How to Care for Handmade Items After Your Craft Show Purchase

Keeping Your Handmade Finds Beautiful

The item you bought at the craft show deserves a little more attention than the mass-produced equivalent. Handmade pieces often have materials and finishes that differ from commercial production — and a few simple care habits keep them looking their best for years.

Here's a quick guide by category.

Pottery and Ceramics

Functional pieces (mugs, bowls, plates):

• Most functional pottery is food-safe and dishwasher-safe, but check with the maker. High-fire stoneware usually is; earthenware and some glazes may not be.
• Hand-washing is always safest for extending the life of the glaze and any painted details.
• Avoid thermal shock — don't go from freezer to oven unless the maker specifies it's safe.
• If a piece has metallic accents (gold, platinum luster), never microwave it.

Decorative pieces:

• Dust with a soft dry cloth.
• Keep out of direct sunlight if the piece has painted or applied decoration that could fade.

Candles

• Burn time matters: On the first burn, let the wax melt to the edges of the container before extinguishing. This sets the "memory" of the candle and prevents tunneling.
• Trim the wick to ¼ inch before each burn. Long wicks cause soot and uneven burning.
• Never burn for more than 4 hours at a time.
• Keep away from drafts, which cause uneven burns and smoke.
• Natural wax candles (soy, beeswax, coconut) may develop a white "bloom" — this is harmless and normal.

Handmade Jewelry

Silver and copper:

• Store in an airtight bag or jewelry box to slow tarnishing.
• Clean with a soft polishing cloth — the kind that comes with the piece, or a jewelry cloth from a pharmacy.
• Keep away from perfume, lotion, and chlorine.

Wire-wrapped and beaded:

• These can be fragile at stress points. Put them on and take them off gently.
• Store flat or hanging rather than tangled in a drawer.

Resin and polymer clay:

• Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which can yellow or fade colors over time.
• Clean with a damp cloth only — no harsh chemicals.

Handmade Soap

• Keep it dry between uses. A soap dish that drains is essential — pooled water makes bars go mushy fast.
• Handmade soap often has a shorter shelf life than commercial soap (6–12 months). Use it within a year of purchase.
• The scent may mellow over time — this is normal for natural essential oil-scented soaps.

Textiles (Scarves, Knits, Quilts, Woven Items)

• Ask the maker about washing — this is the most important care question you can ask at the booth. Fiber type matters enormously.
• Wool and alpaca: Hand wash cold in gentle soap, or dry clean. Never agitate in a machine — it felts.
• Cotton and linen: Usually machine washable, but cold water and gentle cycle is safest for dyes.
• Quilts: Hand wash or gentle machine with a cold soak; lay flat or hang to dry.
• Store wool items clean (moths are attracted to lanolin in dirty wool) in a sealed container or cedar-lined drawer.

The Single Best Piece of Advice

Ask the maker before you leave the booth. Write it on the tag or in your phone. Every maker knows exactly how their piece should be cared for — and they want it to last. A 30-second question at the show saves you a $65 pottery mug ruined in the dishwasher.