Crystal/glass care and use

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GLASSES

Most crystal glasses are only dishwasher-safe to a limited extent and can withstand at least 1000 washes (max. 40°C) if loaded correctly, without their shine or clarity being demonstrably impaired.

Glasses marked "hand wash only" or "not dishwasher safe" or supplied in packaging with no care/cleaning instructions are not dishwasher safe and should be cleaned by hand.

USE OF A DISHWASHER:

  • Glassware is best cared for by avoiding harsh detergents and selecting a short wash cycle at a low temperature (max.40°C).
  • When placing the glasses in the dishwasher, make sure that there is enough space between them so that they do not touch each other or other objects
  • If possible, load your glasses on the top shelf and use the glass holder if your dishwasher has one. This holder is designed to secure your glasses so that they do not slip during the washing process. When loading, make sure that the glasses do not touch any other objects, such as metal utensils or cups. Stack your glasses so that they do not come into contact with other shelves or the spray arms.
  • Certain glasses may be too high to fit in the top rack. If your dishwasher has a special program for glasses, you can carefully place the glasses on the bottom shelf, following the instructions above. Otherwise, they should be cleaned by hand.
  • If available, you should use a handle holder in the dishwasher, as this supports the glasses and prevents them from shifting.
  • To avoid stains or clouding: Use soft water (low mineral content).
  • To prevent scratches: Avoid contact of glass with other glass or metal
  • Use high-quality dishwasher tabs that are specifically recommended for the care of glass. As an ecological alternative, you can also use white vinegar as a rinse aid for an optimum shine. (only applies to glass and not crystal items)

SETTING THE DISHWASHER:
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DISHWASHER IS SET TO THE OPTIMUM SETTING.

This means:

  • Rinse cycle: your rinse aid must be dosed correctly and optimally. Please ensure that your dishwasher is always sufficiently filled with rinse aid.
    Water softening: Extremely soft water attacks the glass.
  • The dishwasher's water softener must therefore be adjusted to the hardness of your household water and should correspond to a value of approx. 3-4 degrees German hardness (°dH).
  • Choice of temperature and program: When washing glass dishes, you should select a low temperature program (max40 °C) or, if available, a special program for glasses (note the temperature there too).
  • Steam: After washing, you should open the dishwasher door briefly to allow moisture to escape, as steam can increase clouding of the glass surface.
  • Food residues and fruit juices: Large quantities of food residues and/or fruit acids, such as those contained in juices, can affect the composition of the rinsing liquid and thus the quality of the rinsing process. It is therefore advisable to pre-rinse such soiled items by hand.
  • Avoid washing glass and aluminum household utensils (e.g. garlic press, pots with aluminum handles, etc.) together.
    Non-dishwasher-safe materials: Avoid washing non-dishwasher-safe materials, e.g. aluminum and earthenware. This leads to chemical reactions between the aluminum and the glass surface, which can extremely accelerate the clouding process of the glass.

HAND WASH AND DRY/POLISH BY HAND:

  • If you wash your glass by hand, clean it carefully under warm water (use detergent and rinse the glass gently).
  • To remove superficial stains: Soak your glasses in white vinegar.
  • To avoid detergent residues, rinse the glasses thoroughly with clear water.
  • Use two drying cloths to dry and polish the glass.
    Never hold the foot and the bowl at the same time when drying or polishing, as the stem could break due to twisting or pressure.
  • Never hold the glass by the stem or the foot when drying or polishing the bowl, as the stem could break at the narrowest point if handled incorrectly.
  • First hold the glass with a drying cloth under the bowl of the glass and carefully polish the inside and outside of the bowl with the second drying cloth in the other hand. Then hold the glass by the base and polish it carefully.
  • Avoid drying your glasses upside down on a metal rack as this could damage the edges.
  • Do not use a tea towel for drying or polishing as this could damage your glass, use a microfiber polishing cloth instead.
    We recommend using a microfiber polishing cloth, which dries easily and polishes lint-free when washed correctly (see below).
  • Wash drying cloths at boiling temperature (to kill bacteria) with odorless soap.
  • Do not use fabric softener when washing your microfiber polishing cloths (to avoid a greasy film on the glass surface).
  • Attention: Microfiber polishing cloths must not be placed in a dryer.
    Avoid storing glasses in kitchen cupboards next to strong-smelling objects
  • Objects, as this can discolor the glass and affect the aroma of the wine.

The clouding of glass glasses in the dishwasher can have various causes. The most common cause of clouding in glass glasses is deposits of limescale or washing-up liquid residue. These can be easily removed with weak acids (e.g. citric acid or white vinegar). However, there are also cloudinesses which, according to current knowledge, are not deposits but changes to the glass surface. These cloudinesses cannot be easily removed with household detergents as they are due to the release of glass components from the glass surface.

The clouding of crystal glasses in the dishwasher can also have various causes. The most common cause of clouding in crystal glasses is the use of high temperatures either in the dishwasher or in hot or boiling water.

Glass is a material that delights the observer with its shine and transparency. However, these properties are also responsible for damage to the glass surface - even if it is only minimal - becoming directly visible. For example, a permanent clouding of the glass is already clearly visible to the observer if the glass is affected at a depth that is a thousand times thinner than 1 mm. In principle, all glass is subject to this optical change process over time. The cause of the clouding is often difficult to trace - however, the formation of such surface damage can be counteracted by machine rinsing.

To avoid clouding, it is best to always rinse the glasses immediately after use so that no beverage/wine residue can build up. Red wine is particularly powerful as the acid will eat away at the glass if the residue is left in for too long.