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—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

Use the right amount of detergent and rinse aid - not too much.

Use a water softener if you live in a hard water area.

Choose low-temperature programmes (50-55°C) or glass-specific cycles.

Open the dishwasher right after washing to let steam escape.

Give items with food or fruit juice residue a quick rinse first.

Don't wash aluminium items with your glasses—they react badly together.

Hand Washing Made Easy

For delicate glasses or when you prefer the gentle touch:

Wash with warm water and a mild detergent

Don't use very hot or boiling water

Rinse well to remove all soap

Use two microfibre cloths for drying and polishing

Good Polishing Habits:

Never hold both the base and bowl at once—this can snap stems

For the bowl: hold the glass under the bowl with one cloth while polishing with another

For the base: hold it firmly in one hand while polishing with the other

Don't dry glasses upside down on metal racks—it can chip the rims

Use microfibre cloths instead of tea towels for better results

Looking After Your Microfibre Cloths:

Wash at 60°C with unscented soap to kill bacteria

Don't use fabric softener as it leaves residue on glasses

Air dry your cloths—don't put them in the tumble dryer

Try special glass cleaning tablets for difficult stains

Cleaning beads can reach tricky spots in most decanters

Use a funnel and sieve when working with cleaning beads

Important: Don't use cleaning beads with specially shaped decanters like Ayam, Amadeo, Eve, Escargot, Curly, Boa, Black Tie, Mamba, Horse, Horn, Tyrol, Riedel Winewings, Swan and Face to Face

Keeping Your Glasses Clear

Cloudy glasses usually happen because of:

Mineral deposits or detergent residue (easily removed with mild acids like vinegar or lemon juice)

Glass corrosion (when elements wash out of the glass itself - sadly, this can't be fixed)

Quick Tips for Keeping Glasses Sparkling:

Rinse glasses right after using them, especially after red wine

Store glasses away from strong-smelling items

Keep your dishwasher properly maintained

Handle carefully to avoid tiny scratches that build up over time

Follow these simple tips and your Riedel glassware will keep looking beautiful and enhance your wine experience for years to come.