You can, with some caveats. Most stoneware pottery fired at high temperatures can handle occasional dishwasher use on a gentle, cool-dry cycle. However, repeated dishwasher exposure can dull glazes, cause hairline crazing, and shorten the life of the piece. Hand washing is always recommended for handmade ceramics.
Crazing — those fine hairline cracks in the glaze surface — happens when the glaze and clay body expand and contract at different rates. Dishwasher heat and steam accelerate this process. It doesn't always affect food safety, but it does affect the look and longevity of the piece. Crazing is more common in pieces that weren't fired to full vitrification, or where glaze fit wasn't perfectly matched to the clay body.
Most of our stoneware is microwave safe for reheating food. The exceptions are pieces with metallic glazes or luster accents — these should never go in the microwave. If you're unsure about a specific piece, reach out and we'll tell you exactly what glaze it's finished with.
For tea or coffee staining inside a mug, a paste of baking soda and water left to sit for 20–30 minutes usually does the trick. Rinse well afterward. Avoid bleach — it can discolor matte and specialty glazes permanently.
Yes, meaningfully so. Hand washing reduces thermal stress, avoids harsh detergent contact, and keeps glaze surfaces intact. A piece that's hand washed regularly can look just as vivid after ten years as it did the day it was made. That's exactly what we're going for when we make it.

The Bottom Line

Handmade pottery is made to be used and loved — not kept behind glass. With a little thoughtful care, a piece from our studio can become something you reach for every day for years to come. Hand wash when you can. Skip the heated dry if you use the dishwasher. And treat your pottery the way you'd treat anything made by hand: with a little extra intention.

If you have a specific piece in mind — something custom, something built around how you actually live — we'd love to make it with you.

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