Tips for Looking After Treating Glassware Problems

A little care and attention keeps glassware in perfect sparkling condition.

In time and with use, pieces of glassware inevitably get damaged. You can carry out minor repairs although you should always take valuable pieces such as antique, heavily engraved or cut glass to a glass restorer.

Always wash fine glassware and painted or gilded glass carefully by hand, never in a dishwasher. Remove any rings before cleaning glass, diamond rings in particular can scratch the surface and a knock could chip the rim. Wash glassware first, while the water is clean, warm and soapy, before tackling the rest of the washing up. Rinse out any glasses that have contained milky drinks in cold water before washing them.

1. Washing the glass: Fill you sink with sufficient warm water and a little washing up liquid. Wash only one or two pieces at a time to prevent them knocking together and chipping the rims. Don't use abrasive cleaners or pads as these can scratch and damage the surface. Clean engraved patterns and the crevices of cut glass with a soft bristled brush.

2. Draining the glass: Rinse in clean, warm water. Never use hot water in case the glass cracks because of the abrupt rise in temperature. Drain each piece upside down on a clean, folded tea towel.

For a sparkling finish, it is best to dry glass immediately with a soft lint free cloth that is dry and clean. Left to dry in the air, a glass become dull and develops water spots. Buff glass that has lost its shine with a silver polishing cloth.

Dry decanters on the outside and then leave them to dry upside down in a warm place. Make sure they are totally dry inside before replacing the stopper.

The stems on some glasses are delicate and easily snapped, so take extra care when drying them.

To dry a stemmed glass, hold the top of the stem where it joins the bowl. Turn the bowl gently in a dry, clean cloth. Then gently rub the cloth up and down the stem. Finally wipe the foot. Never twist the foot and bowl in opposite directions as this can cause the stem to snap.

A stopper stuck in the neck of a decanter and glasses jammed inside one another are common problems which you approach with care. Never try pouring boiling water over the neck of the decanter or knocking glasses free, as this results in breakages.

Releasing stuck glasses:

To free a glass stuck inside another glass stand the outer one in warm water to make it expand. Then pour ice-cold water into the inner one so it contracts. After a few minutes, gently ease them apart.

Removing a stuck stopper using a hot towel:

Wrap a small, hot, damp towel round the neck of the decanter and gently tap the sides of the stopper with the handle of a wooden spoon, alternating from side to side. As it begins to loosen, gently pull out the stopper.

Removing a stuck stopper using oil:

Drip a little cool melted butter or slightly warm cooking oil between the neck of the decanter and the stopper. Work the oil or butter in by gently twisting the stopper from side to side, without forcing it, until it comes free.

Most glass stains are caused by liquids being left standing in vessels for too long. Vases and decanters are particularly prone to staining. Clean all decanters after emptying them. Do not leave small amounts of liquid (particularly red wine or port) to evaporate in the bottom, as they soon leave a stain.

Vases often develop a cloudy white stain cause by dirty flower water. Changing the water every two days and rinsing the vase thoroughly at the same time prevents this.

There are various household remedies for removing internal stains on glassware, usually consisting of a combination of some mildly acidic or alkaline solution and a gentle abrasive.

Jeweler's rouge is an extremely fine abrasive powder that is the best remedy for removing an external mark on vases or decanter. Take a piece of lint-free cloth and fold it into a small pad. Sprinkle on a little jeweler's rouge and rub the mark with a small, circular motion until the mark disappears.

To remove interior stains, use a combination of acidic vinegar or lemon juice, or alkaline ammonia or denture cleaning solution, with a gentle abrasive such as rice grains, sand or clean, crushed eggshells.

Using a funnel, gently trickle enough uncooked rice into the vessel until it covers the bottom. Pour in warm water mixed with a little ammonia until the mark is submerged. Swirl the solution around for about 30 seconds and repeat process until the stain disappears. Empty out the solution, then wash, rinse and dry the vessel thoroughly.

Use a denture cleaning tablet to remove stubborn stains. Pour warm water into the glass until the mark is submerged. Drop in a denture cleaning tablet and leave to soak for 24 hours. Empty away the water, then wash and dry the glass.

Other stain removing remedies:

Fill the vessel with warm water plus a teaspoon or two or liquid ammonia. Leave for a few hours, then wash and rinse in clean water.

Crush three eggshells and add the juice of two lemons. Leave until the liquid turns cloudy before pouring into the vessel. Swirl round until the stain disappears.

Pour 5fl oz (150ml) of white vinegar into the vessel and add one tablespoon of silver sand. Gently swirl the solutions round until the stain vanishes. Be careful not the leave the solution in the vessel for too long as the sand could eventually scratch the glass.

After a period of time it is inevitable that glass items suffer minor damage, such as small chips and surface scratches. With care, chips, for example those found in the rim of a wine glass, or scratches, such as marks from rose thorns on a vase, disappear with polishing. For the best results, work slowly and apply light, even pressure.

To treat scratches, polish the scratched area with a chamois leather. Use a light, circular motion, supporting the under side of the surface with one hand.

Removing slight chips can be done by wrapping a piece of fine-grade wet and dry paper around a pencil. Dampen it and gently sand along the edge until the chip has gone. Polish with a piece of chamois leather.

To treat deeper chips, spread out an old newspaper on a table and place a piece of fine grade wet and dry paper in the middle. Dip the rim of the glass into tepid water. Hold the glass by its bowl upside down on the wet and dry paper and, exerting very light pressure, rub the rim in a circular motion. To remover any grit, periodically dip the rim in water and continue grinding until it is smooth again.