Sunday, October 10, 2010

Keeping Your Porcelain Collectibles Clean

Fragile porcelain collectibles are best kept out of harm's way by keeping them enclosed in a cabinet. Housing fragile figurines or dolls inside a cabinet will not only keep them from getting dirty but will lessen the chance they will become damaged. Taking care of your porcelain collectibles from the very beginning will ensure that you will be able to enjoy them for a long time.

You'll still need to clean your porcelain collectibles, just not as often since they're in cabinets. Although it is a tedious chore, it is worth it to keep your figurines looking new. Makeup brushes work great for this kind of handiwork due to the tiny crevices found in your porcelain figurines.

Sometimes, you may purchase a porcelain figurine and while it is in great condition, it may be extremely dirty. In this case, you'll need more than a makeup brush to clean it. However, take care because you'll need to know if the paint is under glaze. You can tell whether it is or not by looking at the figurine in the light. If you don't see any shine then the piece was painted after it was fired and you won't be able to use commercial cleaners on the porcelain. If you do, you run the risk of rubbing the paint off. Instead, use an enzyme cleaner in order to protect the paint.

It will be much easier to clean porcelain figurines that are glazed but if you can't tell whether or not it has been glazed, then assume that it hasn't been glazed and proceed with an enzyme cleaner. In addition, it is important to take care not to let water get into your figurine. Since most of them have a hole in the bottom, water can get trapped inside and the result could be that mold grows inside the porcelain figurine. In order to keep this from happening, tape over the hole before you clean it to keep the inside dry.

Mild dishwashing detergent and warm water is all you need to clean your figurines. Just use a soft cloth to gently clean your porcelain figurines. If you need to clean dirty crevices or grooves, you can use an old, soft bristled toothbrush. Just remember to be gentle.

Once you have cleaned your porcelain figurine, gently rinse it off with a clean, wet cloth. This is to prevent a soapy residue from accumulating on your figurine. Once you have done this, dry your porcelain figurine completely with a soft, dry cloth. Don't forget to remove the tape before placing it back in your collection.

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