Those glasses and glass baking dishes are some of the most used items in kitchens, ending up in dishwashers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, even the greatest dishwashers occasionally fail to completely remove that baked-on residue, leaving our glass plates less than spotless. And if you’ve ever been annoyed with the foggy stains on your water glasses after going through a cycle, you’re not alone. But we’re here to tell you that both of these problems can be avoided! Here’s how to effectively clean glassware in a dishwasher.
Step 1: Buy quality glasses
Whether it’s within your own kitchen or at a restaurant, glasses are generally put under a great deal of stress. If you have a big family, they are cleaned several times a week, or even several times a day if you own a restaurant! The number one solution to make them less susceptible to glass deterioration is by investing in high-quality glasses in the first place. Most of the time, more expensive glassware does equal higher quality. Another feature to look out for is the weight of your glassware – it should be agreeably light and well-balanced, not ‘bowl heavy’.
But don’t worry, if you don’t have the budget for quality glassware, following steps 2-4 should still work.
Step 2: Load Glass Securely on an Upper Rack
A dishwasher doesn’t exactly have the most gentle cycle, and sometimes glasses will get knocked around and damaged if they are not loaded properly. In order to avoid this, place your glasses on the upper rack, furthest away from the spray arm. Make sure that they’re secure, but that there’s also plenty of space in-between them so they’re washed properly.
Step 3: Boost water quality
If you live in a region with hard water, deposits may gradually accumulate in your dishwasher. These mineral buildups, such as limescale, can adhere to your plates and glassware and give them a hazy appearance. Fortunately, this kind of cloudiness is readily fixable and avoidable. Firstly, add rinse aid to your cycles so that the water can slide off the dishes more easily. And secondly, give your dishwasher a regular cleaning to help remove all the debris that can get left behind after a wash.
Step 4: Hand Dry your glassware after the cycle
Once they’re out of the dishwasher, finish drying your clean glassware with a microfiber cloth. This will make sure that every last drop of water is completely out of the glasses, and will leave them looking sparkly clean! When doing this, use a very gentle touch, and if you’re drying wine glasses, always hold them by the stem. Make sure you get onto this task as soon as the cycle is over, otherwise you may risk more water spots.
Following these simple steps should help keep your glassware safe and sparkling, even after a cycle in the dishwasher.
