5 Insider Tips for Spotless Wine Glasses

A perfect toast is ruined by streaks and water spots on your glassware. Wine glasses can be tricky to clean, and if not done right, odors can seep into the crystal, altering the delicate aroma and flavor of the wine you’ve carefully chosen.

We spoke with Maximilian J. Riedel, managing director of the prestigious glassware brand Riedel, to uncover the best way to maintain your stemware. The good news: It’s simpler than you think.

Yes, you can put them in the dishwasher.

While many fine crystal glasses were once thought to be unsuitable for the dishwasher due to gold rims and intricate decorations, standard glasses don't have these features. So, don’t hesitate to use this time-saving method. Here’s how to get the best results from your dishwasher:

• Wash stemware on its own to minimize the risk that a stray pot or knife could crack a glass.
• Use the air dry setting. It may leave a water mark you have to polish out (see below), but heat drying can dull glasses over time due to miniscule detergent particles in the steam.

• Make sure your dishwasher has been serviced recently. Dishwashers have moving parts and more importantly, wet ones, which can leave trace odors behind. But if everything’s in good working order, your stemware shouldn’t smell.

Alternatively, you can hand wash them if that’s your preference.

Hand washing might be a better option if you don’t have many glasses or if you have larger ones that won’t fit in a standard dishwasher.

• Focus on the outside and rim of the glass. The inside of a glass is rarely dirty, says Riedel, but you can swirl a little warm water and dish detergent in it if you prefer.
• Any detergent will work as long as you rinse thoroughly. And you don’t need more than a drop. In fact, some purists don’t even use soap on their glasses at all.
• Hold it, preferably low in the sink in case of slippage, by the bowl, never the stem. A twisting movement can snap it right off.

Make sure to dry them the right way.

No matter the cleaning method, water spots are almost inevitable. The key to removing them is gently polishing the glass while drying.

• Use a microfiber towel, not a cotton one. These cloths (think of a larger version of the cloth you get to clean your eyeglasses or sunglasses) don’t leave trace fibers behind. 
• Use two cloths to hold the glass to avoid leaving fingerprints behind.
• Steam your glass before polishing. Hold it above a boiling teapot (careful not to burn your fingers) just enough to get the glass steamed up, then polish. You’ll know you’re done when no steam remains, and your glasses will shine. Brilliant!

Tips for Cleaning Your Decanter

If you’re decanting wine, you know how challenging it can be to clean these often-winding vessels. Here are some helpful tips:

• Once you empty a decanter, rinse it with warm water, no soap (remember, no one’s lips have touched this vessel, and alcohol is a natural disinfectant). If you can’t get to it immediately, leave it filled with warm water overnight to prevent red wine from staining the glass.
• Dry the parts you can reach with a microfiber cloth as you would a wineglass. For the truly savy, a hair dryer to prevent water spots and streaks.