Have you ever been asked a question and expected a clear answer, but the answer you got was “it depends”? Well, we will answer this question with “it depends” and provide you with the considerations included in this answer. Therefore, when trying to determine the lifespan of melamine board, you must consider the following points:
- Frequency of use
- Importance of brand image
- Cleaning method
- Usage environment
- Pay attention to maintenance
Melamine tableware has become a common choice for many families and catering industries due to its advantages such as durability, lightness and easy cleaning. In order to keep your melamine tableware in good condition for a long time, it is important to understand its normal lifespan and the correct maintenance methods.
Let’s review the above considerations to determine the lifespan of melamine board.
Normal lifespan of melamine tableware:
Generally speaking, the service life of melamine tableware is between 5 and 10 years, and the specific lifespan is affected by many factors:
1. Frequency of use:
Tableware with high frequency of use, such as melamine tableware in restaurants or school cafeterias, may have a shorter lifespan than melamine tableware used at home.
In any catering establishment, if you want your melamine tableware to last a long time, you must determine how many times (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) the plates will be used, how many menu items will use a specific plate, and how often the plates will be used.
For example, if you have 8 dishes on your menu and 4 of them use the same plate, there is a 50% chance that the plate will be used. Assuming your restaurant serves 200 people and you know that 50% of your guests will order from the menu, you know that those trays will be used at least 100 times a day or so.
Therefore, it is important to prepare three sets of the required plates (one set in use, one set in cleaning, and one set in storage), which will extend the life of the plates because a plate will not be used repeatedly.
2. The importance of brand image:
This is a more subjective factor. Although melamine tableware does not have any damage, if you will focus on shaping your brand image through these exquisite melamine tableware, you will naturally replace its melamine tableware according to the changes in the menu or catering theme to support the overall new look.
While we will share ways to extend the life of your melamine plates; however, the most important consideration for you is how you want to project your brand image. Many people would assume that melamine plates can last for years if properly cared for; however, if plates are kept longer than they should, melamine will begin to lose its luster and, like ceramic, will show normal wear and tear (although ceramic has a much shorter lifespan as it is prone to cracking, chipping, or breaking).
So, we believe that in order to stay ahead of the competition and provide your guests with a sought-after experience, it is critical to maintain your brand image by replacing the plates you use to serve your customers.
Rule of thumb: Visually inspect your melamine plates for wear and tear, such as knife marks in the middle, dullness/loss of luster, chips, or cracks. If you have enough plates, you should replace 10-20% of them every year. If you don’t, then your replacement rate will be higher.
3. Cleaning Methods:
The wrong cleaning method can cause scratches on the surface of the tableware, which will affect its life.Storage
4. Conditions:
Exposing to high temperatures or direct sunlight for a long time will cause the melamine material to age and shorten the life of the tableware.
5. Usage environment:
Contact with acidic and alkaline substances or high temperature environment will accelerate the damage of melamine tableware.
How to maintain melamine tableware to extend its life?
To extend the service life of melamine tableware, here are some specific maintenance methods:
1. Proper cleaning:
– Use mild detergent and warm water to clean melamine tableware. Avoid using detergents containing strong abrasives and wire brushes, as these will scratch the surface of the tableware.
– For stubborn stains, you can soak it in warm water for a few minutes and then gently scrub it with a soft cloth or soft brush.
– Avoid using bleach and chlorine-containing detergents, which will discolor and embrittle melamine tableware.
2. Avoid high temperature environment:
– Melamine tableware is not suitable for use in microwave ovens, as high temperatures will cause the material to decompose and release harmful substances.
– Avoid placing melamine tableware in the oven or contact with fire.
– When serving hot food, try to avoid temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Celsius.
3. Proper storage:
– Avoid excessive overlap of tableware during storage to prevent scratches caused by friction.
– Store tableware in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
4. Regular inspection:
– Check the condition of melamine tableware regularly. If you find cracks, deformation or obvious color changes, replace it in time.
– Avoid prolonged contact with acidic or alkaline foods, which may corrode the tableware.
5. Avoid severe impact:
– Try to avoid severe physical impact on melamine tableware. Although melamine materials have good drop resistance, excessive impact will still cause the tableware to crack or break.
6. Proper use:
– Melamine tableware is suitable for cold and warm food, but not for extremely hot fried food or direct heating over an open flame.
– Try to avoid melamine tableware from contacting metal utensils to reduce scratches and damage.
Tips to extend the life of melamine tableware:
- Choose a high-quality brand: When purchasing, choose a reputable and quality-assured brand. Its products are more guaranteed in terms of materials and craftsmanship and have a longer service life.
- Pay attention to the use temperature: Avoid using melamine tableware at high temperatures for a long time, especially do not use it in high-temperature heating equipment such as microwave ovens and ovens.
- Disinfect regularly: Although melamine tableware is easy to clean, for the sake of hygiene, it should be disinfected regularly, using mild disinfectant or high-temperature water.
Melamine tableware has become an important choice for many families and the catering industry due to its unique performance and practicality. However, reasonable use and maintenance methods are the key to extending its service life. Through the correct cleaning method, avoiding high temperature environments, proper storage, and regular inspections, you can ensure that melamine tableware is in the best condition during use and extend its service life.
As long as we pay more attention in daily use, melamine tableware can not only maintain its beauty and functionality, but also save us the cost of long-term replacement of tableware, becoming a lasting choice on the dining table.
