To help you ensure that your beautiful glass pieces last as long as possible and receive proper care and maintenance, we put together a brief cleaning guide to help you master the basics.
Things to Remember
When cleaning your glassware, it’s important to remember that these pieces are indeed breakable—some are more delicate than others—and ensuring that you’re handling your items properly is key. Additionally, you don’t want to be too harsh on your glassware if you don’t need to be. Use milder, least aggressive methods first to clean your glassware. For example, daily or weekly maintenance may include wiping your glassware with a soft, dry cloth after each use.
What You Need
When preparing to clean your glassware, you will need the following.
- Soap or dishwashing liquid
- Warm to lukewarm water
- Soft cloth for drying
- Glass cleaner (optional)
- Vinegar (optional)
- Rubbing alcohol (optional)
Cleaning Your Glassware
The simplest way to clean your glass is to rinse in warm soapy water and then wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth. Additional methods may include spritzing with a glass cleaner or using a water-based vinegar solution.
Hard to Remove Stains
If you’re seeking to remove more substantial stains, clean your glassware with a mild dishwashing detergent. You may also use rubbing alcohol to tackle more specific, stubborn spots. However, do be aware that if the glass has a film or color overlay, you may be at risk of damaging the glass with these harsher methods. This risk may be amplified when it comes to colored glassware pieces.
Tips When Cleaning Glassware
Avoid thermal shock. This occurs when a glass experiences a quick and drastic change in temperature. Taking a dish right from the dishwasher and filling it with ice and water is one common way that thermal shock occurs. Always adjust glasses to different temperatures slowly by letting them change to room temperature first.
Maintaining your glassware over time ensures that you will be less likely to have to employ harsher cleaning methods that can result in damage, as outlined above. Given how frequently we wash our day-to-day dishes, why not take some time to care for our decorative pieces, too?
