Asked on Feb 13, 2015

Old cloudy drinking glasses

Joni Sorsen
by Joni Sorsen

My drinking glasses are getting all cloudy. Are they just cheap glass? My dishwasher never used to do that. Is there a project that I can use my old glasses for or does anyone know h ow to clean cloudy wine glasses?

  41 answers
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Feb 13, 2015
    A few things come to mind. Has your water been treated recently? Perhaps your city/municipality has treated the water and it has a different chemical makeup than it did earlier. Have you changed brands/types of dishwasher detergent? Do you use the recommended amount of dishwasher detergent? Dishwasher detergent is good a what it does, but it is caustic if overused and can "etch" your items, especially glass, if used in amounts greater than recommended. As for the quality of glass, less expensive glass will react in the same manner as expensive glass. Off hand, I can't think of any "project" you can use your damaged tumblers for but I'm pretty certain someone else here will give you some suggestions.
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Feb 13, 2015
    Mine have always done that, I have a lot of calcium in my (well) water. Also, the speed of the water hitting the glass can mark them, also. I just do my glasses the old fashioned way and they stay clear. Lots of projects on Pinterest.com
  • Rebecca L Rebecca L on Feb 13, 2015
    Tried Cascade Platinum?
  • Judith Tramayne Judith Tramayne on Feb 13, 2015
    Try Lemi Shine. My friend swears by it and she has hard water. Maybe your dishwasher just needs to be cleaned thoroughly. You do this first with one cycle with just LemiShine. You can find it at Amazon and even Walmart.
  • I was going to suggest a thorough cleaning of your Dishwasher, as Judith mentioned. I use a long cycle , and I use baking soda, and then Vinegar in the final rinse. I have ' rescued' some glassware before, soak in diluted white vinegar, in a dish pan and check them periodically. use a non abrasive scrubber , and rinse in vinegar water.
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Feb 13, 2015
    Soak them in white vinegar overnight, then wash by hand. I have hard water at our lake house and have to do this a few times a year. It works beautifully for me.
  • Joni Sorsen Joni Sorsen on Feb 13, 2015
    The vinegar has not worked on these glasses. I will try cleaning the dishwasher though.
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Feb 13, 2015
    You might try CLR to remove the water hardness. Good Luck!
    • Joni Sorsen Joni Sorsen on Feb 13, 2015
      @Katrina Warren We have soft R/O water. I'm beginning to think that these glasses are just very cheap.
  • Flossietilly Flossietilly on Feb 14, 2015
    soak them overnight in a container filled with coldwater and 1/4 cup of bleach, rinse and wash the following morning. Flossietilly
  • Marcia Barth Marcia Barth on Feb 14, 2015
    Use Jet DRY FINISH RINSE AID. This made all my dishes shine!!!!!!!!
  • Dale Dale on Feb 14, 2015
    TSP (TriSodiumPhosphate) from your hardware store will totally clean all glassware (even old vintage ones).
  • Samantha Marie Samantha Marie on Feb 14, 2015
    I put white vinegar in dish washer instead of Jet Dry
  • Linda Linda on Feb 14, 2015
    Use CLR, I also run the dishwasher occasionally with CLR . I have very hard water and this keeps the glass and silverware sparkling.
  • Jennifer Randazzo Jennifer Randazzo on Feb 14, 2015
    I use citric acid. We had to create a boiling water and citric acid bath for stuff that was really cloudy and soak, but once they were better, we put it in the dishwasher like soap. It's a food grade preservative. We buy it either from the local health food/bulk store or we order it from Amazon. They sell it as "dishwasher cleaner" but it's like $5 for one application. It's $30/10lb at Amazon, but I literally use 1T powdered dishwasher soap in the loose reservoir and 1T citric acid in the compartment that opens during the wash. Viola. No more cloudy glasses or stainless steel.
  • Karen Usoff Karen Usoff on Feb 14, 2015
    Peroxide --
  • Allison Allison on Feb 14, 2015
    Try a different dishwasher detergent. That clouding is most likely etching from the highly caustic detergent.
  • Nancy Nancy on Feb 14, 2015
    Try soaking them 24 hours (or more) in a bath solution of Bar Keepers Friend and water. You will need 3/4 of a can to about 4 gallons water. Or what ever size bucket you need. It cleans glass up real nice.
  • Hilly Hilly on Feb 14, 2015
    Keep it healthy, no chemicals and -rinse with vinegar.
  • Sheila E Sheila E on Feb 14, 2015
    Lemishine is citric acid is one of the best US products to help with clouding. Clouding is a national problem because they removed phosphates. Somat is the best dishwasher detergent, but it's expensive and not sold in stores, however it can be found on Amazon. Finish Quantum with Baking Soda seems to be the next best. I tried it after I finished a bag of Somat and my new glasses haven't turned white. Sorry Cascade users, but from all the reviews and testers' posts I've read, it's not a great choice. Etching is a different matter, and there are reports that Finish Quantum will etch, although I have yet to have that happen. From your picture, I don't think your problem is etching.
  • Shari Shari on Feb 14, 2015
    This problem is not your dishwasher's fault. It won't make a difference if you clean it. It is not your glasses. Changing dishwasher detergents won't fix the problem either. Thanks to environmentalists, many states have banned phosphates (an important cleaning ingredient in dishwasher detergent) so the companies who make dishwasher detergents have removed phosphates from their formulas. Supposedly, the chemical compounds of phosphates pollute lakes, bays and streams. As a result, our dishes are not getting as clean, and glasses become cloudy. Adding LemiShine to each load will help some, but don't expect miracles. Here are a couple links to articles related to this problem. You can find others by googling "phosphate removal from dishwashing detergents," or similar wording. http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132072122/it-s-not-your-fault-your-dishes-are-still-dirty http://www.appliancerepairspecialists.net/blog/effects-of-phosphate-removal-from-dishwasher-detergent/
    • See 1 previous
    • Rhonda Rhonda on Feb 15, 2015
      @Shari And the removal of phosphates in laundry detergent is why we can't get our whites really white! How frustrating.
  • John John on Feb 14, 2015
    I have the same issue. What I did was start using 1/4 or 1/3 measuring cup of vinegar in each dish-washing load. I turn the cup upside down and let the water naturally send the vinegar out. I also use the jet dry. I started using the dish washer soap tablets with a water softening compound in it. It has taken sevearl months but almost all the mineral on the glasses are dissolved. When the glasses come out now, they sparkle and look new again. If I have glasses sitting for some time, I adjust them so they sit flat and pour vinegar on the bottom of the upside down glalsses so it can soak. Works great. I am considering after 36 hears here getting a water softener, not only to rid the hard water, but the hard water is starting to eat through the house water pipes causing leaks. We had just remodeled out kitchen completely, when we developed a water leak, (pin hole in the pipe.) in the kitchen ceiling. Just before leaving on vacation last week, our ceiling collapsed and all the insulation and dry wall came crashing down.
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  • Virginia Virginia on Feb 14, 2015
    Ajudar um ESTA responder pergunta .VINAGRE E Á GUA SÃO ÓTIMOS PARA TUDO LIMPARA ..
  • Dale Dale on Feb 14, 2015
    I have been using TSP on old but attractive (vintage, from Thrift Stores) cloudy glasses for a few years now & they clean/shine up like new. TSP is quite similar to the old authentic version of TSP I was told by our hardware store guy.
  • Debi Cobb Debi Cobb on Feb 14, 2015
    This was happening to me as well -we have hard water. I found that if you hand was with brillo they look good as new.
  • Kathy Kathy on Feb 14, 2015
    LemiShine. It worked so good the first time, that I pulled all my clear glass out of the cupboard, and washed all of them! If that doesn't get it off nothing will (that I know of). I found it the first time in a hardware store, In the household cleaning aisle, another customer recommended it. I have also found it at the grocery store where the dishwasher soap is. Good luck.
  • Joni Sorsen Joni Sorsen on Feb 14, 2015
    I bought LemiShine. The packets don't fit in my dispenser. Think I can just set it in a section of my silverware thingy?
    • See 4 previous
    • Kathy Kathy on Feb 15, 2015
      My LemiShine comes in a shaker bottle.
  • Glenice hanna Glenice hanna on Feb 14, 2015
    Put a couple of cups of vinegar in your dishwasher before you run it they will come out sparkling.
  • Vicki Vicki on Feb 14, 2015
    we live in an area with extremely hard water and I had trouble with that also. When my new dishwasher was installed I was told to always use LemiShine in each load not to use the heated dry in the cycle. When the washer is done I just let them sit until they dry and yes they do dry. I was amazed, but yes it worked and I don't have that problem anymore.
  • 9530106 9530106 on Feb 14, 2015
    You might try using a dampened "MAGIC ERASER". To me it really just looks like mineral deposits, not cheap glasses! :) The eraser will work like 'magic', and will take very little effort!
  • Robin Miller Cresci Robin Miller Cresci on Feb 14, 2015
    VINEGAR!! I use vinegar to clean the inside of the dishwasher, and it removes the cloudy coating on the glasses. Perfect. No caustic chemicals! And an inexpensive fix!
  • Jane R. Jane R. on Feb 15, 2015
    If you are not in a hurry, you can mix half water and half vinegar, fill the glasses before going to bed, let it soak overnight then wash as usual. It will remove the film. Another thing, which is what I do, is make a thin paste of Bon Ami powdered cleanser, take a damp dish cloth and rub the inside, then wash as usual. My glasses come out looking like new in a few minutes. Bon Ami doesn't scratch glass. It will remove the white film and tea stains, great to use on coffee cups also.
  • Joni Sorsen Joni Sorsen on Feb 16, 2015
    Sad news about LemiShine. Found 1 last shaker bottle of the additive. Lady at walmart said they aren't going to carry that brand any longer. Will try what I have though.
  • Millicent Millicent on Feb 16, 2015
    I have found the using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the cloudy glasses will remove the residue. Good luck!
  • John John on Feb 17, 2015
    Question here. Using a soda based scrubbing powder or any other chemical with abrasives, will it not only clean the residue off the glass, but at the same time leave minute scratches in/on the glass itself leaving it susceptible to hold bacteria and calcium deposits? I had a plumber over to give a bid on re-piping my house, (see entry above) and he said it will cost over $10,000 to do a complete soft water, calcium reducer, system in my house, then I couldn't water my plants with it unless they can survive in a salt water application. I have my lawn irrigation hooked to my inside water so to get rid of the calcium issue, I'd kill all my plants. So will the cleansing powders really clean and not harm the glasses?
    • See 1 previous
    • John John on Feb 17, 2015
      @Shari Thanks for the reply. We are getting four estimates. After 47 years of owning two houses, and remodeling what seems constantly, we learned never take a first bid, always do research, and look around at what others did and ask tons of questions. What hearts is getting a house that a contractor cut corners on stuff that can't be seen decades ago, and now we are finding the issues. The house was re-plumbed in 75 using the cheapest grade copper pipe, not even rated for water. We are replacing only the pipes exposed in the attic. We refuse to have anyone cut into walls and cabinets at this time. After going through the entire house repainting, re-plastering, and putting up great woodwork and floors, we are tired of the mess and what it will entail. I do know there are complete systems out there that cost a lot less. that was only one estimate. Not the one we will take either. Thanks for the reply. As far as the glasses, I was just advancing the discussion. Vinegar seems to do wonders in so many ways.
  • Olga Olga on Feb 17, 2015
    Очень хорошо помогает уксус и аммиак. Они должны гармонировать 1x1 и загрузить автомобиль, как обычно.
  • Olga Olga on Feb 17, 2015
    Very well helps vinegar and ammonia . They need to blend 1x1 and load the car as usual.
  • Barb Burnham Barb Burnham on Feb 18, 2015
    Echo-vinegar.
  • Fyt1022483 Fyt1022483 on Oct 07, 2016
    Use hydrogen peroxide. Put it in a bottle to help you spray it. Let it sit for little and wash with dishwasher. Also check if you have changed lately the washing liguits you use. Maybe of bad quality
  • Drgoodie Drgoodie on Oct 07, 2016
    All my glasses looked like that. Lemi-Shine Dishwasher Booster added in the second cup turned them clear in one wash. Don't use it on old colored pyrex and such as it will remove the color. Just running the dishwasher with some of it in the bottom turned the d/w sparkly white clean. My vintage yellow pyrex baking dish with pale dots had turned black on the sides. Even Barkeepers Friend with several soakings and scrubbings did not remove it. Lemi Shine removed it and the dots, but the sides are still yellow. A paler yellow. Read the reviews at Walmart online and Amazon. Clear glasses! I almost cried. I hate spots.
  • Kitty Dally Kitty Dally on Oct 08, 2016
    Try denture tablets. Have used on my vases and it worked. Follow the instructions on the package. May have to use 2/3 tablets if stain is bad.