Glass, china and silver: handling & cleaning

Steps

1. 1

   Ask first. Never wash a client's fine china, crystal or silver unless you were asked to.

2. 2

   Line the sink or worktop with a towel so nothing chips.

3. 3

   Wash by hand, one piece at a time, in warm (not hot) water with a little dish soap. Never the dishwasher for gilded, painted or antique pieces.

4. 4

   Rinse, then dry immediately with a flat-weave cloth — air-drying leaves spots.

5. 5

   Silver: use silver cleaner on a cloth, work with the grain, buff off, then wash and dry. Never abrasives.

6. 6

   Put each piece back exactly where it stood before you moved it.