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Home / Cleaning Guides / Kitchen & Bath / Kitchenware / How to Clean and Care for Crystal

How to Clean and Care for Crystal


Cody asked, “Does anyone have any tips for cleaning Tiffany crystal?”

Table of Contents:
  1. General Cleaning of Crystal
  2. Removing Stains, Water Marks or Wax from Crystal
  3. Additional Tips and Advice
  4. Sources

Crystal is a wonderful addition to your dinnerware and even to your home decor. While a good percentage of glassware you will find today is referred to as “crystal,” it is not actually true crystal. You will note a certain shine to crystal and when you tap the rim of a crystal glass, the ring sounds similar to a bell.¹ You might be nervous to care for such fragile pieces, but the tips and suggestions below will help you successfully care for your crystal for years to come.

General Cleaning of Crystal

You Will Need:

  • Clean towel, large enough to line your sink.
  • Small washing cloth
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Soft-bristle bottle brush
  • Linen towel
  • Hair dryer
  • Windex
  • Ammonia

Steps to Clean the Crystal:

  1. Remove any jewelry, such as rings or a bracelet, to prevent scratching the crystal as you clean.¹
  2. Before washing your crystal, line your sink or your dish pan with a towel. This will lessen the chance of breaking the crystal if it slips out of your hands.²
  3. Consider covering the faucet with a rubber guard, found at many hardware stores, to prevent damaging the crystal on the faucet.³
  4. When washing dishes, always work from the least dirty and most fragile to the messiest. So, wash your crystal first.¹
  5. Fill the sink with warm water (avoid temperature extremes) and add a gentle dishwashing liquid.²
  6. You can use a soft-bristled bottle brush, found in the infant section of grocery stores, to clean crevices or places that are difficult to reach with your cloth.²
  7. Only wash one item at a time and always keep it in your hand; don’t let it float around in the sink.²
  8. Use a linen towel or soft, lint-free towel to dry. Hold the item at a solid point. Don’t hold the stem of a glass or a decorative attachment.² Do not use a towel that has been washed with a commercial fabric softener as it can deposit residue on the crystal.¹
  9. The chance of breaking a piece is highest during drying. You can air dry a piece, just make sure you have allowed for some air to get underneath; don’t just set it on a towel. If you have a vase or a decanter, it can air dry, just keep the stopper off for three to four days. If needed, a hair dryer on the cool setting can be used to hasten the drying.²
  10. If your crystal is a decorative piece, you can use Windex to clean it. Spray, wipe with a washing cloth and rinse.²
  11. You can also dust decorative pieces weekly with a soft lint-free cloth and if desired, slightly wet the cloth with a mild ammonia solution.²

Removing Stains, Water Marks or Wax from Crystal

You Will Need:

  • White vinegar
  • Denture tablets
  • Ammonia
  • Lemon (with seeds removed)
  • Denatured alcohol

Steps to Remove the Stains, Water Marks or Wax:

  1. If your crystal piece has stains, hard water lines, or water spots, soak overnight in a mixture of white vinegar and water or denture tablets and water. You can keep a vase filled with the vinegar solution for up to ten days if the spots to do not come off with the overnight treatment.²
  2. Remove the seeds from a lemon and gently rub the stains or water spots. Follow the steps above for rinsing and drying your crystal.²
  3. If the sparkle in your crystal seems to be faded, make a mild ammonia solution of several drops ammonia in 2 cups water and wipe the solution onto the crystal with a lint-free cloth, then rinse with water and dry as usual.⁴
  4. If the water marks are frequent or you have hard water, you might think about getting a water softener or using distilled water when you wash your crystal.²
  5. If you get wax drippings on your crystal, let it solidify in a cool place. Use your fingers to pick off the wax, then use a bit of denatured alcohol to remove any residue. Be very gentle; your fingernails can scratch the crystal. Don’t allow a candle to burn three inches or closer to a crystal candlestick. The high temperature might cause it to crack. You might consider using no-drip candles with your crystal pieces.²

Additional Tips and Advice

  • Empty glassware or clean dishes as soon as possible to prevent stains.¹
  • Do not use any kind of abrasive cleaners like SOS pads on your crystal.²
  • Do not put crystal in the dishwasher, oven or microwave. The change in temperature can cause it to crack and ruin the shine.²
  • Due to the lead content that can be in the decorative accents of true crystal decanters and bottles, do not store liquids, including wine or liquor, in them.²
  • Again, due to the lead content that artists use when creating crystal pieces, do not store or cook any food on a crystal piece.²
  • If your crystal piece has become cloudy and our tips above are not working, you might want to contact a professional who is trained in cleaning crystal. There are special processes that can be used to restore a crystal piece.²
  • Always ventilate the area well when using ammonia, and wear gloves. For more ammonia safety information, see Wikipedia.

Sources

  1. Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook
  2. Home Comforts; The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
  3. Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
  4. Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest

 

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Melanie

Hi! I am a seasoned writer-researcher who prides myself on quality and accuracy. I always vet my sources and test the cleaning methods I prescribe! I hope my cleaning guides can help you out! :)

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