Silverware might seems to need a lot of maintenance but in reality, it is very easy to take care of all your silverware product.

After long exposure to the air, silverware has blackens but it doesn't mean that the shine can't be restore.

When silverware has become tarnished, be careful to choose a product that is designed specifically for silver like our antitarnish gloves and chamois or soft cloth to apply silver polish or foam to clean your cutlery or holloware.

The use of the dishwasher is possible for all of our products with the exception of the Arts Décoratifs, L'Insolent and Calypso collections.

For all, it is recommended to:

• Place the silver and stainless steel flatware in different baskets, as well as the knives with steel blades.
• Use washing powder only (and especially not liquid or gel), Ercuis recommends “Calgonit” products.
• For sticky or greasy traces, the use of household alcohol is possible.
• For heavily stained cutleyr, a little water mixed with baking soda or vinegar will be perfect for removing any buildup on the pieces, always followed by a good rinse and a thorough drying.
• At the end of the cycle, open the door of the dishwasher to remove water vapor and avoid leaving the silverware in the dishwasher too long.
• When washing by hand, do not use bleach or rubber (gloves, elastic, rubber fabric), which contains sulfur and causes stubborn black marks.
• After washing, dry your silver and stainless steel cutlery and store it in a dry place.

Attention: sterling silver flatware with mounted handles should not be placed in the dishwasher, this will damage the precious and/or natural materials of their handles and would weaken the mounting.

Some people may be reluctant to purchase a piece of silverware because of its maintenance and the "oxidation" phenomenon: a piece turns black and fades in prolonged contact with air.

In fact, silver gradually loses its luster by first acquiring a yellow tint that becomes increasingly black over time. This phenomenon is more or less fast depending on whether the piece will be exposed to heat and humidity or not.

• The first advice for maintenance is frequent use. Indeed, since the staining appears rather slowly, the silver will not have time to darken between uses. In addition, its regular use automatically provides for cleaning and gives all the pieces the true “patina” of silver.
• Store the silverware and steel prducts in a dry environment, avoiding wet pieces. For sterling silver, use a soft cloth to separate each piece to prevent scratching.
• Use anti-oxidant covers for pieces not intended for interior decoration.
• It is not recommanded to use product that contains chlorine, rubber and acids as they can be too aggressive.
• For knife, it is recommended to avoid thermal shocks to prevent weakening the blade and handle assembly.

Attention: the coastal environment could also accelerate the oxidation process.

• Antitarnish gloves and Chamois cloth

They are coated with a special polishing compound that helps to remove dirt, stains, and imperfections of decorative pieces.

• Silver polish

For slight oxidation, apply on a soft dry cloth and rub on the silverware item. Leave it on for a minute before rubbing it off with a dry cloth.

• Silver care cream

For more oxidized or stained items, dampen asponge in warm water and apply the cream. Clean it thoroughly before rinsing in clear warm water. Buff with a soft dry cloth to obtain a brilliant longer lasting luster.

• Silver cultery rinse

For Insolent and Calypso collections, immerse the cutlery in the silver cutlery rinse before washing it in clear water.

The use of the dishwasher is possible for all our collections, provided that the temperature does not exceed 60°C and that abrasive detergents are not used.

It is recommended to:

• Avoid leaving acidic residues on the plate and the dish for too long (marinades, vinaigrettes, sauces...) before starting the washing cycle.
• Choose detergents (without caustic soda or chlorine)
• Open the dishwasher door quickly enough to evacuate the steam after the end of the program.

Hand washing is still recommended to guarantee the perfect preservation of the decorations over time.

Decorations containing gold or platinum should not be used in the microwave because of the precious metals they contain.

Porcelain is composed of three materials heated at 1400°C: 50% kaolin, 25% feldspar and 25% quartz. It is the hardest ceramic existing. It is not porous and is not attacked by grease or acid preparations. However, due to the variety of decoration and heating techniques used for our collections, it is important to respect some rules for the use and maintenance of your porcelain. For the care, it is recommended to:

• Not expose plates to friction, especially when stacking for storage.
• Not use bleach.
• Avoid thermal shock: it is advisable to avoid passing the porcelain directly from the refrigerator to the oven and vice versa.