store chinaware, you should choose your favorite sets or the highly sentimental ones. You can either display these on open shelves or to your freestanding pantry with glass windows.

If you're too scared the kids will knock them over, make sure they're stored away safely and won't be damaged by dust or scratches.

2. Separate the Daily Dishware from Fine China

Try not to store everyday dishes in the kitchen next to chinaware, especially if you have pets. Not only is it prone to an accident, but also their fur will pile up, and it'll be very noticeable on the fine china as they're both white.

For added protection, you can also apply a thin coat of wax over your best porcelain pieces before storing them away to ensure that dust won't settle quickly on their glaze or cracks that can form after several years.

3. Wrap Them Tight and Well

For storage in your home, paper is sufficient. Bubble wrap may be more critical if you plan to move it around often, though, so don't forget about that! Always use plastic or glass containers with lids; make sure they are secure (not sitting on the floor!) and place them where children can't reach them easily- like away from windowsills).

For longer-term situations such as moving house - do not omit bubble wrapping items like delicate pieces of cutlery or serving dishes because these will inevitably get banged up during transport anyway.

4. Turn Over Plates and Bowls

Forget about using plates and bowls as storage containers, but do turn them upside down to keep dust away during long periods. The best thing is these items can be used as decor when serving festive meals or special occasions!

When storing dishes, it's essential to keep in mind what will happen if they drop. The edges are typically more substantial than the center because food tends not to press against them as much when placed on their side or edge. Thus there is less risk of breakage.

Extra packing material should be used around plates and bowls accordingly. Just make sure you don't stack too many up high before closing your box; otherwise, anything could come crashing down onto one item below, causing injury (or worse)!

5. Sneak in Some Cardboard Dividers

When it comes to storing chinaware, glassware, mugs, and even some bowls, cardboard dividers can be your best friend. Just a  little extra bit of structure will prevent the stems from breaking on any type or style of stemware you have in mind.

An ideal way is by wrapping each piece before placing them inside their designated compartments. So make sure they are stored accordingly because if not, then there may not be enough space left over.

6. Secure the Box with Stuffers

Keeping your chinaware and glassware stable is a challenge. You can prevent movement by filling up spaces that are empty between dividers or wrappings, but it's always best to be safe than sorry!

Some useful ones include packing peanuts, cushion foam, packing paper, and more bubble wrap! These are just as effective when filling them with other glassware or other fragile items.

7. Don't Shy Away from Labels

If you have been organizing your belongings for a move, then it's time to get down and dirty with an inventory. Just like when moving houses or office supplies, there can be an array of items that may not immediately spring out at us from among the chaos - but we'll find them!

Adding labels is necessary to establish proper designation and storage if your boxes contain chinaware and ceramic dishes in one bin while others hold silverware and other valuable, fragile goods, 

8. Don't Stack Boxes Above Each Other

One of the common storage containers that people often use for their glassware is a box or cardboard. They thought using those containers be safe, especially if placed on the top shelf, but that could still be wrong.

Stacking these containers up high in one big pile (to save space) puts pressure onto whatever items were at their bottom. This could typically cave under all those heavyweights!

9. Consider a Display Cabinet

A glass-fronted sideboard is your best bet. Not only does it keep away dust - and clumsy passersby, but it also keeps those ceramic pieces on display with no risk of getting knocked over!

The primary benefit of using this type of furniture in homes filled with kids is its safety features. They are designed differently than other cabinet storage, making them more sturdy against impacts like kicking and throwing.

10. Don't Forget the Serving Pieces

Keep large, cumbersome items like serving pieces, platters, and dishes that cannot fit in your display cabinets at safe storage. Wrapping them with acid-free tissue paper and placing layers of bubble wrap at the bottom will provide additional protection.

In transporting serving pieces, make sure all four sides are padded well before adding a final layer on top to prevent the serving dishes and utensils from moving around while driving over bumps inroads!

11. Consider the Temperature for Storage

Constant changes in temperature can be damaging to your china and glass items. Hence store them away from extreme areas with high humidity or heat, as this will cause cracks on the surface of these valuable collectibles!

12. Dust Them Before and After Storage

Keeping your collection in good condition is essential, so it's best to dust them not just for now but also later on down the line. If an item has been sitting around without use or care, dust can accumulate, leading to damaging its surface slightly.

Chinaware with damaged surfaces can be porous or have tiny spaces where dirt could get inside if touched with any tool like a dust brush which can cause more permanent marks than before.

Though cleaning once every six months should suffice for most pieces unless otherwise noted by their manufacturer. Some may need unexpectedly heavy treatment such as glazing done by a professional.

Conclusion

Take a break from lazy pizza nights in with friends. Entertain guests for a full sit-down dinner and show off your best chinaware. This is why it’s important to store them correctly and without any fuss–so you can show off your fine china whenever the occasion calls for it! 

Follow our helpful tips to preserve your fine china so it becomes an heirloom your family can use for the next generations to come.