Milky glasses - that helps against cloudy glasses in the dishwasher

• Causes of milky glasses
  • calcification
  • glass corrosion
• cleaning
  • home remedies
  • cleanser
• Prevent cloudy glasses

The dishwasher will take you from one of the most annoying household tasks usually reliable. However, it is very annoying when you hold in the disposal of the valued helper suddenly milky glasses in your hands. This guide informs you about the causes of cloudy wine, champagne and beer glasses, decanters or glass vases. In addition, we will give you some tips for efficient cleaning of the glass elements and explain in the end in detail how to avoid glazing exercises from the dishwasher in the future.

Meanwhile, the dishwasher is almost the standard feature of a modern kitchen. No wonder, after all, you have more time for the finer things in life, if you do not have to spend minutes and hours daily manually cleaning your dishes. But unfortunately, even the most innovative dishwasher is not completely free of uncleanliness - especially if it is not properly maintained and maintained. But also alleged banalities can lead to blemishes on the dishes. The most common problems include milky glasses. The cloudy, dull and whitish appearance is far from handsome. Learn the most important about the causes as well as the efficient removal of dull glass surfaces. We also give you useful tips on how to prevent milky deposits on glasses.

Causes of milky glasses

If an originally shiny glass suddenly (or gradually) looks milky and cloudy when it comes out of the dishwasher, the following two causes are conceivable:

• calcification
• glass corrosion

calcification

As a rule, the cloudy areas of glasses are calcium deposits. These are primarily due to a not optimally functioning cleaning within the dishwasher. The not optimally functioning cleaning can have various reasons. Here are the most important at a glance:

a) Too hard water

In some regions tap water is harder than in others. Normally, the dishwasher is set to the prevailing degree of hardness. If this does not happen, the dishwasher is programmed incorrectly for a long time, the water softener does not work properly. The same can happen if the hardness of the water changes. Due to the inadequate functionality of the softener, lime streaks quickly form on glasses, which gives them the milky, cloudy appearance.

b) lack of special salt

Every flushing device requires special salt in order to function properly. The required amount of salt is in turn related to the degree of hardness (ie the lime ) of the water. The rule is: the harder the water is, the more salt the dishwasher needs.
The salt acts as a care product for the dishwasher's water softener. If there is a lack of special salt, the softener can not work properly. As a result, the lime in the water is increased, which often leads to corresponding traces on the glasses. As a result, they have milky-cloudy spots.

c) Lack of (high quality) rinse aid

Also important for a fully functioning dishwasher and correspondingly good washing results is the rinse aid whose main task is to improve the drying of the dishes. It reduces the surface tension of the water. In this way, the rinse aid prevents the formation of droplets - and thus streaks, which are responsible for cloudy glasses. If the amount of rinse aid is too low or, alternatively, the quality is insufficient, milky glasses result, among other things.

d) Limited drying

Under certain circumstances, a technical defect in the dishwasher will result in limited drying in the device, which leads to lime coverings and cloudy glass.

e) overdosing of the rinsing agent

Also, the use of an excess of detergent - whether in powder form or as tabs - may be the cause of milky glasses.

Note: In regions with hard, ie strongly calcareous water, it is particularly important to dose special salt, rinse aid and detergent appropriately. Otherwise lime particles will be deposited on the glasses over time and make them look milky and foggy.

The good news: If lime deposits are the cause of cloudy glass, it is easily possible to get the latter back with suitable means. Things look quite different with glass corrosion.

glass corrosion

If small cracks and / or cracks form on the glass surface, this is called glass corrosion. Although the affected glass does not break down due to corrosion, the damage causes cloudiness at various points - and thus also an unsightly appearance of the glass.

One possible cause of glass corrosion is the use of chemical cleaning agents. Unfortunately, clouding caused by glass corrosion - unlike calcifications - can no longer be eliminated.

Tip: The use of gentle cleaning agents and generally a more careful cleaning of glasses in the dishwasher (relatively natural composition, reduced temperature and so on) can reduce the glass corrosion a little - you can prevent them but mostly not.

Glasses are composed differently and thus also differently susceptible to glass corrosion. Crystal glasses, for example, must never be cleaned in the dishwasher. Always inform yourself in advance whether the glass in question is actually dishwasher-safe.

cleaning

The following recommendations for the cleaning of soiled glasses from the dishwasher refer exclusively to the calcification as a cause. If the measures do not work, you have to assume that it is glass corrosion. We describe home remedies and effective helpers from the trade.

home remedies

One of the most proven home remedies for cleaning a lime-soiled glass is the "perennial" vinegar.

acetic acid

Step 1: Heat several liters of water in a pot. The water should not be too hot, it must not cook.

Important: Choose the amount of water so that the tumblers are fully covered with water (except for the grip area such as wine and champagne glasses).

Step 2: Add a dash of vinegar to the heated water.
Step 3: Place the milky glasses in the cleaning solution (with the opening facing downwards).
Step 4: Let it stand for about half an hour. In time, the home remedy acts.

Tip: You observe the process and notice that many small air bubbles form in the water ">

Tip: Instead of acetic acid you can also use citric acid or ammonia. The procedure always remains the same.

Raw potato

A second home remedy that will help you reliably to give milky glasses a new shine is a raw potato.

Step 1: Peel a raw potato.
Step 2: Cut the peeled potato into medium sized pieces.

Tip: A piece should be so large or small that you can easily hold it in your cloudy glass and move the potato in it.

Step 3: Sprinkle the chosen potato piece with some vinegar.
Step 4: Rub the calcified glass with the vinegar piece of potato.
Step 5: Rinse the glass thoroughly under running warm water.
Step 6: Polish the glass dry with a microfiber cloth.

cleanser

Special: denture cleanser tabs

In drugstores and supermarkets there are so-called denture cleanser tabs to buy. These products also have the potential to make cloudy glasses look radiant again.

Step 1: Dissolve a denture cleaner tablet in water.
Step 2: Soak a microfibre cloth in the cleaning solution.
Step 3: Clean the cloudy glass with the cloth.
Step 4: Rinse the glass carefully under running warm water.
5th step: Polish the glass with a new, dry microfiber cloth.

Commercially available glass cleaners

If you do not want to improve any of the household remedies mentioned above, you can still try a professional glass cleaner from specialist retailers. Make sure that the glass cleaner is suitable for the composition of your opaque glass.

Note: Using a biodegradable glass cleaner prevents (further) damage to your lenses.

Step 1: Follow the instructions of the manufacturer of your glass cleaner.
Step 2: Rinse the glass under running warm water.
Step 3: Polish the glass with a microfiber cloth.

Prevent cloudy glasses

In order to ensure that your glasses and other dishes come out clean and shiny from the dishwasher, the appliance must be fully functional. It is also important that you use suitable agents in the correct dosage (special salt, rinse aid and dishwashing liquid). Furthermore, you should always make sure to properly fill your dishwasher and set the right program. Our effective tips will help you prevent milky glasses from the dishwasher in the future.

Tip # 1: Arrangement
Do not place the tumblers in the dishwasher too close together. Leave about an inch of space (also for other dishes).

Tip # 2: salt
Regularly replenish special salt for a fully functional water softener.
Note: Store the hardness of your tap water in the dishwasher. As a result, this adjusts the dosage of salt for each wash automatically.
You can get the degree of hardness of your water from your water supplier (competent city or local government).

Tip # 3: Rinse aid
Make sure there is enough rinse aid in your dishwasher. To do this, pour rinse aid into the container provided until it is full.
Note: If your glasses still appear calcified despite this (and all the other) measures, it is best to try a rinse aid change. Give preference to a high quality product.

Tip # 4: Dish soap
Dose the detergent correctly. Lime deposits in or on glasses are often the cause of an excess of detergent. Reduce the amount. If you use powder, the dose can be easily changed. In the case of tabs, it is advisable to use a halved instead of a whole tablet for the next time.

Tip # 5: Vote
Despite all advertising promises, we advise against using 3-in-1 tabs. They do not improve the washing results, on the contrary. Take individual products (special salt, rinse aid and detergent) and fill them in the appropriate chambers. This optimizes the effect of the individual ingredients and provides better results.

Tip # 6: Lime
Over time, limescale builds up in every dishwasher, which can settle on the glasses when rinsing. Therefore, you should descale your dishwasher at regular intervals with a suitable machine cleaner (observe the manufacturer's instructions in the dishwasher manual).

Tip # 7: Wash program
Always choose the glass-washing program (especially for sensitive and expensive glasses), although it may seem more convenient and economical to clean everything together. Excessively high rinsing temperatures can also result in milky drinking glasses.

Tip # 8: Vinegar
Once again, the miracle product vinegar: It is also a good way to prevent calcification of glasses. In addition to the basic remedies (special salt, rinse aid, dishwashing liquid), put a shallow bowl of some vinegar in the dishwasher before activating the appliance.

A note to the end: If you usually rinse your drinking glasses by hand, it makes sense to add a dash of vinegar to the rinse water to prevent calcification and cloudy deposits.