Pointers on Your Plates and Porcelain Ware

To mend porcelain ware

To mend porcelain ware (farfuri) and fill its holes and cracks, take a quantity of quicklime and grind it very fine, then add to it part of the white of an egg and work it into a thick paste, mixing it with a knife; apply it to the damaged parts, then smooth the outer surface with the knife after the holes or cracks have been completely filled and pressed until firm. In this way the mended parts will have the strength of the porcelain itself.

Making cups and glasses last longer

If you wish to prolong the life of your earthenware, place each piece, after buying it, in a vessel of cold water; then bring the water slowly to the boil and leave the piece in it until the water cools.

Slight cracks in china

Such cracks sometimes mar the look of one piece, or more than one piece, in a china set you are fond of. These very small cracks disappear if you place the affected piece in a vessel of milk, which you then bring slowly to the boil and leave so for a few minutes.

Pouring boiling water into china vessels and plates

When you pour water into a china or glass vessel, always stand a spoon upright in it. The spoon draws the heat to itself and keeps the cup or glass from cracking.

A cement for china

Ordinary alum makes a good cement for china, provided you melt it over the gas flame and put it into the cracks while hot. And a little egg white thoroughly mixed with quicklime will stop these cracks if you apply the mixture to them quickly.

Broken china (put to use)

Large broken pieces of china are good for sharpening knives. So sharpen your kitchen knives on the edges of broken china pieces before you throw them out.

To prevent breakage

Wrap the kitchen taps with adhesive tape to keep china and glass vessels and cups from breaking or shattering if they happen to knock against the tap.