A clean studio is a healthy studio! Please leave the space cleaner than you found it! Cleanliness of the entire studio is the responsibility of every student. If you see something that can be made a little bit better, take initiative to tend to it for the next person (you might be that next person the next time you attend the studio). Respect for our shared studio space is required and expected of all students.

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT WATER USAGE

• Do not run water continuously at the sinks. This will overflow the clay traps underneath!

• Always use the sink buckets to rinse tools, bats, and splash pans thoroughly. You may do a final quick rinse under the faucet if necessary.

THE GOLDE RULE - sponges vs. rags

• Use a large damp sponge for heavy messes, then always finish with a clean, damp rag to remove any remaining clay or glaze debris and dust. (Sponges leave residue; rags ensure a clean finish. The less dust left on our equipment, supplies and floors, the healthier the environment for everyone).

1. At Your Wheel (or table)

• Soak up excess water from wheel splash pan with a large cleanup sponge (not the small round pottery sponges), then squeeze water into throwing bucket.

• Take apart splash pan; scrape slip and water into your throwing bucket.

• Wipe down wheel, tools, and splash pan at your wheel using throwing bucket water.

• After you have gotten as much clay clean-up done at your wheel as possible, THEN carry throwing bucket to sink. While catching clay chunks with your hand, pour water off the top of your throwing bucket into sink buckets (not directly into sink).

• Please try not to let too much clay slip get into the sink!

• NO throwing water should be dumped into the clay slip bucket that’s on the floor for clay recycling. NO GLAZE WATER IN CLAY DISCARD BUCKETS!

• If trimming at wheel or tables, please sweep up any dry clay scraps from the floor under your work area. Always sweep in “slow motion” as to avoid kicking up clay and glaze dust into the air.

• Use the mop or a damp rag to remove wet clay or slip from around your work area floor.

• If you are working at a table only, please wipe down all tools, ware boards, hand-building boards, and your work area, stool and surrounding floor area with a damp rag. Sweep up any dry clay or glaze scraps from under table area if necessary.

2. Clay Disposal & Recycling (if not keeping your own clay scraps for re-use)

• Wet slip (studio clay only): Scoop chunks of clay slip from your bucket into the screened slip bucket. Push wet clay through screen—don’t leave it piled on top. Use scraper if screen is clogged.

• Dry/hard clay (trimmings, dried greenware, clay too hard to re-wedge): Break into small pieces and put in the dry scraps bucket. No bisqueware or glaze.

• Soft, reusable clay: Wedge and return to your clay bag. Students may take an extra empty clay bag (if available) for wet or dry clay scraps if needed.

• Tools, sponges, rags: Quick rinse if needed, then return to proper place (don’t run water too long) and do not leave tools in or on sink.

3. Final Wipe-Down of Work Area

• Use a damp CLEAN rag with clean water to wipe down your work area and equipment:

  • Wheel body, stool, legs, under and around edges of wheel head, and floor around your wheel.

  • Splash pan and wooden wheel table infront of the wheel.

  • Bats (scrape and wipe off wet or dry clay chunks into clay recycling bins or your clay bag before returning to crates).

  • Wareboards (scrape and clean before shelving).

• Empty dirty water into sink buckets (not slip bucket). Give your tools, sponges, bucket, and rag a final quick rinse before putting them away. Please do not put away DIRTY sponges and rags! Rinse them out for the next person!

4. Before You Leave - Look around!

• Turn off wheels; place stools and pedals on top of wheels with splash pans.

• Wipe down any shared common spaces you used (or didn’t use): sink surfaces, faucets, wedging table, clay cart, counters, work tables, etc.

• Spot mop floor if clay or glaze splashed during class.

• Do one last look—if you see clay or glaze residue, whether its wet or dry, wipe it down with a rag to eliminate as much dust as possible.

• Last but not least…slow down, appreciate your efforts, and smile at yourself or someone else - you showed up today, and you did a great job!