Washing dishes is a task that can be tedious, especially after hosting an event like a dinner party. Luckily, most of us have access to dishwashers, which can make the process significantly easier.
The issue with running a dishwasher cycle is knowing if all of the items you are trying to clean are safe to put in the dishwasher.
Most plates, mugs, and glassware made these days are totally fine to use in the dishwasher, but what about the more delicate items like wine glasses?
The last thing you want to be doing after enjoying a bottle (or more) of wine with friends or as part of a self-care evening is to stand in front of the sink washing glasses.
Considering that wine glasses aren’t as sturdy as mugs or plates, you may be hesitant to put them into the dishwasher.
Most wine glasses can handle delicate cycles in the dishwasher. This means lowering the temperature and turning off the heated dry setting. Wine glasses should be placed on the top rack with enough space to ensure that they don’t get crushed or chipped and be secured by the stem with clips if possible.
If you have any antique or crystal wine glasses, you may want to avoid using the dishwasher or at least keep in mind that those pieces are more delicate.
You definitely want to avoid having to pick shards of thin glass out of your dishwasher on the off chance that your wine glasses do break, so read on to discover the best practices for getting your wine glasses clean without damaging them.
Are Wine Glasses Dishwasher-Safe?
Most standard wine glasses are dishwasher-safe and can withstand a standard wash cycle without any damage. However, you should keep in mind that wine glasses come in many different styles and types of glass so some may be a lot more delicate than others.
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when cleaning your wine glasses in the dishwasher.
Wine Glass Material & Size
Crystal wine glasses are more prone to becoming cloudy or developing stains from harsh detergents, especially if they are antique.
Deviate from placing special wine glasses in the dishwasher before you’ve found out more about the glass and its durability.
If you want to give it a go anyways, I recommend placing a single glass instead of the entire batch to see how it fares. Remember to always run delicate cycles at lower temperatures to reduce the risk of damaging the glass.
The shape and dimensions of the glass also play a big part in whether or not a glass is suitable to wash in the dishwasher. Wine glasses with very thin and long stems have a higher risk of breaking than those without stems or ones that have thick and short stems.
Loading Wine Glasses in the Dishwasher
Load your wine glasses on the top rack and secure them with clips if possible. Some dishwashers have safety clips on the top rack which allows you to attach glasses onto the side of the rack. This reduces movement during the cycle.
If your dishwasher doesn’t have clips to secure the glasses, I’d recommend you get yourself a pair of silicone stemware holders on Amazon. They’re inexpensive and very convenient for this sole purpose.
Lastly, make sure to angle the wine glass so no water can collect in the bowl of the glass. Glasses collecting water during a cycle can lead to cloudiness or stains once the glass has dried up. Therefore, angle the glass in a downward-facing manner.
Dishwasher Temperature
Wine glasses aren’t durable enough to be washed at full heat, unlike plates and other sturdier dishes. Therefore, the dishwasher cycle’s temperature must be adjusted to prevent damaging the wine glasses.
Setting your dishwasher to the “warm” setting should be enough for the wine glasses, but keep in mind that pots, pans, and other items in the dishwasher may need more heat to clean properly.
Change Cycle Settings
Running your dishwasher’s standard cycle is perfect for most dishes, but it’s not an adequate program for a delicate wine glass.
Check the dishwasher options and find a more delicate program that’s suitable when cleaning wine glasses.
Remember, as I said before, that other items might not be properly cleaned after making these adjustments to the dishwasher cycle.
Choosing Detergent
Pick a detergent and rinse aid that will aid you in keeping the wine glasses free from cloudiness and water spots. It’s an easy way to keep your wine glasses in pristine condition.
Do Wine Glasses Go In the Top or Bottom Dishwasher Rack?
If possible, all your wine glasses should be placed on the top rack of your dishwasher. Many dishwashers have the option of adjusting the top rack to allow more space for particularly tall glassware.
If your dishwasher does not have this adjustable feature and your glasses are too tall for the top rack, you may be able to safely put them on the bottom rack but only if they are made of thick and sturdy glass. Thin wine glasses should only go on the top rack or be hand washed.
When loading your dishwasher, make sure that your wine glasses are spaced far enough away from one another and other dishes that they are not touching. This is to prevent them from bumping into anything that could cause them to chip or crack.
Wine glasses should be put into the top rack face down and stem up. Some dishwashers even have clips on the rack that you can use to secure the stem of your wine glasses to keep them from moving or falling over during the wash cycle.
Can Thin Wine Glasses Break In the Dishwasher?
Thin wine glasses are delicate and can break in the dishwasher if they are not carefully arranged. This is especially true for glasses with thin stems.
To prevent damage you should never put these types of glasses on the bottom rack of your dishwasher and you should make sure that they aren’t at risk of falling over or bumping into any other glasses or dishes.
Things to Think of When Running Wine Glasses In the Dishwasher
While most wine glasses won’t suffer from regularly being washed in the dishwasher, there are some things you can keep in mind to keep your wine glasses in their most pristine state.
Finding a gentle liquid or powder detergent is the first step you want to take. Using too much detergent or one that is too harsh is an easy way to damage the surface of your wine glasses.
After just one or two cycles your glasses could come out with spots or blemishes, but with time your glasses can become cloudy.
Avoiding detergents that come in pods or tablets allows you to regulate the amount that you put in so that when you have a dishwasher full of glassware you can use less detergent.
If you add your wine glasses to a load that has a lot of dirty dishes then your glasses should be safe no matter how much detergent is used because the soap will grab onto the grime instead of the delicate surface of your glasses.
You will also want to change the settings of your dishwasher to run a delicate cycle, especially if your wine glasses are thin and delicate.
This type of cycle won’t clean off any heavy grime so you might not want to add any pots or pans that you used to cook a messy meal.
Skipping the heated dry cycle and letting your wine glasses dry off naturally is also a good idea because the heat can cake on any residual detergent and cause cloudiness in the long run.
Other Ways of Cleaning Wine Glasses Effectively
Although there are ways to safely clean wine glasses in the dishwasher, the safest and most thorough method is to do it by hand.
When hand-washing wine glasses, you should make sure that your sink is clean and empty of any other dishes.
You can lay down a towel or washcloth at the bottom of your sink to add some extra padding which may prevent your glasses from breaking if you drop or knock them down.
To wash your wine glasses you can use a sponge, washcloth, or a brush specifically made for stemware. Use warm water for the best results and a small amount of dish soap.
There are special detergents made for cleaning wine glasses but many experts prefer simple dish soap.
To dry your wine glasses, simply put them upside down on a drying rack and allow them to dry naturally.
This method might leave some spots on your glasses from water droplets (depending on the mineral content in your water). To get a spotless finish, use a polishing cloth to gently wipe your glasses dry.
To get rid of stubborn red wine stains or revive glasses that have become cloudy, you can soak them in a bowl with three cups of water and one cup of distilled vinegar.
Make sure that your bowl is big enough to fully submerge a wine glass and soak your glasses one at a time for five to ten minutes. Rinse your glasses with warm water and wipe them dry with a microfiber cloth.