How to Clean Wine Glasses Without Twisting the Stem
- How do you clean wine glasses?
- What does your glass's care label say?
- Can wine glasses go in the dishwasher?
- Which dishwasher settings are kindest to glass?
- How do you hand wash wine glasses safely?
- Why are wine glasses cloudy after washing?
- How do you dry and polish wine glasses without twisting the stem?
- Should you store wine glasses upright or upside down?
- What should you do if a wine glass breaks?
- Sources
How do you clean wine glasses?
Clean wine glasses the way their maker's care label says. If the label allows a dishwasher, load them on the top rack with space around each glass, choose a low-temperature or glass program, measure the detergent, keep rinse aid topped up and open the door when the cycle ends. By hand, use warm (not boiling) water and a little washing-up liquid, rinse thoroughly, then dry with two microfiber cloths, holding the bowl and the base separately so the stem is never twisted.
That is the whole job. The rest explains each step, because a glass that smells faintly of cupboard or detergent gets between you and the wine. To taste wine fairly, the glass has to bring nothing of its own.
What does your glass's care label say?
Start with the box, the sticker or the maker's website, not general advice. Riedel's glass care page says most of its glasses are dishwasher safe, tested to EN 12875-1:2005 and EN 12875-2:2001 (European test standards for how well articles survive machine washing), but that glasses marked "hand wash only" or "not dishwasher safe" should be washed by hand. Its dishwasher FAQ adds that glasses sold without care instructions belong in the sink too.
Care advice differs between makers and between ranges. Treat your glass's own instructions as the rule and everything below as the fallback; where they disagree, the label wins.
Can wine glasses go in the dishwasher?
Many can, if loaded with patience. Riedel's guidance is to space glasses so they do not touch each other or other objects, to use the top rack, and to use a stem holder or glass holder if the machine has one. It also says to avoid contact between glass and metal or other glass, which causes scratches. Tall glasses that will not fit the top rack can go in the bottom rack on a special glassware program if your dishwasher has one; otherwise, Riedel says, wash them by hand.
Appliance makers agree, for another reason. Maytag's filming and etching help page says to "Place glasses on the top rack to avoid proximity to the heating element, reducing thermal shock risk."
Keep aluminium out of the load. Riedel says washing glass alongside aluminium "leads to chemical reactions between the aluminum and the glass surface", which it links to glass corrosion. In our own judgement, a load of nothing but wine glasses is worth the extra cycle for good stemware.
Which dishwasher settings are kindest to glass?
Four settings matter, all from the same Riedel care page:
- Temperature. Riedel says "you should select a low temperature program (50-55 °C) or, if available, a special glass program." That range is roughly 122 to 131 °F.
- Detergent and rinse aid. Dose both according to the product instructions, do not overdose, and keep the rinse aid compartment filled. Maytag adds that a rinse aid designed for glassware helps drying and a streak-free finish.
- Water softener. Riedel warns that "Extremely soft water attacks the glass" and says the softener setting should correspond to "approx. 3-4 degrees German hardness (°dH)". °dH is one unit for expressing water hardness; your dishwasher's manual says which unit it uses and how to set the softener.
- The door. Riedel says to open the dishwasher door after washing (if it does not open automatically) so the moisture can evaporate. The steam released is hot; stand to one side and let it clear before reaching in.
A glass still warm from the dishwasher will take the chill off a white or sparkling wine; let it cool first (see how cold wine should be).
How do you hand wash wine glasses safely?
Riedel's instruction is to "clean it carefully under warm water (use washing liquid and rinse the glass gently)", and to make sure "that you do not use excessively hot or boiling water for rinsing." Then rinse thoroughly with clear water so no detergent residue is left behind.
A thin bowl can break in the hand and cut, so the following steps are about control:
- Clear the sink of cutlery, pans and other glasses first, and lay a folded cloth or rubber mat in the bottom.
- Wash one glass at a time, and hold it by the part you are cleaning rather than by the base.
- Use a soft sponge or a soft brush. Do not force a hand or a sponge into a bowl that is narrower than your hand.
- Give the rim and the outside of the bowl most of the attention; that is where lips and fingers leave marks.
- Rinse in clean water and set the glass upright on a cloth while you wash the next one.
Why are wine glasses cloudy after washing?
Two problems look alike. One is a film of limescale or detergent, which Riedel says can be removed "with mild acids (e.g. citric acid or white vinegar)". The other is glass corrosion, a permanent change to the glass surface, and Riedel is plain about it: "Unfortunately, it is not possible to reverse or repair glass corrosion."
Maytag describes a simple way to tell them apart: "To test for etching, try to rub the film or residue off with a small amount of vinegar gently. If the film does not come off, it may be an etching or a silica film on the glassware." If the cloud wipes away, it was a film; review the detergent dose and rinse aid. If it stays, the glass has probably been etched, and no cleaning will bring the clarity back. Rinse any vinegar off before the glass is used for wine.
How do you dry and polish wine glasses without twisting the stem?
This is the step where stems break. Riedel's instructions are specific: "Use two large microfiber drying cloths to dry and polish the glass," and "Never hold the base plate and the bowl at the same time when drying or polishing the glass, as this can cause the stem to break due to twisting."
In practice, support the bowl through one cloth while polishing it with the other, then polish the base on its own. Riedel also says not to use a tea towel for drying or polishing, and to avoid drying glasses upside down on a metal rack, "as this could damage the rim."
The cloths need care too. Riedel says to wash polishing cloths "at a high temperature of 60°C/140°F (to kill bacteria) with odorless soap", not to use fabric softener ("to avoid a greasy film on the glass surface"), and not to put them in the tumble dryer.
Some people polish glasses over the steam from a kettle or pan. This guide does not recommend it: steam scalds, and a hot, wet glass is harder to hold.
Should you store wine glasses upright or upside down?
Wine Spectator's Dr. Vinny column on storing wineglasses suggests that glasses kept on cupboard shelves are stored upright, because "the rim of the glass can be really delicate and susceptible to chips." The same column calls hanging glasses upside down from a rack "ideal if you have the space for it", while noting that open racks, especially in kitchens, can gather dust and grease.
Wherever they live, keep them away from strong smells. Riedel advises against storing glasses next to strong-smelling items in kitchen cupboards, "as the glass can absorb this odor, which can affect the aroma of the wine." Sniff an empty glass before you pour; if it smells of the cupboard, rinse and polish it. For the bottles, see our wine serving and storage guide.
What should you do if a wine glass breaks?
Stop washing. Drain the sink before reaching in, because broken pieces under suds cannot be seen. Lift the large pieces out with care, wrap all of the pieces in thick paper or card before they go in the bin, and keep children and pets away until the area is clear. Retire any glass with a chip or a crack rather than washing it again.
For a minor cut, the NHS page on cuts and grazes describes "stopping any bleeding, cleaning the wound, and covering it with a plaster or dressing." The same page says to call 999 or go to A&E if "you have a cut and cannot stop the bleeding", or if "there's something stuck in the cut, such as a shard of glass – do not try to take it out yourself". Outside the UK, use your local emergency number.