Caring for a Printed Mug So the Colours Stay Bright

Our mugs are printed to be used, not admired from a distance. They go in the dishwasher, they go in the microwave, and they are designed to survive the ordinary violence of a busy kitchen. That said, there is a difference between a mug that still looks new after three years and one that has gone faintly grey and dull, and it usually comes down to a handful of habits.

The dishwasher is fine — the position matters

Put mugs on the top rack, upside down, with a little space around them. The top rack sits further from the heating element, so the print sees gentler temperatures. Crowding is the real enemy: mugs that touch each other rattle during the cycle and chip at the rim, which is the one kind of damage that cannot be undone.

If your dishwasher has an intensive or sanitising cycle, save it for pans. Repeated very high temperatures combined with strong detergent will, over years, take the edge off any print.

Skip the abrasives

Scouring pads and powdered cleaners work by scratching, and a printed surface is exactly what they scratch. For stubborn tea stains, fill the mug with warm water, add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda, leave it for an hour and wipe with a soft cloth. It removes tannin without touching the finish.

Avoid sudden temperature changes

Ceramic dislikes shocks. Pouring boiling water into a mug that has just come out of a cold cupboard, or rinsing a hot mug under the cold tap, puts stress through the body and can create hairline cracks you will not see until they matter. Warming a mug with a splash of hot water first is a small ritual that also keeps your drink hotter for longer.

In the microwave

Our standard mugs are microwave safe, so reheating a forgotten coffee is no problem. Heat in short bursts rather than one long blast, and use a handle-friendly grip — the ceramic body will get considerably hotter than the handle.

Storing them well

Stacking mugs inside each other grinds the base of one against the interior glaze of another. If cupboard space forces stacking, a piece of kitchen paper between them is enough to prevent the wear. Hanging mugs on hooks is kinder still, provided the hook is not so tight that it scrapes the handle.

None of this is demanding. Top rack, soft cloth, no thermal shocks — and a mug bought this year will still look right in five.