The majority of Orrefors crystal glassware is machine washable, there is only certain glassware with special colors or details that should not be machine washed.
That’s why we divide our glassware into three categories:
Glass is affected by:
- The composition of the glass.
- The condition and history of the surface.
- The temperature and time during the various washing steps.
- The composition and dosage of the detergent.
- The quality of the water.
The washing temperature should not be too high. Choose a gentle or eco-friendly program that washes at about 50°C and for the shortest time, provided that the dishes get clean. Old dried-on food residues may need a different program.
Do not overdose - use only as much detergent as is required to get the glasses clean. Check the user manual for how much water your machine uses during the wash cycle and do not dose more than about 4 g/l. Half of this is usually sufficient.
Do not wash old glasses, especially if they contain lead crystal, in the dishwasher.
Even glasses that are not in use should be washed a few times a year, by hand or in a machine, as they can develop an alkaline film that forms in reaction between glass and humidity in the air. Glasses that develop this film feel "sweaty" and the film can cause glass plague to start.
Make sure that the glasses do not hit each other in the dishwasher as this can easily cause the glass edge to chip.
If there are special holders for wine glasses, these should be used.
Do not stack glasses on top of each other because glass scratches glass. The scratches that form are developed and become more noticeable after a number of dishwasher cycles.
Do not place glasses upside down in the cabinets. If there is any moisture left, a moisture chamber can form in each glass that attacks the glass surface, which then becomes more susceptible to dishwasher damage.
If your glasses are white or foggy, it could be glass plague, but it could also be due to limescale. They can be caused by using too much detergent or hard water. To remove limescale, you can do this: Pour vinegar into a flat bowl and place in the dishwasher. Put the glasses in and run a normal washing program without detergent. If the limescale doesn't disappear, you can put the glasses in a bowl of hot water and vinegar for a while before repeating the procedure.
If the stains do not go away, you can contact a glass polishing shop that can polish the surface so that it becomes shiny again. There are also glass repairers who can repair broken glass, for example if an edge has been chipped. However, this is not something we at Kosta Boda can offer.
We ask you to carefully follow Orrefors' recommendations regarding your particular glass.
Thank you for your understanding and take care of your glass for the best lifespan.