Cleaning Wine Glasses
Wine should always be served in a sparkling clear glass. A spotted or foggy wine glass detracts from the experience of tasting a fine wine. We can show you how to always serve crystal-clear wine glasses to your guests.
Most wine glasses, even those made of fine crystal, tend to develop a foggy coating over time. This is primarily due to hard water and harsh detergents. Once this foggy look sets in, it may be hard to remove. Sometimes, when a wine glass is foggy the only solution is to throw them away and purchase a new set. If you invested in an expensive set of wine glasses, this can be discouraging. However, with a little preventative care, your wine glasses can be maintained in pristine condition for a long time.
After each use, clean the wine glasses carefully. Always clean them by hand. Never use a dishwasher. In a dishwasher, high temperatures and harsh detergents can cause the glass to become dull and etched, which over time will lead to the wine glasses having a cloudy look. This is especially problematic with fine crystal and cut class. Several years ago my wife collected fine crystal and was told that it was good to place them in the dishwasher because it “strengthened the crystal.” What a load of bunk. It did not take long before most of the collection was permanently and irreparably etched and had to be replaced.
When hand-washing the glasses, use warm water and a small amount of regular dish detergent. If you have serious problems with hard water, add a little vinegar to the water. You don’t have to use vinegar with every wash, but adding a few ounces to dishwater every 3 or 4 washings is appropriate. The vinegar will cut the scale and help prevent clouding.
Always hand-dry wine glasses, preferably with a linen towel. Never just set them down on their rims to dry because spots will form as the water dries. If you have stemware that looks a little dusty or has picked up a slight film from the air, there is method used by fine restaurants that quickly removed any residue and allows you to polish the glass to crystal clarity. Simply hold the glass over steam and them polish it with a linen towel.
If the wine glasses have already developed a cloudy appearance, soak them in white vinegar for an hour or two. After that, hand wash them with warm water and detergent. If the wine glasses still appear cloudy after doing so, you may need to repeat the process two to three more times before to see if the problem is a scaly film that can be removed. If the film does not come off, the best solution is to simply replace the glasses with a new set, because the glasses have probably become scratched or etched and are not salvageable.
Proper cleaning of wine glasses is necessary if you want the best wine drinking experience. In addition, properly cleaning of wine glasses will keep them in great shape and looking good for many years to come.
