In this article we will talk about how to clean crystal at home until it shines, and we will give advice on choosing products depending on the nature of the glass contamination.
A beautiful set of fine crystal glassware can become the crown jewel of your dinnerware collection - if cared for properly
Crystal dishes have always attracted attention with their elegance and beauty. Its melodic sound delights the ear, and the radiance of the play of colors delights the eye. But if not properly cared for, the product may lose its original shine, acquire a patina, yellowness and cease to please the owner. Caring for crystal objects is quite simple and will not take much of your time.
General cleaning rules
When working, follow the recommendations:
- Do not use products with large abrasives, such as washing powders or scouring powders, for cleaning. They will leave scratches and abrasions, and the crystal will lose its shine. It is better to take dishwashing gel or special liquid products.
- Wash glass and crystal only in cool water: cold water will deprive them of their shine, and hot water will cause microcracks to appear.
- Rinse the crystal several times with plain cool water to avoid streaks.
- Dry dishes with paper towels or clean microfiber cloths. If you leave it to dry on a towel or wipe it with a regular rag, it will leave streaks and cloudy spots.
It is better to wash crystal using rubber gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.
Basic Rules
Crystal is a very beautiful, but at the same time fragile material , so when washing you need to be careful and follow some rules that will help maintain the integrity of the dishes:
- Before washing crystal glassware, you need to remove the rings from your hands and put on gloves - this will help avoid scratches.
- When washing glasses in a basin, it is better to lay a soft cloth on its bottom - it will help protect the dishes from cracks, scratches and chips. It is also worth considering that the dishes should not be stacked too tightly - you need to leave a little free space between the glasses.
- If the dishes have a “leg”, then when washing the glasses should be held by it; if there is none, then the product should be held by the bottom.
- The water temperature should not exceed 40 °C, and soft foam sponges should be used for washing. Products should be cleaned without pressure or effort.
- When washing crystal objects, you should not use powders or other abrasive cleaning products that can scratch them, and you should also not use soap: it creates a residue.
- After washing, the dishes should not be left to air dry; they must be wiped dry using a soft cloth, otherwise there is a risk of streaks.
The following tips will help you preserve your crystal items for as long as possible:
- Crystal dishes must not be stacked on top of each other; they must be stored separately.
- It is also worth considering that such products are not intended for use in ovens and microwaves. It is also not recommended to serve hot dishes in them.
Crystal cleaning products
To restore crystal to an attractive appearance, you can use special chemicals and folk remedies that are always at hand.
Special means
The most convenient means is a spray. It can be used to process dishes and other crystal products. One of the most popular products is Strotskis spray from the manufacturer of crystal lamps and tableware. You need to spray it on the glass and wait 10 minutes: the resulting foam will help clean away dirt and dust.
Hagerty Crystal Clean works on a similar principle, but it also removes plaque, greasy and stubborn stains. The cost of sprays is from 900 to 1,600 rubles.
Traditional methods
Starch.
Hold the crystal under running water. Then apply some potato starch to a soft sponge. Gently apply it to contaminated areas, rinse off any remaining residue with warm water and polish the glass with a lint-free cloth.
Lemon acid.
Dissolve 15 g of citric acid in a liter of water. Soak a cotton pad in the working solution and wipe the greasy stains on the crystal with it. Then rinse the items in warm, clean water and rub with microfiber until shiny.
Vinegar and salt.
Prepare the cleaning solution:
- dissolve 15 g of salt in a liter of water;
- Lay a towel on the bottom of the basin, place the crystal and fill it with saline solution;
- leave for 10 minutes;
- mix 15 ml of vinegar with a liter of water;
- remove the crystal from the saline solution and place it in the liquid with vinegar for 10 minutes;
- then rinse and dry.
Salt will help remove stains, and vinegar will add shine and create an invisible film that will protect the crystal from dust.
Hydrogen peroxide.
If the contamination is severe, use hydrogen peroxide. To do this, fill the crystal vessel with warm water, add 30 ml of peroxide and 30 ml of ammonia. Leave for half an hour, pour out the solution, rinse and wipe dry.
Coca Cola.
Limescale deposits are easily removed by soda with orthophosphoric acid. Fill the dishes with cola or other drink containing acid and wait a quarter of an hour. Drain, rinse and polish.
Ammonia.
Wipe off the dust from the crystal, mix water and ammonia in equal proportions. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and thoroughly wipe the dishes with it. It is better to perform actions with gloves. Ammonia has a strong odor, so after treatment you need to ventilate the room.
Medical alcohol.
Ethyl alcohol adds shine to crystal glassware. Take a cotton or wool flannel cloth, soak it in alcohol and wipe the dishes. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the crystal shines.
Blue solution.
Mix 30 ml of laundry blue and 30 ml of water with crushed chalk. Once the chalk has dissolved, apply the solution to the stains with a cotton swab. After a quarter of an hour, rinse under warm tap water and polish.
Salt.
Salt baths work well with cloudiness. Sea salt, which contains a large amount of minerals, is especially effective, but table salt will also work. Pour a packet of salt into a bowl of crystal glassware and leave for a couple of hours. Rinse off the solution and wipe with a cloth several times to avoid streaks.
Boiled potatoes
Using a root vegetable, the operation is easy to perform:
- Take a slice of raw potato and wipe it over the areas of the crystal items where yellowness has appeared.
- Rinse in water with added blue. Wipe it off.
Potato broth has the same effect:
- Boil the potatoes in their skins, place the dishes in the broth, and leave for 20–30 minutes. You can wipe the crystal with a cotton swab dipped in the broth.
- Rinse with clean water with 10 g of blue and 50 ml of vinegar. Wipe it off.
How to wash different types of dirt
All the products described above are universal, but some methods cope better with certain types of contaminants. Most often, housewives struggle with yellowness, white coating or greasy stains: let’s look at what will remove them best.
Yellowness.
Potato starch works well on yellow spots. Peel raw potatoes, grate them or cut them into slices. Treat the crystal and leave for 10 minutes.
Another way to get rid of yellowness: put the crystal in potato water for 15 minutes, then rinse and wipe with a sponge. If the dishes have become very yellowed, then the method with soda and vinegar, which we discussed above, will help return it to its previous appearance.
White plaque.
Acid-based solutions are suitable for removing white deposits. For example, vinegar and lemon juice: mix them in a liter of water, wash the dishes in the solution, scrub with a sponge. Second option: add an aspirin tablet to a bowl of water and soak the crystal in the liquid for 12 hours.
Fatty coating.
If the crystal has a pattern, then grease easily penetrates into the recesses. To get rid of it, use any window cleaner. Apply the product to a lint-free cloth and wrap it around the crystal for 2-3 hours. Then wipe the dishes with a sponge or brush.
How to wash a crystal chandelier
You can clean the chandelier from dust with an antistatic dust brush and special sprays for crystal or window cleaning. If household chemicals are not at hand, homemade recipes will help out.
Mix water and ammonia in a 3:1 ratio. Place a cloth on the floor under the chandelier. Clean the lampshades with the prepared solution, and to enhance the shine, treat the elements with a solution of 30 ml of table vinegar and 200 ml of water. To prevent dust from settling on the chandelier, finally wipe it with a cloth soaked in citric acid.
If you cannot thoroughly clean small parts, or you are afraid of damaging the lampshades, it is better to turn to professionals and order cleaning and washing of the chandelier.
Ammonia or vodka
Ammonia has proven itself to be an effective means of adding shine that does not leave marks or streaks. To make the crystal shine, just wipe it with a soft cloth soaked in alcohol. The unpleasant smell will quickly disappear, and the excellent result will delight the guests and hosts of the feast for a long time.
Fatty residues are quickly removed with vodka or ethyl alcohol. To achieve the result, it is also enough to simply wipe the dishes. No additional washing or processing is required. It is convenient to handle the corrugated ornament with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol.
Can crystal be washed in the dishwasher?
Crystal manufacturers do not recommend washing it in dishwashers or using aggressive or abrasive detergents, otherwise it may lose its shine. But rare automatic washing is acceptable, the main thing is to follow the rules:
- in the settings, select delicate mode or rinse;
- set the water temperature to 35–40 °C;
- use liquid delicate products without abrasive particles, acids and alkalis in the composition.
Crystal should be washed separately from other dishes. It is better to wash dishes with gold plated elements by hand so as not to wash off the decor.
Ultrasound device
"Retona" doesn't wash clothes well, but it cleans crystal perfectly. For cleaning, use only dishwashing detergent.
Pour water into a basin and add the gel. Immerse the dishes in the container, do not put too many utensils.
The ultrasound device is placed in the middle of the pelvis, with the crystal placed around it. Plug in. After making sure that the indicator on the power supply lights up, go do other things for about 60 minutes.
The duration of the procedure depends on the number of dishes and the degree of contamination.
How to care for crystal dishes
Crystal will last a long time and will shine for many years if you follow the recommendations:
- Store glasses and other utensils separately from each other. If you place glasses side by side, over time they will stick to each other and may crack.
- Polish your crystals after each cleaning to ensure they don't lose their shine.
- Do not serve hot foods in crystal or heat crystal plates in the microwave or oven.
- Store crystal glassware in places away from direct sunlight and moisture. Cabinets with tinted glass or boxes with special compartments are well suited for this.
Tips for care and use
To ensure that crystal lasts for a long time, you should follow simple recommendations:
- Do not place wine glasses and vases in the cabinet too tightly - there should be a distance between objects.
- Do not hold glasses by the stem when washing - the thin stand breaks easily. Finish cleaning the glass by wiping it with a cotton towel.
- After each wash, items should be polished. A good solution would be to apply an antistatic agent to the wine glasses: this way they will not get dusty in the sideboard and will please the hostess with their cleanliness.
Crystal tends to darken over time. In addition, it collects dust. So dishes should be washed and polished periodically for prevention, even if they are on the shelf and not in use.
Caring for crystal is a delicate matter. Careful handling of elegant objects is the key to their long service life. Store and care for your favorite sets correctly, and then they will delight you with their brilliance.
Main
- Crystal is a fragile material that, if not properly cared for, loses its shine and becomes covered with plaque. Special or folk remedies will help restore your previous appearance.
- To combat white plaque, vinegar and citric acid will help, starch will cope with yellowness, and salt or alcohol will deal with cloudiness.
- It is better to wash crystal by hand, but if you use a dishwasher, choose the delicate cycle.
- Polish your crystal with a lint-free cloth after each wash to maintain its shine for a long time.
