Take Good Care Of Glassware

Keep your glassware sparkling and in good condition with common-sense care.

If your glassware is old, finely crafted or made of delicate materials, be very gentle when handling it. This includes glued or repaired pieces, cut or etched glass and any decorated with gold or silver.

Here are some care tips:

Washing

Although most glassware today is dishwasher-safe, it’s best to wash fine or delicate pieces by hand.

The water should be fresh and hot. For extra luster, add a pinch of laundry bluing or ammonia to the suds. Rinse thoroughly.

Drying

Drain glasses and other glassware upside down on a drying rack or a heavy towel.

Dry glassware with a linen towel to keep it lint-free.

Dishwashers

Space glasses in a dishwasher so they don’t touch the dishes. Never wash glasses or glassware in the bottom of the dishwasher.

Dishwashing detergent sometimes leaves a cloudy-looking fine etching in glass that is almost impossible to remove. Try using gel dishwashing compound. Or use less detergent and load fewer dishes.

Water spots on your glassware? Use a rinse agent in your dishwasher. If your dishwasher doesn’t have a dispenser for liquid rinse agent, get the agent in a solid bar that hooks to the upper rack.

Stains, scratches, chips

To remove stains from glassware, fill them with water and add 1 teaspoon of ammonia; let them soak overnight. Or try rubbing the stain with baking soda. To remove hard-water calcium deposits, soak the glassware for a day or two in distilled water with a small amount of vinegar added. Soak stained crystal in a solution made with a couple of denture-cleaning tablets.

To remove scratches, mix your own scratch remover. Blend equal parts of glycerin, jeweler’s rouge (available in crafts stores) and water into a smooth paste. Apply the paste to the scratched areas with a clean cloth and rub it in. Rinse with clear water.

Storing

Store glassware on shelves lined with flannel-backed plastic, heavy paper or rubber mats.

If stacked glasses get stuck together, separate them quickly by filling the top one with cold water and dunking the bottom one in hot water. Then gently pry them apart.