Japanese ceramic dishes have a rather high absorption factor so they are easily get covered with stains. To minimize the number of stains process a new dish in the following way: put some rice in a pot with water, put a dish into it and boil on low fire for about 30 minutes. Leave the dish in the pot for a night. Earthen pots can be boiled with rice so that they rarely get dirty. Check the bottom of a new dishware. Rough bottom may scratch a table. Make the bottom smooth with a sand-cloth.
How to store ceramics
Ceramic dishware is to be thoroughly washed and wiped dry and then put in a closet. Japanese dishware is distinct in various forms and sizes, that's why it is difficult to place in a buffet. We advice that you place dishware according to forms and sizes. Similar things can be put one into another. But do not make such bundle too high. Otherwise it may fall down. Plates can be put in a bundle of 5-6, bowls - of 3. Usually when dishware is in a bundle the upper one is used. So place used things at the bottom. Then dishware will be used evenly and stored for a longer time.
If a stain appeared
On Japanese ceramic dishware there are sometimes small flaws. If dirt got there can't be washed out soak it in a kitchen bleaching agent. But keep in mind that the color of a dish may change because of that. Stains usually appear on unglazed dishware. So do not use them for serving soup or soak them beforehand for an hour in water. That will help escape stains.
