| Here are some tips to help your teapots remain undamaged for years. |
- Cleaning a Teapot by Hand ... When washing your teapot by hand, set the teapot in the bottom of the sink. Support the body of the teapot under the spout, cradling the spout in the palm of your hand as much as possible. This helps you keep track of where the spout is so it doesn’t accidentally get bumped against the side of the sink or the faucet. When rinsing, once again, cradle the spout in your hand.
- Cleaning a Teapot in the Dishwasher ... When washing your teapot in the dishwasher, turn the teapot on it’s side. Make sure the spout is not sticking down out of the bottom of the top rack where it can be bumped by the “arm” of the dishwasher. Check for room between the teapot and other objects in the rack as the action of the dishwasher can move items a bit causing them to bang into each other.
- Storing Teapots ... One of our customers offered the following suggestion … purchase a small amount of plastic tubing from a hardware or plumbing store. (The hose will need to have a diameter that is slightly larger than the teapot spout.) Cut the tubing so the length will allow it to extend down the spout by an inch or two. When storing the teapot, the plastic tubing should offer enough protection that the spout is cushioned should it come in contact with something. Be sure to remove the plastic hose when you use the teapot! (Our thanks to SWS.)
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| Tetsubin teapots are made of cast iron and therefore are incredibly durable and will last for generations! However, they can NOT take the heat from exposed flames or the heat of stovetop burners. It is best to empty tea and water from the vessel and thoroughly wipe dry. Cleaning products are not necessary and can actually damage the finishes on both the inside and outside surfaces of the teapot. Avoid contact with salt and oil. Never suddenly cool the teapot when it is still warm. |
| If your water contains high levels of minerals, it may be necessary to descale your electric kettle. Regular decalcification will keep your electric kettle operating at peak performance and electrical efficiency. |
- To reduce build-up of scale residues, always empty out any residual water after boiling.
- To descale your kettle, mix six ounces of citric acid (available at most hardware stores) with one quart of water. Allow solution to act on scale deposits for 30 minutes. Discard the solution and thoroughly rinse the kettle. (You can also purchase commercial descaling agents.)
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| Over time, a slightly brownish stain may appear inside your electric kettle. If the kettle is fairly new, purchased within the last five years, this is typically NOT rust. It is referred to as boiler scale and is the result of high iron content in the water supply. These stains can be easily wiped away with a cloth or mild abrasive. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after cleaning. |
| For a quick clean … saturate a sponge with vinegar and wipe out glass teapot. Rinse well. |
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| To remove white mineral deposits … in a large pot, heat two parts vinegar to one part water. Submerge glass teapot in the hot vinegar/water mixture for 15 minutes. Rinse well. |
| To clean lime deposits, combine equal amounts of vinegar with water in the stovetop kettle. Bring mixture to a boil, simmer for 30 minutes. Rinse well. Repeat if necessary. |
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| To remove water stains (white deposits), combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar with 1 cup of water in the stovetop kettle. Simmer for 30 minutes. If necessary, complete the cleaning process by wiping the kettle with a mildly abrasive sponge. Rinse well. Repeat if necessary. |
