Match pewter maintenance

Keeping Your Pewter Pristine: A Simple Guide to Care and Cleaning

Pewter has a timeless elegance that adds a touch of classic sophistication to any home. One of its many charms is its naturally slow tarnishing process, meaning it requires very little maintenance to keep it looking beautiful. But when it comes to cleaning and occasional polishing, a little know-how goes a long way.

Polishing Your Pewter: Less is More

You might be surprised to learn that pewter tarnishes very slowly and often looks best with its subtle, natural patina. If you do decide to polish your pewter, almost any metal polish will do the trick. Just be sure to read the container before you purchase to ensure it's suitable for pewter. We're big fans of Cape Cod Metal Polish - it's widely available in hardware stores, incredibly easy to use, and even has a pleasant scent.

Food Safety and Everyday Cleaning for MATCH PEWTER

Good news for entertainers: MATCH PEWTER does not contain lead and is completely food safe! This means you can confidently use it for serving everything from elegant appetizers to delicious desserts.

After using your pewter for food service, cleaning is simple:

  • Hand wash in warm water using a liquid dish soap.
  • Dry the pewter completely right away.

If you let water dry on your pewter, it might leave spots. Don't worry, these are easily removed! You can use a metal polish, or surprisingly, gently rub the area in small circular motions with "0000" steel wool. This super-fine steel wool is remarkably gentle and effective.

Dishwashing Pewter: A Few Considerations

While convenience is king, sometimes handwashing is best. This is especially true if you have hard water (water with a high mineral content), as the minerals can potentially cause tarnishing or pitting on any pewter, not just MATCH.

However, if you own MATCH PEWTER FLATWARE or CONVIVIO TABLEWARE, they are dishwasher safe with a few caveats:

  • Use a low heat setting.
  • Opt for a liquid dishwasher soap.
  • Never wash MATCH PEWTER in the extreme temperatures of a commercial-grade dishwasher.
  • For best results, allow Convivio pieces to cool completely before handling them after washing.

Special Care for MATCH STEMWARE

When it comes to MATCH STEMWARE, always opt for hand washing only. It's also crucial to avoid pre-soaking it in hot water. Why? The glass or crystal bowl and the pewter stem expand and contract at different rates when exposed to prolonged hot water immersion. This can weaken the bond between the two materials over time. A gentle hand wash will keep your stemware beautiful for years to come.

With these simple care tips, your exquisite pewter pieces will continue to be cherished additions to your home for generations.