How to Clean Wine Glasses Properly

Master sommeliers and wine connoisseurs agree that wine can taste differently depending on the type of wine glass you use.

Whether you are using a stemmed, narrow flute for champagne, a large-bowled stemware for red wine, or one of the modern stemless wine glasses, it should be sparkling clean.

Learn how to clean wine glasses correctly to remove stains and enjoy the wine at its best.

How Often to Clean Wine Glasses

Wine glasses should be washed after every use. Ideally, you would wash the glass or find a fresh one each time you move between wine varieties or vintages.

Glasses should be washed at least yearly, even if they are stored in a closed cabinet, to remove dust and pollution that could cause etching to the glass.

Wine glasses should also be washed after unpacking after a move before placing them in a cabinet or rack.

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What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Large sink or plastic tub
• Rubber sink mat
• Microfiber towels
• Wine glass brush
• Fork or bamboo skewer
• Microfiber dishcloth
• Nylon net dish scrubber
• Microwave or stovetop
• Microwaveable bowl
• Pan

Materials

• Mild dishwashing liquid
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda

Instructions

Before You Begin:

To protect your wine glasses from harsh detergents and scratches, hand-washing is recommended. If you choose to use an automatic dishwasher, always load the glasses with plenty of space between them in the upper rack.

They should not touch. If they are too tall for the upper rack, try to adjust it or use the lower rack but do not allow the glasses to touch plates or silverware. Use the gentle, no-heat dry cycle. Remove the glasses while they are still damp and hand-dry each one with a lint-free towel.

1. Skip the SudsWhen washing freshly used wine glasses, fill a sink or plastic tub with warm water and just a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. You do not need much soap to clean the glasses.Line the bottom of the sink with a rubber mat or dishtowel to help prevent chips or scratches from the sink.TipNever use an abrasive scrubbing sponge or abrasive cleaners on wine glasses. The scratches that will occur can never be removed.
2. Wash GentlyUse a nylon scrubber or wine glass brush to wash the glass. Focus on the rim and the interior of the bowl.For a delicate stemmed glass, hold the glass securely by the bowl with one hand and wash it with the other hand.
3. Use the Right Water Temperature for RinsingAlways use warm water for rinsing—never cold or hot water. The rinse water should be the same temperature as the washing water to prevent cracks in the glass from extreme temperature changes.
4. Lint-Free DryingUse a lint-free cloth, like a microfiber towel to dry the glasses. Again, hold the glass firmly with one hand and use the towel to dry the bowl, stem, and base of the glass.

How to Remove Cloudiness and Tough Red Wine Stains

If you left the glasses sitting overnight with a bit of wine still in the glass, you may have tough red wine stains to remove.

1. Warm Some Distilled White VinegarFill a microwaveable bowl about half full with water and heat in the microwave until it is simmering. Or, heat a pan of water on the stovetop until it is simmering.Place a bottle of distilled white vinegar in the water and let it sit for about five or 10 minutes to warm.
2. Soak the Wine Glasses in Warm VinegarPour the warm vinegar into the bowls of the glasses or fill a plastic tub with the vinegar and submerge the glasses. Let the glasses soak for an hour.
3. Scrub and Wash the Wine GlassesAfter soaking, use a wine glass brush or a fork or bamboo skewer wrapped in a microfiber dishcloth to scrub the bottom of the bowl of the glass. Then wash, rinse, and dry the glasses as usual.If the stain remains, fill the wine glass half-full of warm vinegar and add one teaspoon of baking soda. There will be fizzing!The chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will help to loosen the wine stain.When all of the fizzing stops, scrub the glass gently with the brush and then wash as usual.TipUse caution when trying this cleaning method—more delicate glasses, like champagne flutes, might shatter from the chemical reaction.
4. Clear Away Cloudy FilmThe same warm vinegar soak will cut through any film left on the glasses from residual detergents, fingerprints, or pollution.It will not remove scratches or etching that have occurred due to washing the glasses repeatedly in hard water.
   TipIf you do not have vinegar, cleaning the class with rubbing alcohol should also remove the cloudy film.

Tips to Keep Wine Glasses Crystal-Clean Longer

• Always hand-wash the glasses as quickly as possible after they are used.
• Use less detergent to reduce cloudiness from sticky residue.
• Always use warm water for washing and rinsing.
• Do a warm distilled white vinegar soak at least yearly.