Have you ever noticed your glassware looks like it has scratches all over?  It’s part of a process called etching.  Etching is caused by pre-rinsing glasses too often, using extremely hot water in the dishwasher, or using too much detergent with soft water.  Etching erodes the surface of the glassware, causing tiny little pits or scratches.  Common symptoms of etching are discoloration of glassware and/or glassware looking cloudy.  The frustrating part of etching is it’s permanent.  The only way to remove etching is to throw away your glassware.  Unfortunately, etching can and will happen on any glassware.

There are ways to prevent etching. First, it’s recommended to take the temperature of the hot water.  Hot water should be between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.  Another fix is changing the type or amount of detergent used with each dishwashing cycle.  If using a liquid detergent, it is recommended to use ½ of the usual dose with soft water.  Lastly, don’t pre-rinse your dishes.  The detergent is designed to clean your dishes for you.

Once glassware becomes etched, it can’t be reversed. However, you can take the steps listed above to prevent etching from ever happening again.  If you have any questions about etching on glassware, call or contact us.