How to Clean and Care for Ceramic Wall Plates

Ceramic wall plates are about as low-maintenance as decor gets — they don't fade in sunlight the way fabric or unprotected prints can, and they're sturdier than most people expect. Still, a little routine care keeps them looking as vivid as the day they arrived, and knowing what not to do matters just as much as knowing what to do.

Regular dusting is 90% of the job

Most of what accumulates on a wall plate is ordinary household dust, and a dry microfiber cloth handles it in seconds. Wipe gently in one direction rather than scrubbing in circles, which can push dust into any textured grooves in the pattern. Do this every couple of weeks, or whenever you notice the surface starting to look dull rather than glossy.

Plates with brighter, high-contrast patterns tend to show dust more visibly than muted tones — a piece like the Tropical Fruits Collection – Fresh Botanicals, with its bold, colorful fruit motifs, benefits from slightly more frequent dusting than a soft neutral pattern would.

For deeper cleaning

Every few months, or if the plate is in a kitchen and has picked up airborne grease, a slightly damp (not wet) soft cloth works well. Use plain water or a drop of mild dish soap diluted in water — nothing abrasive, and never a scouring pad or anything with grit, which can scratch the glaze permanently. Dry the surface immediately with a clean cloth rather than letting it air-dry, especially around any textured or raised areas where moisture can sit.

Livelier patterns like the Tropical Fruits Collection – Playful Harvest hold up well to this kind of occasional deeper clean, since the glaze finish is designed to be wiped without dulling the color underneath.

What to avoid

• Harsh chemical cleaners — anything with bleach or ammonia can strip the glaze's sheen over time.
• Direct, prolonged moisture — ceramic itself is water-resistant, but the hanging hardware on the back isn't designed for wet environments, so avoid installing plates directly above a stove or inside a shower area.
• Sudden temperature swings — placing a plate very close to a heat source (like directly above a fireplace mantel where heat rises intensely) can, over years, cause fine surface cracking known as crazing.
• Dishwashers or soaking — even though these are ceramic, they're decorative pieces, not tableware, and aren't built to handle submersion or dishwasher cycles.

Softer, more muted patterns need less fuss

If low-maintenance is your priority, patterns in gentler tones simply show less wear between cleanings. The Swaying Foliage Collection – Gentle Botanicals, with its soft, muted leaf pattern, is a good example of a plate that looks fresh for longer stretches between dustings, making it a practical choice for hard-to-reach spots like a stairwell or a high wall.

Checking the mount

While you're dusting, it's worth a quick glance at the back mount every few months, especially in humid climates. A loose or slightly corroded hook is far more likely to cause damage than the ceramic itself ever will. If anything feels wobbly, re-secure it before it becomes a bigger problem.

The bottom line

Ceramic wall plates aren't fussy, and that's a big part of their appeal — a quick wipe now and then is genuinely all most pieces need. Treat them a little like you would fine dinnerware sitting on open shelving: dust often, clean gently, and keep them away from heat and moisture, and they'll hold their color and shine for years.

Explore the full ceramic wall plate collection to find patterns — and finishes — that suit both your space and your cleaning routine.