Care Instruction

AMBIENT LIGHT ITEMS

Burn the votives and candleholders within sight and do not leave a candle burning unattended. Always remember to extinguish any burning flame before leaving the room. Keep the votives and candleholders away from easily flammable items and combustible materials like curtains and table clothes. Do not use scratched, chipping or damaged candleholders.
 
Use only good quality metal-cupped tealight candles in a candleholder. The candles should have a maximum diameter of 40 mm (1.5 inches). Leave an adequate gap for air to circulate between a tealight candle and the walls of a glass candleholder. Keep glass candleholders at least three cm (1.2 inches) apart from each other. Do not wash candleholder in the dishwasher.

GLASSWARE 

Dishwasher safe: The Iittala glass mass has been specially developed to tolerate machine-washing. All Iittala utility glassware can be washed in the dishwasher. It is best to rinse milk and buttermilk glasses with cold water before they are placed in the dishwasher to prevent proteins from precipitating and dulling the glassware. The glasses should be placed in the top rack of the dishwasher so that they do not touch each other during the wash cycle. Refrain from stacking warm glasses immediately after washing, as they may stick together and break.

Delicate stemware, pitchers and jugs, mugs, large footed dessert bowls, and glass objects that contain glass of varying thickness (such as vases, art objects) are best hand-washed. When warming up, glassware of uneven thickness readily develops various types of tension that can lead to breakage. Clean these items with regular dishwashing detergent and a soft brush; rinse well and leave to dry or dry with a soft cloth.

Oven safe: Glass is not ovenproof.

Microwave safe: We do not recommend using glass in the microwave oven because spot heat may break the glass.

Hot drinks: When serving hot drinks, recommend to use only glasses that are made of heat-resistant glass or use glasses whose walls and bases are of an even thickness. Warm the glass with hot water before pouring it full of hot liquid. Place a glass containing hot liquid on a coaster, a serviette or a wood surface – never on a cold metal surface because the thermal shock can break the glass. (Glass pitchers and glasses are recommended for cold drinks and not recommended for hot drinks)

Hot food: Heat the glass dish with warm water and cool the soup to roughly 60 C before pouring it into the bowl.
 

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

Lime deposit: Soak glasses in warm water to which vinegar has been added.

Dullness: The dullness of glassware is caused by hard water. The harder the water, the more likely the glassware is to appear dull. Use salt as water softener if necessary, or try switching to a different dishwashing detergent brand.

Iridescent surface: Iridescence on the surface of glassware is caused by a thin silicate film brought on by mildly alkaline silicate containing detergents. If the iridescence bothers you, switch to a silicate-free detergent.

The burning lens phenomenon: The burning lens phenomenon may damage objects and surfaces in the vicinity of the glass object. To avoid this do not leave a lens-shaped thick glass object or vase filled with water in direct sunlight.

Stubborn stains on flower vases: Pour a detergent solution ( 1dl of laundry detergent to one litre of water, for example) into the vase and let it soak. Scouring powder or abrasive scrubbing pads may scratch and spoil the surface.

PORCELAIN

Oven and freezer safe: Most porcelainware can be used in ovens and freezers (unless otherwise stated). Do not take a dish straight from the oven and put it into a cold, wet surface or put it on steel. Do not put a dish straight into a hot oven from a freezer.

Microwave safe: All porcelainware except dishes with gold or platinum decoration or metal parts are microwave safe.

Dishwasher safe: All porcelainware is dishwasher safe except dishes decorated with gold or platinum. Use a rinsing agent in the dishwasher to improve the results. Very dirty dishes can be soaked in hot water with detergent containing bleach. Cutlery made of soft steel, especially knives, may leave streaks of metal on a hard glazed surface that cannot be removed in a normal wash. (These can be removed by rubbing gently with metal polish.) Check the quality of cutlery when you buy it. To protect the glazing, avoid heavy rubbing when, for example, stacking plates. 
 

SCISSORS

• Buy several pairs > Decide which scissors will accomplish what tasks and use them for only those purposes.
• Wipe blades after each use > This prevents a build-up of lint and other debris that can get caught in the pivot area and interfere with the way your scissors performs. For normal cleaning, wash your scissors with soap and water. Wipe off and dry scissors before using or storing.
• Oil Scissors > Oil your best scissors/shears every once in a while at the screw assembly and between the blades at the pivot area. Wipe excess oil off the blades to prevent staining.
• Don't force cutting > This damages the blades and alignment. If it's too hard to make the cut, your scissors are too light or too dull to complete the task. Cut heavy things near the pivot, NOT near the tips of the blades. Cut carefully hitting a pin can cause jags or nicks in the blades, making it difficult to cut.
• Don't drop your scissors > Dropping can break or knock your scissors out of alignment.
• Store scissors > Keep scissors in a safe, dry, cool, clean place. This will avoid damage to them and prevent accidents.
• Sharpen or replace blades > Do this as needed to ensure optimal cutting performance.
• Test for sharpness > Draw a five-point star about the size of a dime on a sheer piece of fabric. Start in the center and cut out to the points. If the star edges are clean, your scissors are sharp enough. If the edges are jagged, you need to sharpen your scissors.

• You can adjust the tension of blades according to the cut material thanks to the adjustment screw for a certain type of scissors.

• Comfortable > Try out all different kinds of scissors for a good, comfortable fit.
• Lightweight > The scissors should provide comfort after hours of extended use.
• Cut Through Multiple Layers of Material > If possible, test scissors before purchasing them. Bring in scraps of materials so you can see how the scissors perform.
• Cut fabric sharply from pivot to point even an incredibly dull pair of scissors will cut paper, but only a quality pair will cut fabric without sticking or stopping.
• Bent-Handled Scissors > These special handles encourage accuracy when cutting on a flat surface.
• Contoured Handles > These handles give you more comfort because they follow your hand's natural curves.
• Spring Action Scissors > These scissors will make your job easier by doing more of the work and reducing hand fatigue.
• Look for durability and easy-to-use locking mechanisms.
• Test scissors' tension > When you open and close the blades, they shouldn't feel too loose or too tight. They also should sing (!?)
• Blade tips > The tips of your scissors/shears should meet at a precise point.