Everyday wine glasses are usually fine. Lead crystal is softer, etches permanently in hot alkaline detergent, and goes cloudy in a way nothing reverses.
Cloudiness in glassware comes in two kinds. One is limescale, which wipes off with vinegar. The other is etching, where detergent and heat have physically eaten the surface. Crystal is far more prone to the second, and once it has happened the glass is permanently hazy.
| Fine | Modern tempered wine glasses labelled dishwasher safe |
|---|---|
| Not fine | Lead crystal, hand-cut, gilded or painted rims |
| Cloudy and wipes off | Limescale, fixable with white vinegar |
| Cloudy and stays | Etching, permanent |
| Biggest cause of breakage | Glasses touching each other in the rack |
If you machine wash glassware
- Top rack only, with space between every glass so nothing touches.
- Use the lowest temperature and the gentlest cycle your machine has.
- Skip the heated dry. Steam dry or air dry instead.
- Use less detergent than you think, and make sure the rinse aid is topped up.
- Take them out while slightly warm and polish with a lint-free cloth.
What happens when you get it wrong
- Permanent cloudiness. Etching from hot alkaline detergent, most common on crystal and in soft water areas.
- Chipped rims. Glasses rattling together, which is what happens when the rack is full.
- Broken stems. Long stems that are not supported flex during the cycle.
- Gold rims stripped. Gilding does not survive detergent, and it will not go back on.
Wash crystal by hand in warm water with a drop of soap, dry with a lint-free cloth.
For existing limescale, soak in white vinegar for ten minutes. If it does not improve, it is etching and it is permanent.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put wine glasses in the dishwasher?
Modern tempered glasses labelled dishwasher safe are usually fine on the top rack with space between them. Lead crystal and anything hand-cut, gilded or painted should be washed by hand.
Why do my glasses come out cloudy?
Either limescale, which comes off with a white vinegar soak, or etching, which is permanent damage from hot alkaline detergent. If vinegar does not fix it, it is etching.
Can you fix etched glasses?
No. Etching is surface damage to the glass itself. Prevent it with lower temperatures, less detergent and no heated dry.
Is crystal dishwasher safe?
Lead crystal is softer than ordinary glass and etches easily, so no. Some modern crystalline glassware without lead is rated dishwasher safe, and it will say so.
How do you stop glasses breaking in the dishwasher?
Keep them from touching anything. Most breakage is two glasses knocking together during the cycle rather than the heat or the water.