Can crystal be washed in the dishwasher?

Can crystal be washed in the dishwasher? To this day, the Soviet heritage – crystal – occupies a huge place in household utensils. Almost every home has a set, vase and other crystal objects. They, like everyone else, require care and washing. However, you need to be very careful when washing crystal in the dishwasher to minimize the risk of cracks and other damage. Let's look at the nuances of washing crystal glassware in the dishwasher.

Crystal may deteriorate

It is not for nothing that crystal always appears in fairy tales as something extremely fragile and delicate. Real crystal really does not withstand mechanical stress and temperature fluctuations. Glass corrosion is a phenomenon that crystal is also susceptible to if not handled correctly and manifests itself in the form of many small scratches and microcracks. When loading capricious dishes into the dishwasher, follow these recommendations:

choose delicate mode;
if this is not provided, select the shortest program by manually setting the temperature to 40 degrees;
When washed in a PMM, copper, silver and aluminum products release elements that deposit a yellow coating on adjacent dishes. Avoid such proximity;
The softer the water, the better for crystal, as salts in hard water damage the surface. If the indicators leave much to be desired, use an emollient;
Wash gold-plated items by hand;
Before sending the dishes to the PMM, scrape off any leftover food by hand.

Important! Hard water often leaves stains that even hand washing cannot save. In this case, use the air dry mode in the dishwasher.This type of drying blows drops off the surface, so no streaks form.

To summarize: it is not recommended to wash crystal in the dishwasher; it is better to do it by hand. However, you can periodically use the PMM only if you take all precautions. In this case, your crystal will not deteriorate or suffer.

Features of placing dishes

Another feature of washing dishes in a dishwasher is constant vibration. As already mentioned, crystal does not tolerate mechanical stress, so care must be taken to ensure that the dishes do not break during the procedure. It is better to secure glasses and other fragile objects on shelves. how to secure glasses

This can be done using special holders made of silicone or plastic. Sometimes they even come complete with PMM, or are purchased separately. If there are no holders, use regular clothespins.

What to do with crystal before and after dishwashing?

If you resort to washing crystal in a PMM, you need to provide it with proper care before and after the procedure. For example, if dirt has accumulated at the bottom of a vase, jug or other deep item, it is better to remove it manually. Pour water inside, splash in table vinegar and add coarse salt, shake.

Warm water with vinegar and salt not only removes dirt, but also gives the product a neat appearance after the dishwasher: it eliminates stains and cloudiness. It is enough just to rinse the dishes in this solution.
Ammonia will help preserve the appearance of gold-plated items. Add a few drops to water and rinse the gold-plated item.
Never hold glasses by the stem when washing or rinsing them, as it may break off. Hold on to the base.
If you want to dry the crystal, use a cotton cloth. Towels and napkins are not suitable for this purpose because they will leave a lot of small fibers on the surface.

Cleaning crystal in the dishwasher is acceptable. The main thing is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, and if there are none, follow the tips listed above. Then the crystal glassware will retain its integrity and attractive appearance for a long time.