These coasters work with most dishes in your home or in the market.  Fabric or oddly recessed bottoms may not hold.  Fragile dishes are not recommended.

Stemware with fragile stems will bobble in the wind, so focus on sturdy stems.  Test the hold by attaching the dish to a coaster, push them firmly together at gel point.  Try pulling the coaster straight off the dish to test.  If you can’t remove the coaster by pulling it straight from the dish, it is a good fit.

You can cut the gel pads to fit to odd shaped bottoms.

Glass will work but we recommend that you only use unbreakable.  If you use glass, do not twist to remove the coaster from glass, instead soak in hot water to allow the gel to soften.

They are not just for tabletops!  Hard, flat, non-porous materials are a good fit for the steel base.  

It does not have to be a totally smooth surface, just make sure the surface is as dry and as a clean as possible.  You will see them on vinyl in photos and video on this website, but do not leave them on vinyl for longer than a day or two.  Do not leave them on surfaces exposed to sun for longer than a few days.

Do not apply to teakwood or other fragile and unfinished wood.

Sometimes the gel pads leave debris on the coaster top that seems hard to remove.   Soaking it in Goo Gone and rubbing it away has shown to polish up the coasters nicely.

No.  They are neither dishwasher nor microwave safe.  

To clean the steel base use soapy water or window cleaner on the top (vinyl) and clean water on the gel.  Allow to air dry.

If the coaster top has gel debris on it, you can soak it in Goo Gone and it will clean up nicely.

While it is best not to leave the steel base on any surface in the sun and elements for longer than a few days, sometimes it happens.  

Every time a yellowish discoloration has been seen, it has always corrected.  The surface was washed with soap and water and then left alone.  In a few days, the discoloration was gone.

If the sun causes the material not hidden by the steel base to fade (leaving the area underneath the steel to remain untouched by the sun,) that could be permanent.

Yes.  The sticky gel should not go below -4 degrees or exceed 248 degrees fahrenheit.  

The magnet will become brittle at temperatures of -15 degrees fahrenheit and will lose its power at 170 degrees fahrenheit.  

The gel has not yet been tested in extreme heat environments such as the Bahamas.  We look forward to gathering more information on high heat environments.

Yes.  If your stemware is particularly fragile it can break during removal.  

We do not recommend using any stemware, or dishware, that is particularly fragile or has sentimental or other value to you.  

If you do use stemware with a fragile stem, be sure to avoid pulling the coaster off by stressing the stem in any way.  Instead, soak the coaster and stem under hot water and twist off will be easier.

The gel material for the steel base is slightly different than the gel pads used to hold the magnet to your dish.  The material holding the magnet to the dish is stronger.

Here is what you can expect with each:

When properly cared for, the manufacturer labels the sticky gel on the steel base as washable with warm water and then reusable at least 200 times.

Keep in mind you can move it around many times before it even needs to be washed.  

The gel pads for the coaster are stronger and more waterproof.  However, they are also more fragile.  They can be reused a few times, just double check they are holding each time.  They can become a bit misshapen during the reuse process.  They can also begin to discolor over time, turning a bit yellow and warranting replacement for aesthetic reasons.

The gel pads can also be left on the dish/coaster indefinitely.

According to the manufacturer, humidity does not affect the sticky gel.  However, if it gets wet it will not re-stick again until it is dry.  If you are in a high humidity environment, for best results, assure that the gel is attached to dry surfaces.

As long as the gel on the steel base does not get too dirty or wet, it can be moved from one hard surface to another many times before washing.  

Make sure each placement happens on a clean and dry surface.  

 Always test for security before use and if you notice that it is not sticking well, it is time for a wash. 

If you wash and air dry it and it still isn’t sticky enough, it may be time to replace the  steel base.

In simulated testing, one magnetic coaster held a serving bowl with contents that weighed 2 1/2 pounds.  So far, a full 8 inch tumbler is the highest tested on a boat during speed, turns, and waves.

You can always double-up on the number of coasters for heavier bowls or platters, putting two or more side by side if space provides.   

Always keep in mind that the taller a cup/dish/tumbler, the more stress the magnet and gel will experience during motion, so height will play a larger role than weight.  Please stay tuned as we gather more information on height and weight limits, and, again, we would love to hear from you.

Indoor simulated testing suggests that they will work quite well under those conditions, provided they are used within the tabletop, dish, and care requirements.  Please stay tuned as we gather more information, and we would love to hear from you.

Sometimes the rubber steel will appear bent.  It will correct itself when it is flat for a few hours.