Care & Restoration

Aged brass deserves to age well. Hand-painted ceramic deserves to be hand-washed. Here's how to keep your pieces lovely — and what to do when they need a second life.

Made to outlast the rooms they live in

Every piece we offer is built to be used. Brass darkens, ceramic crackles, glass picks up the soft fingerprints of years. We think of it as a piece earning its character — not losing it. These guides will help you decide what to leave to time, what to gently maintain, and when to send something to us for restoration.

The Care Guides

Guide 01 — Solid brass & aged brass

Brass is alive. It darkens, mellows, picks up the warmth of human hands. The single most important thing to know: don't strip the patina unless you mean to.

For most G Decor brass — cabinet hardware, hooks, door furniture — a soft, dry microfibre cloth is all you'll ever need. Wipe gently with the grain of the metal. For deeper cleaning, dampen the cloth with warm water and a gentle pH-neutral soap. Always dry thoroughly.

Avoid: ammonia-based cleaners, vinegar, abrasive cloths, submerging in water.

Guide 02 — Hand-painted ceramics

Hand-painted means hand-washed. The glazes are kiln-fired and durable, but the brush detail underneath deserves to be looked after — not bullied by a dishwasher.

For knobs, hooks and coasters: occasional wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth. For dinnerware and mugs: always hand wash with warm water and mild washing-up liquid. Avoid the dishwasher, soaking, abrasives, and sudden temperature changes.

Guide 03 — Fitting & maintaining hardware

A piece fitted well will last longer, look better, and feel better in the hand. Pre-drill pilot holes on hardwood doors. Most loose hardware is simply asking for a quarter-turn with a screwdriver. For mortice and rim knobs, listen for any rattle when turned — tighten the spindle grub screw to fix.

Guide 04 — Hand-blown glassware

Always hand-wash. Mouth-blown glass — particularly hammered, iridescent and lustred pieces — has a surface treatment the dishwasher will gradually wear away. Warm water, soft cloth, mild washing-up liquid. Dry with a lint-free linen tea-towel while still warm.

Guide 05 — Bone inlay & mother-of-pearl

Natural inlay pieces are organic — they breathe with the rooms they live in. Dust with a soft dry cloth or clean make-up brush for raised patterns. Avoid standing water, direct hot or cold air, alcohol-based cleaners, and unfiltered sunlight.

The Restoration Service

For pieces that deserve a second life — whether one of ours that's been well-loved or an heirloom you'd like to keep going, our restoration team can re-finish, re-fit and revive heritage hardware. By appointment only.

Restoration enquiries: support@gdecor.co.uk