Washing Your Gabraiel- Glas Wine Glasses
Dishwasher-safe crystal? Yes, that is correct! Both the Gabriel-Glas StandArt and the Gabriel-Glas Gold Edition glasses are fused as seamless vessels with no stress points, differentiating them from many glasses that have a seam at the base of the bowl where it affixes to the stem and another where the stem affixes to the footplate. Our high-tech seamless construction makes our glasses more durable and dishwashing possible. We recommend using a delicate wash cycle, skipping the heated drying cycle, and spacing glasses so they won’t hit each other during the wash. We also recommend powder over liquid dishwasher soaps. However, even though our crystal is technically dishwasher safe and can handle very high heat, it’s important to note that not all dishwashers, dishwasher soaps, and dishwasher loaders are created equal. So, like all fine things, they must be handled with care.
Try to polish your glasses the moment the wash/dry cycle is complete. If the glasses are still slightly damp or steamy, polishing them in that condition makes it easy to avoid water spots.
If handwashing your wine glasses, rinse your glasses as soon as you are done with them. Rinsing crystal glassware immediately after use helps prevent wine and other beverages from staining them. When you are ready to wash them, simply use lukewarm water, a non-abrasive sponge or cloth, and a small amount of mild detergent. The key is to use mild detergent only where needed, like the bottom of the glass and around the rim. Make sure to get all the soap out of the glass — soap residue left in the glass will taint wine! Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned and rinsed your Gabriel-Glas either put your Gabriel-Glas upside down and let it air dry, or dry it immediately with a smooth lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber towel. Polishing them when they’re slightly damp will help avoid water spots.
Some of our customers never use soap on their Gabriel glasses, instead, they use extremely hot water – just below boiling — to wash their glasses. That’s a great way to go too because there’s no threat of soap taint in the glass. Point in fact: Gabriel-Glas will withstand boiling water — but we don’t recommend it!
Removing White or Grey Film From Crystal Wine Glasses
Are your Gabriel-Glas wine glasses looking a little foggy? Crystal wine glasses may develop a white or grey film over time. Very often the film is a result of water with high mineral content or hard water. Red wine can cling to the bottom of the glass too. To remove wine stain or water film from your crystal wine glasses, try soaking them in white vinegar, then wash with lukewarm water and a mild cleaning agent. Repeat as necessary until all of the residues are gone. Then wash with warm water and mild liquid dish soap and repeat the soaking process, if necessary, to remove any remaining residue.
Another way to clean the inside of your wine glasses is to drop a tablet of Polident or Pepperdent (denture cleaner) into the glass. This process works really well but is a more expensive way to clean crystal glasses than vinegar rinse.
As we mentioned above, it’s a good habit to rinse your glasses immediately after use, especially if you’ve been drinking red wine. This will help prevent wine build-up and staining and make cleaning your Gabriel-Glas even easier.
Polishing Your Gabriel-Glas
We always recommend a polish after washing, or even to dust off your glasses just before serving. We recommend using a microfiber polishing cloth to really buff down your glasses. The easiest time to polish a wine glass is right after you’ve washed it and before it has dried. For a helpful step-by-step tutorial, check out this polishing video by our friends at Wine Folly.
Storing Your Wine Glasses
Crystal wine glasses are more porous than normal wine glasses which means they are more likely to shelter residue and smells. Your Gabriel-Glas should be stored in a well-ventilated area and if possible hung by their bases. Some Gabriel-Glas owners think the stems are works of art and like to have the extras on display to impress guests!
You’ve made an incredible choice in investing in Gabriel-Glas stemmed or stemless lead-free crystal glasses. If cared for correctly, your Gabriel-Glas will help you enjoy every varietal of wine for years and years to come. Cheers!
