Caring for decorative glass

Glass is easy to look after and easy to break in one specific way. Both are worth knowing.

Wash by hand

Warm water, a little detergent, a bottle brush for narrow necks. Dishwashers etch decorative glass over time and the heat cycle is hard on thin walls.

The waterline ring

Hard water leaves a white mineral ring where the water sat. Fill with a mix of white vinegar and water, leave it an hour, then brush. Do not scrape it with anything metal.

The temperature mistake

Thermal shock is what actually cracks vessels at home: a piece that has been standing in a cold room, rinsed under hot water. Let glass come to room temperature first, and never pour boiling water into it.

Dust and display

A dry microfibre cloth is enough for sculptures and figurines. Keep pieces back from the edge of a shelf, because most breakages are falls rather than knocks.