The Type A Way to Store Your China
Do you have to crawl over the Halloween spiders and the dusty boxes of your Great-Grandma’s keepsakes to get to your china set? I can see it now… Your Christmas company is on the way to dinner at your house, and you have to go into the perilous attic in your Christmas sweater to get your china before everyone arrives. Not only is that not an ideal way to start your Christmas festivities, but you and your china set deserve better.
Many of us have acquired a set (or two 👀) of china. They have either been passed down from one generation to the next. How many of our Grandmas “good dishes” are scattered around our storage spaces? Or you may have been gifted china as a wedding gift. Either way, these dishes often have happy memories attached to them, making them an important part of family traditions. Unfortunately, china often gets packed away during busy seasons or is never taken out of storage. Don’t feel stressed if you tend to be the latter; my family and I are right there with you. No matter what party you fall into, those traditions deserve to be taken care of, even if they are stored away. We want your china to stay in beautiful condition, protecting the pieces that carry your family’s stories forward.
Choosing the Perfect Storage Zone
When it comes to storing china, do we consider ourselves experts? Well, yeah. Has it taken us a lot of trial and (scary) errors to get to this point? Also, yes. But, as we have tried every china storage option under the sun, that means we know exactly what will work for your china!
There are two different routes to china storage, and they are dependant on where you will be storing them. Some of our clients have beautiful, climate-controlled attics and/or fully stocked china storage cabinets where their sets of china live year-round. Those are obviously our favorite types of storage spaces, seeing that they are easy to access as well as out of the way when not in use. Then there is the other type of storage… We’re talking dark basements where all the spiders live and the hot attics that the shortest child couldn’t stand up in. Unfortunately, while they aren’t the fav storage space, they are common in most houses we see. No matter what your space is like, we’ve been there, done that. Don’t be stressed by your situation, we’ve got you covered!
First, let’s talk the climate-controlled space. These spaces are the easiest to store your china. You don’t have to worry about the humidity in the summer or the cold in the winter. Everything can simply exist without worrying about the elements. For those types of storage spaces, the goal is to protect your china from accidents. If your space is climate-controlled, there are often other activities or storage happening in the same area. Those spaces are where accidents can happen, so the goal is to protect your china from breaking.
Then, for non-climate-controlled spaces, the goal of keeping your china safe is slightly different. We still want to protect your china from accidents, but other factors need to be taken into consideration. When we are working in spaces that can be affected by the heat or the cold, the goal is to preserve your china, keeping it in pristine condition. We would always suggest keeping china in a climate-controlled space, but we understand if that just isn’t an option. Whichever storage space you have, here are the tools we use to keep china safe and preserved:
RIDGED SIDED STORAGE BOXES
Have you gotten overwhelmed by the thousands of options when you google “china storage”? There are so many choices for such a simple need. However, while there are a few that we love and will recommend over and over, there are quite a few that we suggest you avoid!
The boxes that have the soft, quilted sides are often what people have their china stored in. Not only are these not a safe option for your delicate china, but they are probably causing you more issues than you realize. These soft-sided storage options are not sturdy enough to protect your dishes from a damaging fall. We have worked with clients who love their china and are heartbroken when they find that their storage didn’t protect it. Because the sides aren’t rigid, they can’t keep the chine from sliding and protruding from the sides. These boxes will also compact the more you stack them, destroying their cushioned sides, putting your china at risk.
Instead, we suggest Ridged Side Storage Boxes. Containing fiberboard frames, these rigid-sided storage boxes will protect your china from falls, sliding, and compression. We have stacked, shoved, and, frankly, abused these boxes, and they have protected the dishes inside without an issue. The Round Ridged Side Storage Boxes are the best options for plates, bowls, and larger serving dishes.
If you have tea cups or smaller dishes, the Cup & Mug Storage Case is the perfect alternative. One of our favorite Type A Hacks is removing some of the inserts from the Cup and Mug storage box to create a storage solution for large platters. Do be aware that taking out all of the dividers can compromise the structural integrity of the Box, so we always suggest only removing some of them. They also have a Stemware Storage Case for sets that have goblets, or you have stemware that needs to be stored as well.
FELT DIVIDERS
Felt Plate Dividers are a must when it comes to storing china! Ensuring you purchase heavyweight dividers is the best choice. Not only will the dividers provide shock and scratch protection, but they will also keep your china from hitting each other within their storage container. We always suggest getting more dividers than you would assume because they make great space fillers for boxes that may have extra space.
ACID-FREE TISSUE PAPER
What’s the difference between Acid-Free Tissue Paper and normal tissue or packing paper? Tissue paper contains acids from the wood pulp that it is derived from, and naturally, over time, those acids will break down. Depending on what you have wrapped in the tissue paper, as the acids break down, the paper can also damage what you have wrapped in it. So when you are choosing what to wrap keepsakes in, acid-free tissue paper is always going to be the best long-term option. If you are simply wrapping the china for protection for a short period of time, any paper will do.
WEATHERTIGHT TOTES
For long-term china storage in a non-climate-controlled space, Weathertight Totes are our favorite option! These containers have a weathertight seal around the lid, preventing any moisture from sneaking in and damaging your china. It is important to either place the Ridged Side Storage Boxes inside the Weathetight, or use a combination of felt dividers and acid-free issue paper to protect your china. Unlike the Ridged Side Storage Boxes, these totes do not have soft sides, so ensure you take the necessary precautions to protect your dishes.
Your Pre-Storage Checklist
Before you jump into storing all your china, there are a few things we always suggest. These are the steps we take when prepping china for storage to ensure that it stays in pristine condition.
Start with Clean China. Before you begin storing your china, the first step is cleaning it. This step will remove dust and grime, but it will also help conserve the design and integrity of your pieces.
It is also the perfect time to test for lead, especially with vintage, imported, or heavily decorated china. Some older glazes and paints were made with lead, which can leach into food over time and pose serious health risks. Testing is simple, inexpensive, and available at most hardware stores and online. No sense in storing what you can’t use!Choose the right Storage Area. When deciding where to store your china, there are a few things to contemplate. As we mentioned above, choosing a temperature-controlled area is always the best option. If that isn't attainable, the next best option is making sure that your china is stored away from sunlight. Keeping your china in a spot that is out of the sun will prevent your china from fading and becoming discolored.
Separate types. As you are packing china, take the time to separate the different types of dishes. Keeping them divided allows you to see how much of each item you have, and it will keep them organized.
No Overcrowding. Always ensure that you’re not overfilling the storage boxes! Having some breathing room between the dishes and in the box will prevent pressure build-up and prevent breaking.
Label Boxes. Having multiple boxes of china is great until you have to find the dessert plates that are buried in an unmarked box. Taking the time to label your boxes will not only save you time, but it might save you a headache (or backache, depending on where you store the china) in the future.
When we are labeling china for clients, we always specify which china set it is, what type of dish it is, and the quantity. Being specific gives our clients the best tools to keep the system we set up for them.Position Boxes Correctly. The way you arrange or stack your boxes is also important. We always suggest that you don’t stack boxes up too high, seeing that a box could fall and cause breakages. Also, always place heavier boxes, like ones with dinner plates, near the bottom and lighter ones, think teacups, near the top. Not only will this prevent your fragile dishes from being crushed under the weight of other boxes, but it will also prevent instability. We would hate to create an unintentional game of Jenga with your china!
Check Shelving Stability - If you have shelving that you plan on storing your china on, quadruple-check that the shelving is sturdy enough to hold the weight. Unlike dishes today, china can weigh a lot and can become heavy when everything is stored together. Our favorite shelving option is an InterMetro Unit, and each shelf can hold up to 300lbs. But if investing in a new shelving unit isn’t an option, just ensure that the shelving you use won’t collapse under the weight of the china.
What Your China Means to You
Now, this wouldn't be a Type A Living Blog post if we didn’t talk about the reasons you’re holding onto your china. As times have changed, so have our uses for china. My family only ever used china for Christmas dinner and an occasional birthday celebration. Some families don’t use their china at all; it is purely sentimental. Either way, it is now a rarity to sit down and enjoy a formal dinner. And if your family is anything like mine, if everyone is present, we opt for using paper plates. The fewer dishes there are, the smoother things tend to run, especially when the little cousins are involved.
Before we pack away your china, just like we would with our clients, it is always a good idea to check why you’re keeping it stored away. If you love your set and wish you had more occasions to use your china, we encourage you to do just that. China is the best set of dishes you probably have, and using them to eat dinner every day isn’t a sin. Yes, you will see some wear on them. However, wouldn’t you rather use and love your dishes that bring more joy to everyday meals? I would rather think of my family every time I make dinner and see a little wear on my china than wish I used it more.
On the flipside of that coin, you could resent your china. It could be taking up precious storage space in your home or your mind. We have had many clients who have remarried and hold onto their old wedding china, getting frustrated all over again when they see the boxes. Or clients who are holding onto sets of china that they were given by a family member, and they hold onto the guilt of never using the set. Situations like these are tricky, but it is important to remember that your china shouldn’t be causing you stress. If they are more of a burden than a gift, it may be time to let them go. Instead of holding onto your china because you feel guilt, let’s build new traditions with dishes that bring you joy.
No matter where you and your china stand, we hope you feel equipped to store your china. As you prep for the holiday season, take the time now to ensure your china is in pristine condition and easily accessible (hopefully without any spiders, decorative or real), so you can enjoy your meal as much as your guests.
If this feels daunting to you, but you’re ready to start the holiday season with your china stored properly, our team is here to help you!
