9 Bad Habits That Break Clay Products: Are You Making These Mistakes?

We often think—“Buying clay items is just throwing money away, they crack in 2 days!” But honestly, do we treat clay items the way they deserve? Often, due to small mistakes we’re unaware of, our favorite pots or plates get ruined. Specifically, some common habits can be “poison” for clay.

Let’s find out 9 bad habits you should stop today.

1. Using harsh dishwashing bars or powders

The surface of clay has many tiny pores. When you scrub it with harsh soap, the chemicals from that soap seep into the pores. Later, during cooking, those chemicals mix with your food and weaken the clay’s structure.

2. Cold water immediately after taking it off the stove

After finishing cooking, we often take the pot off the stove and immediately put it under the tap to clean it quickly. This is fatal for clay. Clay cannot handle this sudden, massive change in temperature and cracks instantly.

3. Storing it in the cabinet while wet

If you put your clay items into the cabinet without letting them dry properly in the air or sun for at least a few hours after washing, mold or white fungus may grow on them.

4. Not oiling or conditioning

One of the biggest mistakes is not oiling and conditioning a new clay pot or pan before cooking, as per the Usage Instructions.

5. Starting directly on high flame

Clay pots love to heat up gradually. If you start on high flame right away, the bottom will get too hot too quickly, and there’s a risk of it cracking.

6. Using wire mesh for scrubbing

The finish on clay is very sensitive. Scrubbing too hard with a metal wire mesh will strip the smooth top layer of the clay vessel, and it will turn dark.

7. Leaving it under other dishes in the sink

If you leave a clay plate under heavy steel or ceramic dishes, it’s natural for it to crack under the weight.

8. Not giving it dry sunlight

Occasionally, clay items should be placed in the sun. This removes moisture and increases both the color and the lifespan of the clay.

9. Stacking them on top of each other

When storing, you shouldn’t just nest plates or glasses directly inside each other. Use a piece of paper or cloth in between them.

To learn the correct rules of care, check out our Care and Maintenance page. To know about the special methods we use to deliver your pottery safely, read our Packaging Policy.

Keep your favorite clay items safe and long-lasting!