How to Clean Stained Wine Glasses
Quick Answer: A stain or ring at the bottom of a red wine glass is usually wine residue that dried there. Rinse glasses straight after use so it never sets. To clean one that has set, wash it in warm soapy water with a little vinegar, or use white vinegar, then rinse well. If the mark stays, it may be surface deterioration, which cannot be fixed.
The hardest part is the bottom of the bowl, where residue collects and a hand does not reach. This post covers what causes the mark, which cleaners the makers name, what to do about long stems, and when the mark is permanent. The full routine is in how to clean wine glasses, and general care is in Caring for Fine Glassware.
What causes stains in a red wine glass?
Residue that is allowed to dry on the glass. No maker cited explains the chemistry of a wine ring, and none gives a time limit, so the plain rule is to rinse soon after use, before the wine dries.
Waterford says, of decanters and carafes, that changing the contents frequently helps avoid film build-up and chemical erosion of the interior surface. That is written for decanters, but it points the same way for a glass: do not leave wine sitting in it.
How do you clean a stained wine glass?
Start with the gentlest method and work up. Every method below ends with a thorough rinse.
| Method | What the maker says | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Soapy water with vinegar | Rückl: add vinegar to the soapy water to remove stains and dried dirt | No ratio given |
| White vinegar | Val Saint Lambert: vinegar neat or diluted with a little water | No soak time given |
| Rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth | Val Saint Lambert: for label marks, spots or stains | As its own step. Never mix it with other cleaners |
Hold the bowl and do not twist it against the base. Waterford says not to twist the bowl in the opposite direction to the stem, because that can cause damage. The choice of cleaners is covered in wine glass cleaner: what works and what to skip.
Why are long stems hard to clean, and what helps?
The bowl is deep and the opening is narrow, so a hand or sponge cannot reach the bottom. No maker cited names a solution specific to stemware. Filling the glass with a cleaning solution rather than scrubbing follows the approach used for decanters: Waterford prepares a new decanter with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water left overnight, and Val Saint Lambert says to fill glassware with white vinegar. Whether a stemware brush helps is covered in do you really need a wine glass cleaning brush.
When is a wine stain permanent?
When it does not lift with vinegar. The Corning Museum of Glass conservators say cloudiness that is surface deterioration cannot be fixed. Libbey says etching is permanent and cannot be restored. The test that separates removable film from permanent damage is in how to clean cloudy drinking glasses. Val Saint Lambert suggests a specialist for clouding that persists on a valued piece.
Where does a polishing cloth fit?
At the end, to dry and polish a glass that is already clean. The Excalibur Brothers Premium Glass Polishing Cloth is our own product, sold on this site. The Premium Glass Polishing Cloth in gray is a large microfiber cloth sold as a pack of two, and the collection also has white and an assorted pair.
When this is not the right choice: a cloth does not remove a stain or a ring, and it cannot reach the bottom of a deep bowl. If the stain is the only problem, vinegar and a rinse are the fix, and any clean lint-free towel will dry the glass.
Frequently asked questions
How do you remove red wine stains from glassware?
Wash in warm soapy water with a little vinegar, or use white vinegar, then rinse thoroughly. If the mark stays, it may be surface deterioration.
How do you clean red wine stained glasses?
The same way. Rinse right after use so the residue does not dry on, and use vinegar on a mark that has set.
How do you clean red wine glasses after a dinner?
Rinse each glass with clear water straight away. Then wash by hand in warm water with a small amount of mild detergent, and dry with a clean lint-free cloth.
How do you remove a wine stain from a glass?
Try vinegar first. Val Saint Lambert also lists rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth for spots and stains, used as its own step.
Can you put stained wine glasses in the dishwasher?
Makers differ on dishwashers, and the details are in wine glasses in the dishwasher.
Should you rinse a stained glass with distilled water?
It helps with spots. The Corning Museum of Glass conservators suggest washing with a mild detergent and rinsing with deionized or distilled water, which has no minerals. It does not remove a stain that has already set.
Why is there a ring at the bottom of my wine glass?
Usually wine residue that dried at the bottom of the bowl. No maker cited explains why, so rinse glasses soon after use to stop it forming.