Cloudy limescale stains on wine glasses ‘dissolve’ easily in 5 minutes with 1 natural item

Cloudy limescale stains on wine glasses ‘dissolve’ easily in 5 minutes with 1 natural item (Image: Getty)

Limescale is often the cause of cloudy wine and other drinking glasses, particularly when placed in the dishwasher.

Neglecting to sort out this issue swiftly might make it feel like you're battling an unbeatable task, particularly when the dishwasher is used all the time to clean them.

Glass expert John Cutts, founder of Me and MyGlass, has shared some neat tricks claiming that it is “easier than you think to get your wine glasses in sparkling condition before all your family and friends come over” for the festive period.

John warned against a common cleaning misstep, saying: “One of the biggest mistakes we make when cleaning our wine glasses is to put them in the dishwasher - but this is a bad idea as the detergent and hot water can cause them to crack or turn cloudy.”

He recommends going old school with your glassware cleansing: “Instead, you should hand wash them and soak them in a white vinegar and warm water solution.”

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The dishwasher can cause wine glasses to crack or turn cloudy (Image: Getty)

The acidic nature of white vinegar makes it a champion at banishing those stubborn stains and filmy residue on your glasses in five to 10 minutes. For very heavy spots, you can warm the vinegar before soaking.

For those after a dazzling gleam, John suggests buffing up with either newspaper or a microfibre cloth.

Whether you opt for yesterday’s news or a high-tech fabric, they’re both recommended to deliver a “sparkling and smudge-free finish” says the glass guru.

Begin from the top and work downward when cleaning wine glasses (Image: Getty)

Digging further into his treasure trove of tips, he added: “Another tip is to swirl around uncooked rice to gently scrub the areas of the glass stem which can be hard to reach.”

With some warm water, rice can act like a gentle abrasive, getting to those tricky, slender parts of the glass’s anatomy.

Want a pro tip for tackling those wine glasses? Begin from the top and work downward, advises the cleaning pro.

John advised: “Work your way down cleaning the glass by starting at the top. This will allow you to inspect any marks all around and keep the glass as polished as possible.”

He also suggested a clever trick for spotless results: “Hold your wine glasses over a bowl of boiled water to allow the steam to dissolve away any smudges, stains and residue marks rather than scrubbing the glass.”

If this doesn't work, chances are your glass is etched. This happens to some types of glassware in the dishwasher, that, unfortunately, is permanent and can't be removed.