How to Clean Crystal

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH and Sophia Bell

Last Updated: October 4, 2024 Approved

Crystal is a beautiful substance and adds an air of elegance to your home when on display. However, it does attract dust, and cleaning crystal glasses, bowls, or vases after a dinner party can seem like a tedious chore. Many crystal items are actually labeled as dishwasher safe, but don’t fret if yours aren’t. Cleaning your crystal with a mild detergent, or soaking it in vinegar to remove cloudiness, is a breeze and your items will be sparkling again in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using the Dishwasher

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Many crystal glasses have a dishwasher safe label. If yours do not, check with the manufacturer or research online to find out if they can be put in the dishwasher. Crystal manufacturer Riedel notes that their glasses are used in hotels around the world and are thus cleaned in professional dishwashers. If you cannot find any information, err on the side of caution and wash by hand.
Ensure your glasses, bowls, or other crystal items have enough space. You don’t want them touching, as they could jostle and bump into each other causing damage during the dishwashing cycle. Don’t overcrowd or overload the dishwasher, and be sure any long-stemmed glasses fit securely in the rack.

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Don’t start the dishwasher until your crystal has had time to come to room temperature. Sudden changes in temperature, such as heating a chilled glass, can cause breakage or damage to crystal.
Don’t add extra detergent in the hopes of getting your crystal extra clean. Excessive detergent can leave a cloudy film on your crystal. Follow the recommendations for your dishwasher and detergent, taking into account whether you have hard or soft water.
Start your dishwasher and allow it to run its normal cycle. Don’t interrupt the cycle or open the door in the middle of cleaning.
Allow the dishes to cool before opening the door to the dishwasher. This will also let your crystal dry in case the dish-washing cycle didn’t fully dry the crystal. Depending on your dishwasher and water temperature, this could take several hours.
You may want to wear gloves or remove the crystal with a lint-free cloth to prevent smudging and fingerprints. You can also use the lint-free cloth to remove any left-over water spots.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Crystal by Hand

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1
Create a solution with warm water and mild dish soap. Fill your sink or a bucket with warm (not hot) water and a small amount of mild dishwashing soap. Too much soap can leave a cloudy film, so only use a little bit. Swirl or agitate the water to mix the solution thoroughly. Line the bottom of the sink or bucket with a rubber mat, soft cloth, or even paper towels to prevent damage to your crystal.
- Do not use hot water to clean crystal as this can cause it to break.^{[1]
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2
Submerge your crystal in the solution. You’ll want to do one piece at a time to prevent the items from clanking together, which could cause chipping or breakage. If needed, allow your crystal to soak for a few minutes.
- If your item is too big to fit in the sink or bucket, or cannot be fully submerged, such as a lamp or chandelier, dampen a soft cloth or sponge in the solution and use it to carefully wipe down the item.
3
Wash your crystal carefully with a cloth. Use a soft cloth or sponge for washing your crystal to avoid scratches. Gently rub the sponge or cloth on the surface of the crystal in a circular motion, and be sure to clean the entire item, inside and out.
- If your item has a narrow opening, try using a baby bottle brush to move a sponge or soft cloth around the inside of the item.
- Some crystal is etched with language or artistic designs; use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in the warm water mixture to brush dust and dirt out of the etchings.
4
Rinse thoroughly. Use warm (not hot or cold), running water to rinse away any residue from the crystal. Don’t rinse with cold water as the sudden temperature change can cause the crystal to crack.^{[2]
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Research source} You may want to wear gloves to ensure you aren’t putting fingerprints on your clean crystal.
- For those larger items, use a clean, wet cloth or sponge to wipe down the item and remove any lingering soap.
- You could also rinse your crystal in a bucket or bowl of distilled water, as this will reduce the amount of water-spots left behind.
5
Apply a bit of toothpaste to remove mineral deposits on the crystal. Rub the toothpaste around with a cloth, sponge, or even just your finger. Keep rubbing the toothpaste around on the crystal until you have removed the mineral deposits. Then, rinse the toothpaste off of the crystal.^{[3]
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- Be careful not to press too hard!
6
Cover crystal in a mixture of vinegar and salt to remove deposits. If your crystal is cloudy from stuck on mineral deposits or other types of residue, then you might also need to cover it in a paste made from vinegar and salt. Pour about 1 tsp (3g) of salt into a small bowl and add just enough vinegar to form a paste. Spread the paste over the crystal, and leave it on the crystal for 10 minutes. Then, rinse the paste off when the time is up.^{[4]
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- For even more stubborn residue, put about 1/2 of a cup (120 g) of baking soda into the crystal and then pour 1 cup (240 mL) of vinegar over it. The foaming action will help to clean the crystal and remove the residue. Rinse the crystal with water after the baking soda and vinegar stop foaming.
Gently wipe each item down with a lint-free cloth. This will remove any water spots and give your crystal a beautiful shine. Again, it is a good idea to wear gloves to prevent smudging your clean crystal.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Restoring Shine to Your Crystal

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1
Create a solution of water and vinegar. Fill your sink or a bucket with one part vinegar and three parts lukewarm water. Mix the solution thoroughly. Pad the bottom of your sink or bucket with a soft towel to prevent the crystal from getting damaged.^{[5]
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- Vinegar will help remove cloudiness from crystal as well as add a beautiful shine.
- You can also substitute ammonia for vinegar.^{[6]
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Allow the crystal to soak for five to ten minutes. If your item is too big to fully submerge, you can fill it with the solution (e.g., a vase or bowl) or dampen a soft cloth or sponge in the solution and use it to wipe down the crystal (e.g., a lamp or figurine).
Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge so as not to scratch the crystal items. Gently rub your cloth or sponge on the surface of the crystal using a circular motion.
4
Rinse your crystal with warm, running water. You can also rinse your crystal in distilled water to help prevent water-spots. Handle the crystal carefully as it can easily slip out of wet hands. You may want to wear gloves to give you a better grip and prevent smudges.
- For those larger items, use a clean, wet cloth or sponge to wipe down the item and remove any lingering soap.
Air drying will often leave water spots, so use a lint-free or microfiber cloth. You may want to wear gloves so you don’t get fingerprints on your clean crystal. Carefully pat the crystal dry, rather than rubbing it.

Expert Q&A

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Question

The crystal has gone through the dishwasher. How can I get the shine back?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Dish detergent can leave crystal cloudy - soak the crystal in a 3:1 warm water to vinegar solution to help remove the cloudiness and restore the shine.

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Question

What ratio of warm water should I use to detergent and vinegar?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

You can use a 3:1 water to vinegar mixture to wash the crystal.

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I cannot get the moisture out of good crystal vases with small openings. What should I do?

Community Answer

Turn it upside down (so that any water can come out), and when you put it upright, try wrapping a chopstick in a few layers of paper towel (use a rubber band to keep it in place) and wipe away as much as you can. Using a hairdryer on the cool setting should get rid of any leftover moisture. You can also leave the vase upside down on a drying rack to air dry.

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Tips

If you have a crystal candlestick holder that gets wax on it, wait for the wax to cool and then chip away at the wax with your fingers. Follow up by rubbing a bit of denatured alcohol on the candlestick to remove any wax residue.^{[7]
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Handle fine drinking crystal by the bowl and not by the stem or foot to avoid breaking the stem.

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Hold larger pieces in a dry towel in the hand you are not using to clean the item as wet hands may let the crystal slip.

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Warnings

Crystal that is edged with gold, silver, other gilding, or with paint should not be allowed to soak in the warm water mixture. Wash each item with a cloth or sponge dampened with the warm water mixture.

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