Milk contains a protein, casein, that, with heat, can be formed into a natural plastic. Use this to your advantage if you ever crack a fine plate or dish that looks fine otherwise by dunking it in some milk.


Image via geishaboy500.

The Apartment Therapy blog suggests a nothing-to-lose strategy of dealing with non-shattering cracks in good China, using the secretly binding powers of milk:

You place your cracked piece in a pot and cover it with two cups of milk (or more if needed). Next, heat over low for an hour. Allow to cool in milk and then remove and rinse. Your piece, if the crack wasn't too far gone, should now have resealed itself!


It's a good bit of milk, and may seem a bit crazy, but you've often got nothing to lose, especially if it's a hairline crack ruining an otherwise beautiful piece. How have you saved your own slightly busted dishes or other pieces?

Repair Cracked China with Milk! [Apartment Therapy]