The glass used in Iittala glassware is high quality and optically very clear. It resists both chemical and mechanical wear well. All of Iittala’s utility glasses can be washed in the dishwasher. For pressed glass, such as Raami, Kartio, Kastehelmi and Aino Aalto tumblers, and mouth-blown Ultima Thule glasses we recommend max 50 °C water temperature and using dishwasher tablets or powder. The glasses should be positioned in the top rack of the dishwasher so that they do not touch each other during the wash cycle. The surface area of glass expands when heated and therefore glasses should not be stacked while still warm from washing as they then may stick together and break. Hot glasses taken out of the dishwasher should be allowed to cool down before filling with cold water.
For hot drinks, use only glasses that are made of heat-resistant special glass - HotCool and Tsaikka. These glasses can also be used in microwave oven. All other Iittala glasses and glass pitchers are meant only for cold drinks and should not be used for hot drinks or in microwave oven.

Delicate stemware, pitchers and jugs, mugs, large-footed dessert bowls and objects with glass of varying thickness should be washed by hand and we recommend hand wash only. To clean these items use regular dish washing detergent and a soft dish washing brush. Rinse well and leave to dry or dry with a soft cloth.

For glass vases we recommend hand washing. If there are stubborn stains on your flower vase, soak the vase in 1dl laundry detergent to one liter of water. Do not scrub, as scouring powder or abrasive scrubbing pads scratch and spoil the surface.

The so-called burning lens phenomenon may damage objects and surfaces in the vicinity of the glass object. To avoid this, do not leave a lens-shaped thick glass object or vase filled with water in direct sunlight.

We recommend hand washing all vases. If stubborn deposits have formed inside your vase, for example from standing flower water, soak the vase in a cleaning solution (1 dl laundry detergent to 1 litre of water). Do not scrub the surface, as abrasive cleaning agents and scouring pads can cause scratches and permanent damage.

Glass objects may create a magnifying glass effect that can damage nearby objects and surfaces. To prevent this, do not leave a lens-shaped vase filled with water, or any thick glass object, in direct sunlight.

Iittala uses vitro porcelain, which is a modern, durable porcelain with a slightly off-white shade. Most Iittala china is oven, microwave and freezer safe apart from a few products which don’t have the durability mark on the back stamp. Do not, however, take a dish straight from the oven and put it into a cold, wet surface or put it on steel. Do not put a dish straight into a hot oven from the freezer.

A dish filled with liquid is not freezer safe, as liquid expands when it freezes. Do not use the dish if it has a crack because in a sudden temperature change the dish can break. And finally if you cook frozen food in the microwave it should be cooked in low-heat.

When in the oven, the bottom of the dish must be completely covered with liquid or food throughout the heating process. It can stand 250 celsius degrees and must be at least 10 cm away from the grill elements. Cool before placing in freezer, do not put in a hot oven directly from the freezer.

As it is mainly knives that are pressed hardest against the surface of plates, the majority of cutlery manufacturers now make serrated knives from tempered steel. (It is not worth making serrated knives from non-tempered stainless steel as the serrated edge would wear down quite quickly.) The stainless steel of cutlery is relatively soft and can cause black spots on the porcelain if pressed hard against the surface of plates. The spots can not be removed with regular washing, but gently rub a metal scrubbing agent onto the surface. To maintain the durability of the glazed surface, avoid friction while piling the plates.

Freezer safe: Iittala items are freezer safe, but hot dishes and foods should be cooled before placed in the freezer. Similarly frozen dishes should not be placed in a hot oven or microwave oven. Do not freeze liquids as they expand when frozen.

Oven safe: Most Iittala cooking and porcelain items are oven safe up to 250 ºC. The base of the dish should be covered with liquid or food while in the oven. The distance to the oven grill should be at least 10 cm. Do not place a hot Iittala dish in the freezer or a cold dish in a hot oven.

Microwave safe: Iittala porcelain and heat-resistant glass items are microwave oven safe and can be used for defrosting, re-heating and cooking in the microwave oven. However, do not defrost frozen porcelain dishes, i.e. dishes with food recently taken out of the freezer, on full effect in the microwave oven.

Dishwasher safe: Iittala products marked with the “dishwasher safe” symbol can be washed in the dishwasher. Place the dishes in the dishwasher so that they do not touch each other during the wash cycle, as that may result in shipping. Fill the dishwasher evenly on both levels. Rinse very dirty dishes before washing them in the dishwasher. Rinsing for example milk glasses before washing in the dishwasher is rec-ommended as dairy products may create a cloudy film on the glass when washed in high temperatures.

All of Iittala’s utility glasses can be washed in the dishwasher. The glasses should be positioned in the top rack of the dishwasher so that they do not touch each other during the wash cycle. The surface area of glass expands when heated and therefore glasses should not be stacked while still warm from washing as they then may stick together and break. Delicate stemware, pitchers and jugs, mugs, large-footed dessert bowls and objects with glass of varying thickness should be washed by hand.

Do not allow a candle to burn all the way down in a glass candleholder. Extinguish the candle when approximately 1 to 2 cm of wax remains before it reaches the top surface of the holder. This helps prevent heat from the flame from damaging the glass.

In tealight holders, use only high-quality tealights in metal cups with a maximum diameter of 40 mm. Ensure that there is sufficient space for air circulation between the tealight and the sides of the glass holder. Never move a burning tealight, as the wick may shift in the melted wax.

When using any candle product, always follow the general safety and warning instructions provided for candles. Always place candleholders on a non-combustible surface and in a draft-free location. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Do not place candles in hot locations or on top of a television, and keep all candle products out of the reach of children and pets. Do not drop foreign objects, such as matches, into or onto a candle. Never place flammable materials, such as curtains, above or near a candle or candleholder. Always extinguish candles and lanterns before leaving the room.

When arranging multiple glass candleholders together, leave a minimum distance of 3 cm between them. By following these safety precautions, you can safely enjoy the warm atmosphere of candlelight and the sparkle of Finnish glass.

Cast iron cookware is exceptionally durable, able to withstand high temperatures, heavy use, and everyday wear. Thanks to its excellent heat retention properties, cast iron is ideal for frying, searing, and slow cooking.

A new cast iron item should be lightly coated with cooking oil after its first few uses. Cast iron cookware must not be washed in a dishwasher. Avoid using dishwashing detergent as well; wiping the surface with paper towels or rinsing with warm water is usually sufficient. Dry the cookware thoroughly, preferably by warming it gently on a stovetop. Do not store food in cast iron cookware. When storing a cast iron item with a lid, place a sheet of kitchen paper inside and leave the lid slightly ajar when the cookware is not in use.

If rust develops, it can be removed by re-seasoning the cookware as follows: Wash the item with detergent and remove the rust using a scouring pad or coarse salt. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. Rub the interior surface with unsalted lard or ordinary cooking oil. Heat the cookware in an oven at 250°C (when using lard) for approximately 30 minutes, or at 150°C (when using cooking oil) for 1 to 2 hours. Wipe away any excess fat or oil, and the cookware will be ready for use again.

Enamelled Cast Iron Cast iron cookware may also be coated with enamel. Enamel protects the surface against rust and strengthens it. In enamelled products food can be prepared in the oven or on the stove with good results every time. Food cooks evenly and browns well. The enamelled surface prevents food flavors from sticking to the pot, so use can use the same pot for cooking fish as well as meat.

Use wooden or plastic kitchen utensils. Sharp objects and scouring agents and sponges can damage the enamel. Always wash enamelled cast iron products by hand, with our without washing liquid. Occasionally, it is recommended to treat the enamelled surface with cooking oil.

Iittala trays and trivets complement your Iittala collection. Plywood or wood trays should not be washed in the dishwasher. They can safely be wiped and washed by hand with water. Soaking is, however, not recommended.

Brass products become beautifully patinated over time. They become darker and less shiny, which is typical of brass. The product should be washed with neutral washing-up liquid, rinsed and dried immediately with a soft piece of cloth. Stains should be removed immediately with a soft piece of cloth. Tarnish can be removed using a silver cleaning cloth or paste. Liquid silver cleaning agents are not suitable for brass. Abrasives must not be used, because they scratch the surface of the metal.

Our cutlery is made from 18/10 stainless steel, an alloy consisting of iron with 18% chromium and 10% nickel. Chromium provides corrosion resistance, while nickel enhances the material's formability and durability.

Stainless steel is an exceptionally durable material, but even it can develop rust under certain conditions. To date, no material has been invented that is completely immune to corrosion. For this reason, it is important to care for your stainless-steel cutlery properly.

Wash your cutlery promptly after use, or at the very least rinse away any food residues. Do not leave cutlery soaking for extended periods and never use steel wool for cleaning. If washing cutlery in a dishwasher, do not overcrowd the cutlery basket. Ensure that knife blades and spoon bowls are not nested together. After the wash cycle, open the dishwasher door to allow moisture to escape and prevent the cutlery from standing in humid air.

Wine vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, rhubarb, and salt may cause small dark spots or even surface rust if they are not rinsed or washed off promptly after use.

Despite their durability, cutlery may become scratched, stained, or show signs of wear over time. Heavily soiled or older cutlery can be restored to a bright finish using the following treatment: dissolve 1 dl of laundry detergent powder in 1 litre of water, bring the solution to a boil, and boil the cutlery in it for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Particularly stubborn stains can be removed with an acid-base treatment. First, boil the cutlery in a solution of ordinary white vinegar (1 dl vinegar to 1 litre of water). The detergent treatment described above may then be used to complete the cleaning process.

Some serving utensils are made of wood. Wooden items should always be washed by hand. If necessary, they can be treated with linseed oil to help maintain their appearance and condition.

Some cookware items feature a non-stick coating. Cooking with non-stick cookware is both convenient and healthy, as it allows you to use less fat and lower cooking temperatures while helping to prevent food from sticking or burning. We do not recommend using non-stick cookware for food storage.

Use moderate heat for prolonged cooking. Temperatures above 250°C may damage the coating and reduce its non-stick performance. If the cookware is overheated, the coating may become discoloured and its performance may deteriorate. Such damage is considered misuse and is not covered by the product warranty.

Use wooden or plastic utensils with coated cookware. Do not scratch the coating with sharp objects, and avoid using abrasive cleaning powders or scouring pads.

To remove dried-on or burnt-on food residue, soak the cookware in a cleaning solution consisting of ½-1 dl laundry detergent per 1 litre of water. Then brush clean, rinse thoroughly, and dry.

Ceramic coating is a modern cookware coating that can withstand high temperatures and is even suitable for flambéing. The coating is resistant to metal kitchen utensils, but it is not designed to withstand sharp objects or cutting directly on the surface. Cookware with a ceramic coating is suitable for all types of cooktops, particularly fast and powerful induction and gas hobs.

For the best cooking results and flavour, use a small amount of oil or fat when cooking. Although ceramic coatings tolerate high temperatures, avoid prolonged overheating of the pan. Excessive heat can damage the coating material, making food more likely to stick to the surface.

If food begins to stick to the pan, clean it as follows: Fill the pan with 1 litre of hot water mixed with 1 teaspoon of dishwasher detergent and leave it to soak. Then remove any stubborn residue with a dish brush. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Ceramic coatings are not resistant to steel wool or abrasive scouring pads. If food still sticks to the pan after cleaning, heat some pork fat, such as bacon slices, in the pan over high heat and then wipe the surface clean with paper towel.

Iittala votives and candleholder require special attention. Burn within sight. Never leave a candle burning unattended; extinguish any burning flame when you leave the room. Extinguish the candle by suffocating the flame. Keep away from things that catch fire. Always burn candle holders on a fireproof base. Never place a candle holder beneath or in the immediate proximity of combustible materials (e.g. curtains, table clothes). Do not use scratched, chipped, or otherwise damaged candle holders.

Trim the wick to 8 mm (0.3 inch) each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping, pool fire or flaring. Keep candle holders away from children and pets. Do not drop foreign objects into a candle holder or onto a candle (e.g. a match). Do not place a candle in a drafty or hot place, or on top of a television. Never touch or move candle or holder while hot; allow to cool or until wax hardens as the wick may shift in the melted wax. Do not burn an ordinary candle right to the end: extinguish it approx. 1-2 cm (1 inch) above the candle holder so that the heat of the flame will not crack the candleholder.

Use only good quality metalcupped tealight candles (no other types of candle) in a candle holder. The candles should have a maximum diameter of 40 mm (1.5 inches). Leave an adequate gap for air to circulate between a tealight candle and the walls of a glass candle holder. If your candle holder has a hanging cord, always use the original metal spacing holder, otherwise the cord could snap due to the heat. When grouping candles in arrangements, glass candle holders must be at least three cm (1.2 inches) apart from each other. Do not wash candle holder in dishwasher.