How do I clean Petr Novak's stoneware?

[fire_snake]

Hi everyone . . .

It occurred to me to ask Petr directly, but I think I'd get a quicker response here.

How would one clean Petr's glazed stoneware? I have a wonderful cup he made, with a thick white glaze on it. I've already used it several times.

I clean most of my teaware with hot water, often letting the item soak, and then wiping it down until dry. I don't like using cleaners and detergents on them, not even on porcelain. I find that hot water usually does the trick, though I sometimes wonder about bacteria, etc. My Zhuni pots get nothing more than a hot water rinse and that's it.

However, I'm working my way through a cold today and I'd like to avoid re-introduction of my germs from this glazed stoneware cup. Is hot water good enough? Mild dish soap? I don't want to ruin the surface nor introduce some sort of soapy residue that it will absorb and mess with the tea.

Thanks a bunch,

Christian

[Chip]

I would think hot hot water would mostly do the trick. I would also expect to see some changes over time with his pieces ... well depending on the glaze of your particular piece.

I would generally avoid any soaps, bleach, vinegar, etc due to possible imparting of taste and smell.

[gingkoseto]

Hot water is fine. If you are not assured, leave it dry and unused for a week. Few viruses can live in dry environment for more than a few hours, definitely not your flu viruses

[fire_snake]

Thanks, guys.


Christian

[Mao-lo]

Hot water is fine. If you are not assured, leave it dry and unused for a week. Few viruses can live in dry environment for more than a few hours, definitely not your flu viruses

agreed

[Stentor]

Since it is glazed, I don't think a responsible (tiny) dose of a mild dish liquid would do any harm. Just try not soak unglazed parts in it.
Also, to my knowledge, it's the hot water that kills the germs, not the cleaning agent. So if it's killing germs you're after, use water that is 70-100° C hot. If you want to remove stains or any form of visible residue, a small drop of dish liquid and lots of water should do the trick.
It would be nice to hear an official answer by Petr or the other artisans. Maybe the question should be raised in "Ask the Artisan"?

[entropyembrace]

My usual cleaning routine with my glazed stoneware cups and pot from Petr is to wash them under hot water from the tap with my fingers. You can also pour boiling water on them and let them soak a bit if you want to kill the germs on them. And a bit of dish detergent doesn´t hurt any...it just takes a bit of rinsing to get rid of the residue.

[Ambrose]

I do hot water from the kettle after I discard the leaves. Once in a while I will do hot tap. Mild soap is ok if you really need to but for the most part I avoid it.

[fire_snake]

I might as well ask this question here:

I usually don't clean my porcelain teaware with anything more than hot water. Does porcelain require anything more from time to time? Perhaps a little Sunlight dish soap, for example?

Sometimes I let leftover tea sit in the my porcelain gaiwan and cups for not much more than a few hours before I get to cleaning them, usually letting them sit for a few minutes with hot water before giving them a good wipe. I'm wondering whether anything further is required. I assume that porcelain, being very neutral and different from ceramics or stoneware, won't react negatively to some mild dish soap.

Any opinions on this?

(I'm a bit OCD when it comes to germs and bacteria.)

Thanks.

Christian

[debunix]

I use a bit of mild or dilute soap from time to time especially on the lip of my teacups, even the hagi-ware. Then a very good rinse after each time. So far, no ill effects on the tea.

[Petr Novák]

Hi everyone,

I just find the tread here and I can give some answers. Generally it is not necessary to use detergents to clean teaware from "tea patina". Hot water and then more or less swab down should be enough. Its enough for germs and bacteria as well as for light left over sediments. Detergents usually work like solvents of fat-oil sediments and do not work on minerals from tea-water sediments. If your water is higher in calcium you might need to use citric acid. With hot water it can help to get those detritus down.

On other hand using mild soap can be good if you need to clean your cup from some unwonted aromas or grease -from hands, lips and so on. But some pots can be too fragile for this.

Enjoy your day
Petr