In this post I share the simple techniques I use in my studio to seal ceramics.

Here’s how your handmade vase or your vintage finds can safely embrace flowers without fear of leaving marks on your table

 

 

Have you ever fallen in love with a ceramic vase, only to discover it leaves mysterious water rings on your table?

Don’t worry!!

There’s a simple fix and it doesn’t involve harsh chemicals.

All you need is a little milk or yogurt

This old trick, a best-kept secret from grandma’s wisdom is surprisingly simple:

Fill the vase with whole milk or plain yogurt, leave it overnight, and let the fats do their magic.

They soak into the clay, sealing the pores from the inside.

Once rinsed, there’s no smell, and your vase is ready to hold fresh flowers again — often for a year or more.

When the effect fades, simply repeat the process.

To understand why some vases leak or create damp marks, it helps to know a little about clay

• Earthenware (think terracotta pots) stays porous even after firing. Water will always find its way through. Beautiful in its rustic red tones, but not naturally watertight.
• Stoneware is fired at much higher temperatures, so the clay body vitrifies and becomes much denser. This makes stoneware vases more water-resistant, though not 100% guaranteed. Tiny hairline cracks in the glaze — often invisible — can still let water seep through. This is especially common in vintage vases, where years of use have created fine stress lines.

 

So before you give up on that charming terracotta vase or vintage find, try this gentle ritual.  Sometimes, all it takes is a splash of milk to make your vase bloom again.

 

Other Options

If you prefer a ready-made product, ceramic supply shops,  such as Colpaert (https://www.colpaertonline.be/nl/) in Belgium, sell sealing liquids.You simply pour them into the vase to create a barrier.

These are more chemical solutions, but they can be very effective.