"I've been putting my plates through the dishwasher every single day with a heavy-duty dishwasher pod and a scoop of citric acid. They come out sparkling clean! But now, I've noticed that the painting around the rim is getting lighter. What's happening?"
— Emma, a LaGlint customer
* Customer's name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Oh Emma, thank you so much for reaching out — and we totally get it. That sparkling-clean feeling after a dishwasher cycle is so satisfying! But what Emma noticed is something we hear about more and more, and we want to talk about it openly.
If your plates have painted patterns around the rim, your cleaning routine might be slowly — and sadly, permanently — washing those beautiful details away.
So what's actually going on in there?
Think of your dishwasher as a tiny washing machine for dishes. It sprays very hot water mixed with detergent at high pressure. Heavy-duty dishwasher pods are great at cutting through grease and food. But here's the thing: they do it using strong chemicals called alkalis, which are basically the opposite of acids on the chemistry scale.
Those alkalis are powerful enough to slowly eat away at the painted rim decoration on your plates over time. It's kind of like how bleach fades a colorful t-shirt if you wash it too much — except with dishes, you can't see it happening until it's already too late.
And what about citric acid?
Citric acid is a popular trick for cleaning mineral buildup inside dishwashers — it's the same stuff that makes lemons sour. It does a great job dissolving limescale and hard water stains.
But here's the problem: citric acid doesn't just attack limescale. It also goes after the metal pigments in painted designs. Those tiny metallic particles are what give your plate's rim pattern its color. When acid pulls them out, the color fades — and that damage can't be undone.
One appliance care guide says this directly: citric acid washes should only be done with plain, undecorated dishes. Any plates with patterns or painted rim details should be removed first.
⚠️ The two biggest risks for painted plates
🧴 Strong dishwasher pods — The alkaline chemicals in heavy-duty pods are designed to dissolve tough food and grease. Over many washes, they also wear down painted rim decorations, making colors look dull, faded, or patchy.
🍋 Citric acid boosters — Citric acid removes mineral deposits but it also pulls metallic pigments out of painted designs. Once the rim pattern fades, it cannot be restored. The damage is permanent.
What about the material? Ceramic, glass, and why it matters
When people talk about fancy dinnerware, you'll often hear the word "glaze." On ceramic plates, glaze is a thin glassy coating that's melted onto the surface in a kiln. One handy thing about this is that the decoration can sometimes sit under the glaze — sealed in and protected.
But our dinnerware is made from opal glass — a smooth, milky-white glass that's beautifully strong and lightweight. And glass is a different story.
💡 A note on opal glass
Unlike ceramic plates, opal glass has no glaze layer at all. Glass is already a smooth, non-porous surface on its own — it doesn't need one. That means the painted rim decoration sits directly on the surface of the glass, fully exposed. There is no protective layer on top to seal it in. Every wash, every splash of hot water and harsh detergent hits the paintwork directly. This is exactly why the rim patterns on our opal glass dinnerware need extra care.
So if you've ever wondered why some ceramic plates seem to hold up better in the dishwasher than your opal glass pieces — this is the reason. The paint on your glass plates has nowhere to hide.
What should you do instead?
✨ Simple tips to keep your rim patterns looking beautiful
🤲 Hand-wash painted plates — Warm water and a gentle, mild dish soap is all you need. Skip the dishwasher entirely for any plate with decorative rim patterns or metallic trim.
🚫 Run citric acid cycles on an empty machine — If you want to descale your dishwasher with citric acid, do it when it's completely empty, or with plain undecorated dishes only. Never with your painted pieces inside.
💧 Use rinse aid for everyday mineral buildup — A regular rinse aid is a much gentler way to prevent limescale on your dishes without putting rim patterns at risk.
🏷️ Check the label — If your plates are marked "dishwasher safe," that means the glass body itself can handle the machine. But if they have painted rim decoration, it's always safer to wash by hand — the dishwasher-safe label covers the material, not the artwork.
The honest truth: once a painted rim pattern fades, it cannot be brought back. There's no treatment or product that reverses the damage. The best thing you can do is protect those designs before it happens — not after.
A note from us
We make our dinnerware to be enjoyed every single day — at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every lazy Sunday in between. That's why we want you to know exactly how to take care of it so it stays as beautiful as the day you got it.
Emma's message reminded us that these things aren't always obvious. Nobody reads the fine print on a box of dishwasher pods! So if this is the first time you're hearing any of this — don't worry. Now you know, and your plates will thank you for it.
If you're not sure whether your LaGlint pieces should be hand-washed, feel free to reach out to our team anytime. We're always happy to help.
Have a question about caring for your dinnerware? Send us a message — we read every one. And if this post helped you, share it with a friend who loves beautiful plates as much as you do.
With love,
The LaGlint Team
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