Washing Wine Glasses: From a Chore to an Art Form

No one is particularly fond of washing dishes, withCrystal is porous and can absorb flavors -
many people reserving it for times when theparticularly soapy flavors - with relative ease. If
tower of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink begins tothis absorption happens, you might have a clean
resemble the Tower of Pisa. But, for those whowine glass, but you will also have a wine glass that
have a collection of wine glasses, particularlyalters the flavor of your wine, adding in a dollop
crystal wine glasses, washing dishes correctlyof detergent.
becomes essential in preserving the glasses abilityUse Washing Soda: Washing soda - and baking
to fully do their job.soda works too, but not as well - is a type of
Non-Crystal Wine Glassescleaning soda that is designed for use on glass in a
Non-crystal wine glasses are not as highgentle, but complete, manner. It is made to be a
maintenance as crystal wine glasses, but they stillcleaner that won't be absorbed by crystal. Most
require a certain know how, knowledge on whatgrocery stores sell it in the detergent aisle.
to do for everything from using dish soap toUse the Force of Lukewarm Water: Like
removing a rabid wine stain that, no matter hownon-crystal wine glasses, crystal wine glasses can
much you yourself whine, will not come out.be washed simply with water. Making sure the
Just Add Water: A simple method in wine glasseswater is lukewarm in temperature, rinse the wine
is to just add water. Rinsing the wine glassesglass repeatedly. If the wine won't come out, add
three or four times in hot water should bejust a drop of very mild detergent and gently
enough to remove all residual wine. And, placingwash with a soft cloth. Never use a steel or a
the wine glasses upside down on a clean cloth,wool pad, your crystal wine glasses will never
when finished, will help the wine glasses in theirspeak to you again.
quest to air dry.Don't Use the Dishwasher: While the Maytag man
A Touch of Soap: Adding just a drop of soap canwould probably assert that dishwashers are safe
help remove a wine glass with a stubborn wineenough for crystal wineglasses, the truth of the
residue. The soap used should be very mild, andmatter is the dishwasher can ruin the wine glass
the cloth used for scrubbing should be soft andone of two ways. While one of these ways
sponge-like. Be sure you rinse all the soap fromsimply involves placing your wine glass in the
the glass; if the tiniest amount remains, you maydishwasher, allowing it to run, and then opening it
find that your next glass of Merlot is as sudsy asup only to find that your one crystal wine glass is
a bottle of beer.now several pieces of crystal wine glass, the
Use the Dishwasher: While it may seem like theother way a dishwasher can ruin it is by allowing
modern day dishwasher is a place where winedetergent to bake into the crystal. This baking
glasses go to die, those that are not made ofcauses the wine glass to cloud, ruining it and
crystal and do not possess long stems canrefuting the old "crystal clear" saying.
actually be washed in this manner. But, if youPlace Over Boiling Water: The experts at the
wash wine glasses in technology, don't use veryRiedel Wine Glass Company suggest that to make
much detergent and don't allow the dishes to beyour crystal wine glass really shine, hold the glass
dried by heat; as soon as the dishwasher isover a pot of boiling water, allowing the steam to
finished rinsing, remove the wineglasses and drycover it. Once this "steam bath" is finished, simply
them by hand.dry the wine glasses with a linen towel.
Crystal Wine GlassesTaking care of dinnerware can be no fun: the
Crystal Wine Glasses are definitely the mosteasily aggravated wine drinker may simply refuse
elegant of glasses and they know it, standing tallto give their dinnerware proper care, telling their
and acting as if they are the Holy Grail. Becausewine collection to kiss their glass. But, taking
of this, they require a lot of tender loving careproper care of wine glasses is elemental in making
and they need more attention than other typessure the wine glasses hold their ability to add to
of dinnerware. If they don't receive it, they willwine's elegance, never losing their edge and
likely rebel, forfeiting their ability to enhance thebeating a regular old cup by a stem.
taste of wine, ruining it in the process.