None of this is complicated. It is mostly about keeping water, heat and direct sun away from finishes that were not designed for them.
Glazed ceramic and porcelain
Wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry it. Skip abrasive pads and bleach — they dull a matte glaze permanently. Vases holding water should be emptied and dried between uses so mineral rings do not set. Decorative ceramic is not dishwasher safe and is not food safe unless the listing says so.
Glass
Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid, and a lint-free cloth. For cloudy mineral film in a narrow vase, half a cup of white vinegar and warm water left for an hour will clear it. Never move glass straight from cold water to a hot surface.
Cast resin
Dust with a dry soft brush, then a barely damp cloth if needed. Resin is the most sun-sensitive material we carry — prolonged direct sunlight can yellow pale finishes over months, so keep it off a south-facing windowsill. No solvents, no alcohol wipes.
Metal and plated finishes
Dry-dust only. Plated gold and brass finishes are a micron thick — a damp cloth is fine, metal polish is not, and it will strip the plating. If wax pools on a holder, let it set completely and lift it out cold rather than scraping it warm.
Solid wood
Dry cloth. Never soak it, never leave it on a wet surface. If oiled wood looks dry after a year, a little food-grade mineral oil on a cloth restores it. Keep wood away from radiators — dry heat is what causes splitting.
Woven cotton and textiles
Shake out and vacuum on low with a brush head. Spot clean with cool water and a mild detergent. Do not machine wash a wall hanging: the weave will pull out of shape and it will not hang flat again.
Candles
First burn matters — let the melt pool reach the edge of the vessel, roughly two hours, or the candle will tunnel for the rest of its life. Trim the wick to about 5 mm before each burn. Never burn for more than four hours at a time, and never leave a lit candle unattended or within reach of children and pets.
Natural variation
Glaze depth, wood grain, resin tone and weave density vary between pieces made in the same batch. That is inherent to these materials rather than a defect. If what arrived looks meaningfully different from the listing photographs, that is a different matter — tell us.