Do your drinking glasses look like they got into a fist fight? You may need to adjust your dishwashing routine.
Etching describes the eroding that results in small scratches and marks. It’s frustrating when dishwashing equals clean yet corroded and damaged drinkware.
Tweaking your approach may take a few test runs, but checking the steps involved could help save your glassware in the long run.
Go over the details
Is your glassware dishwasher safe? When you invest in delicate, expensive drinkware, there is a chance handwashing is recommended.
After confirming glasses are dishwasher-friendly, revisit the basics. Are you relying on usage habits from a previous dishwasher, rather than instructions for the current model?
Read your dishwasher manual. If you don’t have a copy, there is likely a pdf somewhere online.
The manual probably includes loading tips too. As a general rule, glasses shouldn’t be touching each other, and are best on the top rack.
The question of pre-rinsing
Rinsing your glasses before placing them in the dishwasher seems like a good idea. The problem is, you’re doing the dishwasher’s job.
Detergent ends up trying to clean already clean items, hence increased risk of scratching.
It’s worth noting, there are a few occasions where rinsing is recommended. Some liquids risk interfering with the performance of detergent.
Nearby plates in the dishwasher shouldn’t be rinsed – but can’t be covered in too much dry food.
Scrape big chunks off, otherwise excessive food soil moves around the glassware during the cycle, risking etching.
Hard and soft water
Is hard water affecting your dishwasher’s performance? You may need to make adjustments to accommodate, because the hardness of your water matters.
Hardness refers to salts and minerals in your water that can contribute to etching, and potentially interfere with detergent performance.
If your machine doesn’t measure water hardness, find out from the water provider how the water in your area measures, or purchase water hardness test strips.
Be sure to set the water hardness on your dishwasher, if applicable. If levels are high, use dishwasher salt to combat the hardness and ‘soften’ the water.
Don’t be tempted to use standard salt. Dishwasher salt is designed for your machine. If your water is soft, dishwasher salt won’t be required.
You might want to consider a water softener for your dishwasher water supply, or go all in, and install a water softening system for your home.
Remember, the appliance manual should offer information around water hardness, and the needs of your dishwasher model.
Incorrect water temperature is another potential issue. Water that is too hot is a common contributor to glass etching.
You can use a thermometer to check a cup of hot water from the kitchen sink. You’re looking for 49-60°C.
Detergent, salt and rinse aid
Make sure you’re not overdoing it with the detergent. Extra detergent will go from cleaning to damaging, especially in soft water.
Soft water requires less detergent – and is also less harsh on kitchen appliances, in general.
Certain detergents work better with hard water, so you may want to change products and see if another option offers better performance.
For those with soft water, have you tried a detergent designed to protect glassware? This may improve overall results.
It’s also important that the rinse aid you choose is for dishwasher use, if not included in the detergent. Your manual should offer guidance around the use of a rinse aid.
Keep in mind, a shorter cycle is best, if your machine doesn’t have a glassware setting. A too-long cycle will only increase the risk of damage to your glassware.
Extras
After washing, open the door to allow any steam to leave, if this is not an automated function of your dishwasher model.
Since the drying cycle is when etching often occurs, consider skipping it for glassware – but you might need to research your model a little, to see if this is applicable.
Take the time to clean your dishwasher regularly per the manual instructions, to avoid build up that may contribute to etching.
Yes, it’s tempting to give up and start washing dishes in the sink. But if you pinpoint the perfect routine, you can use your dishwasher confidently, without worrying about the results.
What are your dishwasher tips? Let us know in the comments section below.
We have never had a problem with our glasses.Our dishwasher is a Bosch, and has a rinse cycle, for 15 minutes. After that we put it on a 29 minute cycle, which produces really cleaan dishes, and glasses , or a 1Hr 20 minute ( instead of a 2hr 40 min. cycle , we have a button to cut time in half, if neede.) when we want to clean the washer as well as any dirty sauceepans or bowls, that have the residue of Spaghetti Bolognese, that has somewhow dried on. After that a cleaner goes on. As the writer says, buy quality glasses if you can afford to, it’s worth it.