Cleaning Stemware
As we become more aware of how the shape and size of a glass can change the taste of the wine we’re enjoying (check out Deciphering Glassware or Why Wine Glasses Matter), you may be collecting a wider variety of stemware -- which will all need to be cleaned eventually! 

As much as you’d like to throw them all in the dishwasher, you might want to rethink that strategy. The dishwasher, while convenient, may not be the best solution depending on the type, shape and quality of your glasses.

The combination of the abrasive detergents, extremely hot water, hot drying, and rubbing, rough motion that works so well on the dried-on cheese on your dinner forks can cause cloudiness, scratches, surface abrasions and even cracks in fine stemware, especially fine crystal.

So, roll up your sleeves and find your rubber gloves because hand washing is what’s most recommended.

You may want to prepare the sink by placing a rubber mat on the bottom and possibly a rubber guard on the faucet, to prevent accidental breakage. Fill the sink with warm to moderately hot water and a mild dish detergent.  If the water is too hot for your hand, it’s likely too hot for fine crystal as well.

It’s also a good idea to wash the glasses one at a time, so that they don’t bang into each other in the sink. And obviously throwing them in with the pots and pans is not a great idea.  

Use a soft dish cloth for washing, then hold the glass by the stem and rinse with clean warm water.  Adding a small amount of ammonia to the rinse water can help to prevent water spots during air drying.

Glasses can be left to air dry upside down in a dish rack or dried using a soft kitchen towel.  Try using a microfiber polishing cloth to bring up a brilliant shine once dry.

If you notice some cloudiness on your stemware, use a small amount of vinegar or ammonia in the wash water.  Approximately one or two tablespoons of vinegar or ammonia is recommended for each 16 oz of water.  If this doesn’t remove the cloudiness, try soaking them in warm water and vinegar (or ammonia) for half an hour, rinsing them in warm water and allowing to air dry.  If this still does not remove the cloudiness, then you may need to consider a crystal cleanser from a specialty supply store.

If you enjoy using a decanter when serving wine, you may have struggled with how to clean it effectively. To remove cloudiness from inside a decanter, fill it about half-way with warm soapy water and vinegar (ammonia), then add enough uncooked rice to provide some gentle abrasion (approximately a cup depending on the size of your decanter).  Gently swish and swirl the mixture for a couple of minutes and drain.  Rinse with clean warm water and allow the decanter to air dry upside down in your dish rack.

Another option for cleaning stains from the inside of a decanter is to fill the item half-way and drop in a denture cleaning tablet. Allow the tablet to fizz and soak for a few minutes, then rinse and air dry as mentioned above.

Clean, shining stemware makes for a more enjoyable wine tasting experience for sure!