Caring for brass, wood, leather and pottery

Trays and teapots, thuya boxes, leather poufs, painted plates: how to clean them, what damages them, and how to get rid of the smell of a new pouf.

Moroccan crafts are made from natural materials that react to water, sun and heating. A few habits keep them looking good for a lifetime.

In short

Nothing on this page goes in a dishwasher.
Dry metal straight after washing. Water marks are what dull brass and silver-coloured trays.
Keep wood and leather away from radiators and direct sun.
Painted, decorative pottery is for serving and display, not for cooking.

Regular care: warm soapy water, a soft cloth, and dry at once.
To bring back the shine: rub with half a lemon dipped in fine salt, or with a paste of vinegar, salt and flour. Leave it ten minutes, rinse, dry and buff.
Lacquered brass, which stays shiny and never darkens: soapy water only. Polish and lemon remove the lacquer.
The dark tone of old brass is a patina, and many people prefer it. Decide before you polish: it takes years to come back.
Green spots on copper: lemon and salt, then rinse well.
Copper pans must be lined with tin inside to be used for food. Have them tinned again when the copper shows through.

Most Moroccan teapots and trays are nickel silver (maillechort) or plated brass, not solid silver.
Wash by hand, dry at once, and polish now and then with a silver cloth.
Tea stains inside a teapot: fill it with hot water and a spoon of bicarbonate of soda, leave it one hour and rinse. Never scour the inside.
A teapot that goes on the flame must be made for it. Decorative teapots have soldered joints that melt: ask when you buy.
Store teapots with the lid open, so the inside dries.

Thuya from Essaouira is a burl wood with a strong pattern and a warm smell. It cracks if it dries out: no radiator, no sunny window sill.
Dust with a dry cloth. Twice a year, rub in a little beeswax polish or a few drops of oil, and buff.
A white ring left by a hot glass often goes with a little oil and patience.
Cedar keeps its smell for years and keeps moths away. A light sanding inside a cedar chest revives it.
Painted wood (zouak) on doors, tables and shelves: dust only. Water lifts the paint.

Poufs are sold empty so that they travel flat. Fill them with old clothes, towels or cushion filling, pressed in firmly; a good pouf takes more than you expect.
The smell of a new pouf comes from traditional tanning. Before filling it, leave it open in fresh air for several days, out of the sun, with bicarbonate of soda or coffee grounds inside.
Dyed leather can leave colour on a pale carpet or sofa, especially when damp. Test with a white cloth, and keep dark poufs off pale rugs at first.
Clean with a barely damp cloth. Feed the leather twice a year with a colourless leather cream.
Sun fades and dries leather. Rain marks it: let it dry slowly, away from heat.

Blue and white from Fès, the colours of Safi, the green of Tamegroute: wash by hand, and no microwave if there is metallic paint.
The glazes of decorative pieces are not always made for food. Use them for bread, fruit and dry pastries, or as decoration.
For cooking, and for acidic food such as tomato, lemon and vinegar, use only pieces sold as safe for food and free of lead.
Unglazed terracotta absorbs: no perfumed soap, and dry it fully before putting it away.
A serving dish with a chipped glaze: keep it for decoration.