Product Care & Help Guide
Proper cleaning, temperature handling, and storage help maintain the brilliant glaze, thermal insulation, and polished surfaces of your tableware. This guide from Four Lisle provides general care and maintenance advice across our mugs, coffee spoons, and tea and coffee glasses. Please always refer to the specific instructions supplied with your individual item.
1. Ceramic Mugs: Washing & Microwave Handling
- Initial Wash: Before first use, wash new mugs in warm soapy water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
- Microwave Guidance: Only use mugs in the microwave if explicitly stated as microwave-safe on the product listing or base stamp. Never microwave mugs featuring metallic leaf, gold rims, or brass trims, as metal accents will arc and damage the finish.
- Preventing Tannin & Coffee Stains: If dark tea or black coffee is left standing for prolonged periods, natural tannins can leave light surface rings on pale glazed interiors. Rinse mugs promptly after use. For stubborn tea stains, clean with a paste of baking soda and warm water on a soft sponge rather than harsh steel wool.
- Thermal Shock Warning: Avoid pouring boiling liquids directly into a ceramic mug that has been stored in a freezing car or cold unheated pantry. Allow the ceramic body to reach room temperature first to avoid thermal shock fractures.
2. Coffee Spoons: Polishing & Cutlery Care
- Immediate Rinsing: After stirring coffee, tea, lemon infusions, or acidic beverages, rinse spoons promptly to prevent prolonged acid exposure from dulling mirror-polished finishes.
- Dishwasher Practices: Where spoons are dishwasher safe, place them in cutlery baskets with bowls pointing upward, and avoid washing them touching carbon-steel knives to prevent galvanic contact spotting. For gold- or brass-toned PVD coatings, gentle hand washing with a non-abrasive sponge best preserves colour vibrancy.
- Drying: Dry spoons with a tea towel immediately after washing to prevent tap water mineral spots.
3. Tea & Coffee Glasses: Double-Walled Handling
- Gentle Ice Addition: When preparing iced lattes or cold brew in double-walled borosilicate glasses, always add liquid first before gently sliding ice cubes in. Dropping heavy ice cubes into an empty glass can fracture the inner glass base.
- Handling the Base Valve: Most double-walled glasses incorporate a tiny silicone hydrophobic pressure-relief valve at the bottom of the outer wall to balance atmospheric pressure. Do not scrape, puncture, or pick at this base valve, as it prevents moisture from entering the vacuum chamber.
- Spoon Contact: Use our rounded coffee spoons or wooden stirrers gently inside delicate glassware; avoid forcefully striking metal spoons against the inner glass wall.
4. Product-Specific Instructions
The guidance on this page is general care and maintenance advice. Capacities, thermal tolerances, glaze properties and dishwasher suitability vary by model. Always follow the instructions and specifications provided on the relevant product page and with your item. Do not expose glassware or ceramics to sudden extreme temperature swings or use items in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose.
Need Product Assistance?
If you have questions about mug dimensions, liquid capacities, or care advice, please contact our support team:
Brand Name: Four Lisle
Business & Returns Address: 4 Lisle St, London WC2H 7BG, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 3489 9947 | Email: support@fourlisle.com
Customer Service Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM UK local time (GMT/BST, as applicable)
