Caring for your glass

Tips on how to care for your Glass

• Do not stack tumblers inside one another as this can cause stress cracks and tumblers can get stuck.
• Wash crystal in warm soapy water and dry with a soft cloth. Never wash your crystal in the dishwasher as the cleaning agents are abrasive.
• Very hot or very cold water can cause sudden stresses to glass, particularly where the glass is thick.
• When draining avoid placing glasses upside down as this can put a strain on the rim.
• Water should not be allowed to stand for too long in vases since the acids in flower stems can, over a period of time, etch the surface.
• To clean your glass, a light dusting should be sufficient. Use a soft-headed toothbrush for awkward nooks and crannies, providing the glass is not enamelled or gilded.
• If your glass requires washing, use warm soapy liquid - mild washing-up liquid is fine - in a plastic bowl to protect the glass from the hardness of the sink. Dry with a soft, clean lint-free cloth.
• If the glass is iridised, the piece should be dried immediately as watermarks can appear on the shiny surface. If this happens, simply immerse in water then dry.
• If the glass has sand-blasted or acid-etched decoration, clean the piece as above, then pour a little oil - baby oil or cooking oil will do - onto a piece of lint-free cloth and rub onto the surface. Remove any excess oil then polish with a clean, dry lint-free cloth.
• Avoid bumping pieces together, such as paperweights, as this can cause bruising or fracture marks.
• Beware of handing glass when wearing diamond rings - diamonds can easily mark the surface of glass.
• When transporting glass, always make sure it is well wrapped, ideally in a generous layer of tissue paper then a layer of bubble-wrap. When packing boxes, stuff any gaps with tissue or newspaper so the glass cannot move. Make sure the box is sturdy enough to hold the glass and do not overfill boxes - you might damage yourself as well as the glass by making boxes too heavy.
• When packing decanters or perfume bottles, always remove the stopper and wrap it separately.
• Create cushions of tissue to support fragile stems, points or awkward parts so the weight of the glass rests evenly when it is laid flat.
• Items made from coloured glass, rather than colours applied to the glass cold, will not fade so do not be afraid to display them on a windowsill. However, beware of displaying paperweights on a wooden windowsill or table close to direct sunlight as the thickness of the glass can magnify the sun's rays and scorch the wood.

 

How do you clean the inside of a decanter?

• If the decanter is old (pre 1930) and the inside is badly lime-scaled, then the only way it can be effectively cleaned is by mechanical polishing - this should be done by an expert restorer. Lead shot is put inside the decanter together with jeweller’s rouge and water and the decanter is then stopped up with a cork. The decanter is wrapped in bubble wrap and then placed inside a revolving tumbling machine for a couple of days.
• If the decanter is relatively new (post 1930) and is made from lead crystal or full lead crystal, then it can be acid dipped in a hydrofluoric and sulphuric acid mixture. Acid polishing should not be attempted on old glass as the lead content is unpredictable and the decanter could be spoiled in the process. This technique should be done by an expert restorer.
• Probably the best DIY method is to use dishwashing tablets, as they have a caustic effect. However, we cannot be held responsible for the results!

 

How do you dry the inside of a decanter?

• Put it in an airing cupboard, preferably upside down.
• Roll up some kitchen roll paper and stuff it inside. This should absorb the moisture.
• Use a hair dryer, but make sure it is not too hot!
• Put some alcohol inside (something like Gin), swill it around and then leave to evaporate.

 

How do you release a stuck stopper?

• Hold the decanter between your knees with the stopper away from you and tap the stopper gently but repeatedly with a piece of wood (the back of an old fashioned shoe brush is ideal). The slight shock should release the stopper.
• Wrap a piece of hot wet cloth round the neck of the decanter. The theory is that this will cause the glass to expand and thus release the stopper.
• Warning - the most common cause of stuck stoppers is Sherry as it can be sticky and sugary, so make sure that decanters with Sherry in are kept clean.

 

With thanks to Red House Crafts, Okra Glass and Royal Brierley Crystal for their help in compiling these tips.