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How to Care for Fine Crystal
Followed to the letter, the tips below may help you keep your
crystal pieces in near-mint condition for the rest of your life,
or even beyond. These tips comprise two subject areas: washing
and handling.
Washing Fine Crystal Pieces
Keep your crystal collection far, far away from your dishwasher. Crystal pieces should be washed individually in warm water to which a mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid has been added. (Warm water is recommended because washing your pieces in extremely hot water can damage the surface polish on fine crystal.)
After washing, rinse each piece in warm water and dry it immediately using a lint-free dishcloth. Use small quantities of ammonia or lemon juice to remove water spots, and rub away any lime deposits with a cloth daubed in vinegar.
To help clean way down inside vases and decanters, drop a handful of uncooked rice into warm soapy water and swirl it gently around the base of the piece. The swirling grains of rice will help dislodge any dirt or residue clinging to the interior walls of the vase without damaging the surface.
Handling
Fine Crystal Pieces
Here are some do's and don'ts pertaining to storage and handling:
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Since the rim is the weakest point of a crystal glass, don't store a glass upside down. You could damage the edge.
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In your storage area, allow extra space around each glass to prevent glasses from being carelessly knocked together. Even a glancing collision can cause small cracks in the surface of the glass.
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Avoid sudden changes or extremes in temperature; never put ice in a warm glass, or warm liquids in a cold glass.
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When washing and drying stemware, don't hold a glass by the stem or foot. If you wash using too much pressure, you could twist the stem off completely.
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Owners of stemware rimmed with precious metals (gold, platinum, silver) should exercise even more caution in storage and handling. Metal rims increase a glass's sensitivity to temperature and the possibilities for serious damage to a fine crystal piece.
Should you suffer a handling mishap and cause irreparable damage, it's not the end of the world. Take comfort in knowing that Waterford Crystal stemware patterns are never discontinued; even products of the most limited availability can always be special-ordered from the factory.