Caring for your piece.

Every Qi Pottery piece is handmade or hand-finished. The more you use it, the more it becomes yours. A bit of care keeps it in good shape for a long time.

The clay is mostly natural, fired between 900 and 1,300°C. Once the shape is set, we may add a glaze. Firing turns that glaze glassy and waterproof.

We can’t guarantee how long a piece will last, but treated well it can stay with you for years, even generations. The notes below are what we’d suggest.

Wash by hand with a soft sponge or cloth and a mild detergent, and be gentle. Some pieces are dishwasher safe, but hand washing lasts longer. Let them air dry fully before you put them away.

Check the product page first. Some pieces take the microwave or oven and some don’t, and the precautions differ. Whatever you do, avoid sudden temperature swings: going straight from freezer to oven can thermal-shock the clay and crack it. Rest very hot pieces on wood or cloth rather than a bare surface.

Now and then a piece picks up a stain, a smell, or a little mould that normal washing won’t shift. When that happens, simmer it slowly in water: bring it to the boil, then keep it low. If it needs more, add a little lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda to the water. For tea or coffee stains, put a teaspoon of salt on a wet sponge and rub gently. Air dry well before storing, and a spell in the sun helps too.