Crystal glassware requires special attention. It must be impeccably clean: only then will it look “ceremonial”, radiant. Otherwise, the crystal will tarnish, turn yellow and lose all its charm. How should you wash the crystal?
How to wash crystal dishes?
To keep the crystal sparkling, wash it in a bowl of water with a little salt and vinegar added (one tablespoon per liter of water). You can spread a towel on the bottom of the basin – this will protect the dishes from accidental “collision” with the bottom of the basin. If the dishes are gilded or with a pattern, you can wash them in a weak solution of ammonia (the proportions are the same: a tablespoon per liter of water). The water should be warm: from high temperatures, the crystal becomes cloudy, and over time it can even crack.
It is not recommended to wash crystal dishes in the dishwasher
Wash such dishes with a soft sponge and dishwashing liquid or a special crystal cleaner. Do not use soap to wash such dishes: it will create an invisible film on the surface of the crystal, and the crystal will tarnish from this. Do not hold glasses and wine glasses by a thin leg, but by a round base – this is both more convenient and safer.
After washing, rinse the glassware well with cold water (it is better to do this several times), then dry thoroughly with a soft cotton cloth.
Do not use terry tea towels to dry the crystal, as they can leave barely noticeable fluff on the surface of the dishes.
If you use crystal only for special occasions, it can tarnish after several months of non-use. In this case, before serving, rinse it in water with the addition of ammonia, wipe dry and polish to a shine with a soft cotton cloth or paper towel.
How to clean heavily soiled crystal
To wash heavily contaminated crystal and remove stains that are difficult to cope with with a soft sponge and dishwashing liquid, you can use old folk remedies: tarnished and grayish-coated crystal is rubbed with a cut of raw potato; heavily soiled crystal can be placed for 15–20 minutes in warm water in which the potatoes were boiled; greenish spots inside a crystal flower vase can be “soaked” in water with the addition of salt and vinegar before washing; to get rid of stains from juice or red wine, you can soak the dishes for 15-20 minutes before washing in water with the addition of baking soda; the wine sediment at the bottom of the decanters can be dissolved by pouring warm soapy water with the addition of soda into the dishes and leaving for 5-6 hours; in order to restore the shine of a tarnished crystal chandelier, you can arrange for it a “semi-dry cleaning” by wiping the crystal parts with a damp cloth dipped in a solution of ammonia.