Whether you have a collection of Lladro porcelain figurines or just one, it's important to know how to properly care for and clean porcelain, because it's not the same as glass (which is must easier), or china.
Basic Care:
Your porcelain figurines should not be exposed to direct sunlight for any lengthy period of time. The coloring will fade.
If you have a number of collectibles, it's best to keep them in a glass-enclosed curio or china cabinet. This also helps to ensure that they don't get knocked over.
If you prefer to keep it/them set out throughout your home as part of the decor, please do yourself and guests with young children a favor by putting them out of harm's reach at least for that visit.
My friends and their children are precious to me, and a visit spent saying, "No, don't touch," to a young, healthy, and curious child will discourage any repeat visits.
I suggest you follow this advice, or you'll end up surrounded only by your precious collectibles. I'm of the personal opinion that it would be a lonely way to live.
Dusting:
Even inside the safety of a glass-enclosed cabinet, your porcelain needs to be regularly dusted.
Perhaps because I was raised to see my collections as treasured investments as much as additions to the beauty of my surroundings, I believe that you need the right tools to properly care for them.
One product for dusting them that works like a charm is a can of compressed gas, which gently blows the dust out of tiny crevices that you don't want to take a chance on trying to reach with anything that requires pushing (and could result in breakage).
You can choose your own, but the one I use is inexpensive and last for a good long time. It's called Falcon Compressed Gas, and the best price I've found was, of course, at Amazon. The other indispensable tool I have found was a good-quality set of make-up brushes, very soft, and they are only used for my porcelains. I chose Sigma Makeup Professional PREMIUM 15 Brush Kit. When you consider that they will probably last me a lifetime, I'm sure you'll agree that the price, which includes the storage bag, is well worth it. they have the sizes necessary for the various intricacies of my porcelains, and they are really soft.
Cleaning:
Once a year it's a good idea to give your collectibles a more thorough cleaning. the exception here is any collectibles you have that are very old. In those cases, I recommend you stick with compressed gas and gentle brushing only. If they seem to really need a cleaning, it's worth taking it to an expert in antique porcelains and having it professionally done.
For the rest, I have something specific to recommend that you do not under any circumstances do or allow to have done.
Never fill a sink with water and put your porcelain figurines in it to soak, even if you only plan to do one at a time.
I have seen information that tries to get around the dangers involved by suggesting you place one or two thick bath towels in the bottom of the sink and then fill it with water.
What they are not taking into consideration is that without meaning to, the person doing the washing could accidentally, while placing the figurine into the water or removing it from the water, hit it with the faucet.
The best solution is to buy two each of the following:
a separate, good-quality plastic type of basin (the Rubbermaid 40-Cup Storage Container was my choice) into which you can place a foam bath sponge somewhat larger than the length and width dimensions of the basin. The Comfy Baby´s Safety Foam Bath Sponge serves my purpose very well, because once soaked with warm water and mild, non-bacterial liquid dish soap, it gives protection on the sides as well as the bottom of the basin.
The Comfy Baby´s Safety Foam Bath Sponge serves my purpose very well, because once soaked with warm water and mild, non-bacterial liquid dish soap, it gives protection on the sides as well as the bottom of the basin.
The sponge grip reduces the possibility of slippage.
Before beginning to clean them, cover any holes in your porcelain figurines with tape. You don't want the water to get into the figurine, because some may remain porous even after the glaze firing, and the water can erode the structural integrity of the piece.
Never soak the piece in water. A quick dip in the basin with mild soapy water, a gentle and complete brushing, using the necessary size of brush to get into all the intricate detailing of the piece, dip, and then place carefully into the second basin, filled with clear warm water. Make sure it's rinsed well, but once again do not soak it.
Then set it onto a thick towel to dry, and onto your next piece.
This is some of the best advice I can give you to keep your treasured investments at their peak of beauty for a lifetime.
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