Using Your Dishwasher Effectively
Andi Healey
Web Manager
Keep your Riedel glasses sparkling with our straightforward, practical guidance.
Your Riedel glasses are designed to enhance your wine experience. With a bit of proper care, they'll keep their sparkle and clarity for years on end. Here's a straightforward guide to looking after your glasses and decanters properly.
Dishwasher or Hand Wash? Know Your Options
Most Riedel glasses can handle up to 1,000 dishwasher cycles without losing their shine - they are tested to European standards (EN 12875-1:2005 and EN 12875-2:2001). That said, items labelled "hand wash only" or those without specific cleaning instructions need gentle hand washing instead.
Using Your Dishwasher Effectively
Your Riedel glasses are built tough. The key to keeping them looking new is smart dishwasher use - it's not complicated, but small choices make a real difference.
Smart Placement
Proper placement keeps glasses safe and clean.
Leave space between glasses.
Glasses touching during the wash cycle can chip rims or scratch bowls. Even a centimetre of space helps. If your dishwasher is crowded, wash in batches instead of overloading.
Top rack is your friend.
The top rack has gentler water pressure and lower heat than the bottom rack. If your glasses fit, they belong up there. Reserve the bottom rack for plates and bowls.
Use glass holders when you have them.
These cradle the bowl and keep stems secure so nothing shifts or tumbles during the cycle. If you don't have dedicated holders, many dishwashers have stem slots or corners you can use — get to know yours.
Keep glasses away from metal utensils.
Knives, forks, and spoons can scratch glass surfaces during the wash. Even small scratches catch light and spoil the clarity. Use separate sections or wash metal separately if your dishwasher is full.
Taller glasses need special handling.
If a glass is too tall for the top rack, you have three options: hand wash it, use your dishwasher's glass programme if it has one (usually gentler), or lay it on its side on the top rack if there's room. Don't force tall glasses into the bottom rack where water pressure is stronger.
Best Settings
Right settings and products make all the difference.
Get your detergent right.
Too much detergent leaves residue and cloudiness on glass. Too little and you're just running water through dirty dishes. Follow your dishwasher's guidance for load size and water hardness - and stick to it. More detergent doesn't mean cleaner dishes.
Rinse aid matters, especially in hard water.
Rinse aid helps water sheet off the glass instead of leaving mineral spots and streaks. In soft water areas, you might skip it. In hard water areas, it's essential. Set it according to your water hardness (your water supplier can tell you, or a simple test kit from any supermarket shows you).
Low temperature is better for glass.
Choose programmes between 50–55°C, or look for a glass-specific or delicate cycle. Higher temperatures (65°C and above) can stress glass over time and may cause thermal shock if glasses cool too quickly. You don't need hot water to get glasses clean anyway.
Open the door immediately after the cycle ends.
Steam is the enemy of spotless glass. The moment the wash finishes, crack the door open to let steam escape. If your dishwasher has a heat-dry setting, skip it - open the door instead. This also helps glasses cool gradually, which is gentler on the glass.
Rinse visible food first.
If there's dried wine, fruit juice, or food residue on a glass, give it a quick rinse under the tap before loading. Dishwasher detergent is designed to dissolve grease and break down food, but stubborn residue can bake on during the cycle and leave marks. A 5-second rinse saves you from having to hand wash the glass after the cycle.
Never wash aluminium with your glasses.
Aluminium reacts chemically with the alkaline environment created by dishwasher detergent. It can corrode, discolour, and leave marks on your glasses. If you have aluminium items, wash them by hand or in a separate load.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Cloudy or spotted glasses?
This is usually mineral buildup from hard water. Run a rinse aid cycle, make sure your rinse aid level is topped up, and consider running a dishwasher cleaning cycle (most brands have these) once a month. If spots persist, hand wash a few glasses and compare - if hand washed ones are clear, your dishwasher settings need adjusting.
Tiny scratches on the bowl?
These usually come from contact with other glasses or utensils. Space glasses further apart, use stem holders, and keep metal away from glass.
Rims look dull or rough?
Repeated exposure to very hot water or harsh detergent can dull rim clarity. Try switching to a gentler cycle and lower temperature, and use less detergent. Hand washing these glasses occasionally gives rims a break.
Stems or bases feeling sticky or soapy after washing?
You're using too much detergent. Dial it back — less than you think is usually right.
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