Caring for Glassware

It is advised not to stack glasses, as this causes repetitive impacts, increasing the risks of breakages. Instead, it is a good idea to carry glass with the use of trays to help avoid these types of impacts. The use of glass racks also is an effective way to safely transport and wash glass whilst avoiding repetitive impacts. For the safe transport of multiple glass racks the use of dollies can be used. They're also a great way to store and dry glassware.

Cracks and breakages can occur when the glass experience a rapid change in temperature. This is most commonly experienced when hot glasses are removed straight from a glass washer and ice and chilled liquids are added to the glass before the glass has had the chance to gradually cool down. Please ensure glasses have cooled to room temperature before use. Thermal shock can also occur when glasses are stacked after they have been washed in a glass washer. The stacked glass is subject to stress and strains due to cooling process causing a difference in air pressure between the air trapped inside the glass and the surrounding air.

The appearances of glassware can deteriorate over time and a common cause of this is called etching. Glasses that have experience etching turn a cloudy white colour translucent colour. This is an unavoidable process that develops over time and is due to the multiple washes of the glass especially when detergent is being used. The repetitive washes remove the metal ions from the glass which causes a microscopic roughening of the glass surface resulting in the cloudy white colour and rough texture. 

Over time nucleated drinking glasses will lose their effectiveness if glassware care is neglected. Non-rinseable films build up trapping sediment within the nucleation, resulting in flat and lifeless drinks. The use of specialist glass cleaning products can help to prevent and treat these types of build-ups.

Clean glasses contribute to the best tasting and most appealing beverages. Contaminated glassware on the other hand contributes to poor head retention, poor taste and shorter beverage life. Glasswashers are widely used and recommended within the industry due to their efficiency and safety compared to washing glasses by hand. Covers for dollies provide added protection from dust when the glassware is being stored.