7 Wine Glass Care Habits, as of 2026
Seven wine glass care habits for washing, drying, polishing and storing stemware, plus how to tell cloudy film you can wipe off from etching you can't.
Cover photo: "Wine glasses, upside down, July 2014" by U of M Libraries Communications, licensed under CC BY 2.0, resized.
Good wine glass care comes down to seven habits, and none of them takes much time. Most cloudy glasses are covered in soap or minerals, and that film can be wiped away. A glass that has corroded cannot be fixed, so most of these habits aim to stop that from starting. The table gives the short version, and the sections after it explain each one.
The seven habits at a glance
| Habit | What to do | What it guards against | Skip this |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wash | Warm water, a soft sponge and a rinse with clear water | Detergent film and a broken stem | Hot or boiling water |
| 2. Rinse right away | Rinse the glass soon after the last sip | Red wine acid sitting on the surface | Leaving glasses for the next morning |
| 3. Dishwasher | Top shelf, space between glasses, low-heat or glass cycle | Chips, scratches and corrosion | Glasses marked hand wash only |
| 4. Dry | Dry soon, with a clean microfiber cloth | Mineral spots and lint | A tea towel |
| 5. Polish | Two cloths, one under the bowl and one for the glass | Twisted stems and fingerprints | Holding the foot and bowl at once |
| 6. Store | Upright on a clean shelf, away from strong smells | Odors, grease and rim damage | A shelf next to spices or a stove |
| 7. Fix haze | Test with vinegar first, then wipe off film with mild acid | Treating etching as if it were film | Hoping etching will wash out |
These habits follow a glassmaker's care page and a university fact sheet. Always check the label on your own glasses first.
Why glasses go cloudy, and which kind you can fix
Cloudy glass has two main causes, and they need different answers. One is a film of matter on the surface, and the most common film comes from hard water2. Hard water carries calcium and magnesium. When the last drops dry, those minerals stay put, and detergent will not lift the spots2.
The other cause is etching, where metal ions leach out of the glass itself2. Riedel says that glass corrosion cannot be reversed or repaired1. Heat may speed this up. In one lab study, soda-lime glass shed flakes after 24 hours in water above 90 ยฐC that held dissolved calcium5. A wash cycle is much shorter, so take it as a hint about heat and not as a warning.
A drop of vinegar tells you which kind you have. Rub it on a cloudy spot and let the glass dry. If the spot is clear again, it was film. If it stays cloudy, the cause is probably etching2. Riedel says a mild acid, either vinegar or citric acid, removes limescale and soap residue, as its glass care page explains1. Our guides to how to clean cloudy glasses and to clearing water spots from your glasses walk through the soaks step by step.
Washing and rinsing without a broken stem
A glass that only held wine needs warm water and a soft sponge. Riedel tells owners to skip very hot or boiling water1. It also says to rinse well with clear water so no detergent stays behind1. While you wash, support the bowl with one hand so the stem never takes the twist.
Rinse each glass soon after you use it. Red wine is acidic, and Riedel warns that the acid can attack glass when residue stays too long1. Keep glass out of the same wash as aluminum pots and tools. Riedel says that pairing leads to glass corrosion within a very short time1. For stains and the sink setup, see how to clean wine glasses.
Can wine glasses go in the dishwasher?
That depends on the maker's label. Riedel says most of its glasses are dishwasher safe. Glasses labeled hand wash only belong in the sink, and so do those with no care instructions1. For safe glasses, use the top shelf and leave space so they never touch glass or metal1. Pick the cool 50 to 55 ยฐC cycle or a glass setting, and follow the label for detergent and rinse aid without overdosing1.
Water softness matters in both directions. Riedel says extremely soft water attacks glass, and it suggests a softener setting near 3 to 4 degrees of German hardness1. The Florida sheet ties etching to very soft water and too much detergent2. For very hard water, it suggests a softener, or more detergent plus a rinse agent2. Open the door when the cycle ends, since Riedel notes that lingering steam can attack the glass1.
Some people saw filmy glasses after phosphate limits arrived. Washington bars the sale of dishwasher detergent with 0.5 percent or more phosphorus by weight, statewide from July 1, 20104. Utah State University Extension said its county offices began fielding calls about film on clean glasses as similar rules spread3. That report counts phone calls and not glasses, so treat it as a clue.
Drying and polishing with two cloths
Spots form when drops dry, so it helps to dry a glass soon after the rinse. Riedel recommends two large microfiber cloths and warns that a tea towel may harm the glass1. While you polish, never grip the foot and the bowl at once, because the twist can snap the stem1.
Use one cloth to cradle the glass just under the bowl, and use the other to polish the bowl inside and out1. Riedel also advises against resting glasses rim-down on a metal rack to dry, because the rim can get damaged1. Our how-to on polishing wine glasses covers the grip in more detail.
Our wine glass polishing cloth comes in a set of two, and its product page says the microfiber works slightly damp or dry7. Riedel tells owners to wash its own polishing cloths without fabric softener, so no greasy film reaches the glass1. We would do the same with any microfiber cloth.
Storing stemware so it stays clean
Store the glasses upright on a clean shelf so no weight rests on the rim. Riedel advises against cupboards next to strong-smelling items, since glass can absorb odors that change the aroma of the wine1. For the same reason, keep them away from the stove, where cooking smells and grease collect.
What the lead crystal label means
Crystal is often hand wash only, so read the tag or the box. The name also hints at the recipe. A UK schedule of crystal descriptions lists lead crystal at 24 percent and full lead crystal at 30 percent6. It says those figures mean lead oxide content6. If you are unsure what your set is, ask the maker, and wash by hand until you know.
In short, wash gently, rinse early, dry with soft cloths and store the glasses where they stay clean. Treat haze by its cause, because film comes off and etching does not. Our men's gift guide includes the polishing cloths if you want a gift to go with a bottle.
Wine glass care: common questions
Are wine glasses safe in the dishwasher?
Only if the label says so. Riedel says a glass labeled for hand washing should stay out of the machine, and so should one with no care label1. If yours are safe, use the top shelf, leave space between them and pick a gentle program.
Why are my glasses still cloudy after I wash them?
The haze is either a film or etching. Dab a little vinegar onto a cloudy spot and let it dry. If the spot clears, you had a film, but if it stays, the glass is probably etched2.
Is a regular dish towel fine for drying wine glasses?
Riedel advises against tea towels and recommends two microfiber polishing cloths instead1. Cloths of that kind dry and polish the glass, and they do not leave lint behind.
Sources
- 1.Riedel (glassware maker), Glass Care & Use for Riedel items. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 2.Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS, University of Florida, HELP! Our Glasses Are Cloudy! (Fact Sheet HE 3209, archival copy). Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 3.Utah State University Extension (Kathleen Riggs), 27 January 2011, Dingy Dishes? Blame Reduced Phosphates. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 4.Washington State Legislature, House Office of Program Research, House Bill Report EHB 2322, limiting the phosphorus content in dishwashing detergent. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 5.Heliyon (Elsevier), via PubMed Central, Flake formation and composition in soda-lime-silica and borosilicate glasses. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 6.The National Archives, legislation.gov.uk, The Crystal Glass (Descriptions) Regulations 1973, Schedule. Checked 27 Oct 2026.
- 7.Excalibur Brothers, Wine Glass Cloth (2 Pack). Checked 27 Oct 2026.