No one likes to drink from a water-stained or unsightly wine glass. Nothing is more unappealing than receiving a healthy pour of wine in a lip-stained glass from the previous use. I know what you think I’m about to say–hand wash all your wine glasses.
On the contrary, even manufacturers of the thinnest, most expensive stemware recommend washing wine glasses in the dishwasher. Though it seems counterintuitive, you’re more likely to break a wine glass washing by hand than in the dishwasher.
There are some steps I recommend taking to extend the life and sparkle of your wine glasses if you wash them in the dishwasher. Now, if you have to wash wine glasses by hand, I have some tips to help make them sparkle and avoid breaking them too.
Here’s What You Need:
Dishwasher Detergent:
In most cases, whatever you use currently is fine. But, if you care about the lifespan of your glassware, I recommend controlling the dose of detergent by using powder detergent over tablets and gel packs. Too much detergent etches glass over time.
Rinse Aid:
If you don’t have this, you need it. Rinse aid prevents your glasses from coming out cloudy or covered in water spots. Plus, if you live in Washington like me, you might have hard water so, rinse aid is key to sparkly clean glasses.
Bottle Brush:
If you need to wash wine glasses by hand, a bottle brush is the safest way.
How to Wash Wine Glasses in the Dishwasher
Hear me when I say this: it’s 100% okay to wash your wine glasses in the dishwasher. Still, I recommend a few things to ensure beautiful glasses after every wash.
The most important thing to know is how to load them correctly. Place wine glasses securely upside. Make sure none of the glasses are touching other dishes and to one another to prevent scratching. Some dishwashers will have clips on racks specifically for securing glasses by the stem.
Also, I recommend only placing them on the upper rack. For supertall stemware, you can adjust the position of the upper rack to accommodate.
How to Clean Wine Glasses by Hand
Outside of the occasional accidental drop, a wine glass is most likely to break from hand washing. A wet glass can easily slip from your fingers or knock against the sink. Twisting the stem as you clean can also cause strain resulting in the stem snapping.
Using a bottle brush minimizes these risks. Don’t twist or rub the bottle brush. Hold the glass firmly by the stem and gently scrub the bowl inside and out with wet soapy water. I recommend using unscented detergent. Regardless of detergent, make sure you rinse the glass with hot water so that there’s no soapy residue.
Cheers,
Natalie