The Swallow Champagne Flute

Over time, residue from detergent or minerals from your water can build up and leave a haze or spots on your glassware. While these deposits are not harmful, they are unsightly, and are best addressed early. 

Mix a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. Gently submerge your crystal and let it soak for 15 minutes to an hour. Using a soft sponge or lint-free cloth, gently rub the film off the inside and outside of the glass, being careful to hold it by the bowl, not the stem or foot. Rinse the glassware thoroughly and dry it completely with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Coffee filters are excellent for this task.

If you have hard water, we suggest you repeat this cleaning once a year, or more frequently, depending on how often you use and wash your crystal.

If you have a white spot that does not go away, you can make a salt and vinegar paste to help remove it. Moisten ½ teaspoon of table salt with a few drops of white vinegar so it clumps together. Using your fingertip, apply the paste gently to the spot and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Then, rinse and dry as above. 

Do not use abrasive brushes or products, as they can permanently damage your glassware.

We do not recommend using your dishwasher for cleaning crystal glassware. There is an increased risk of breakage, and the detergents and high temperatures can cause permanent etching. We recommend hand washing and drying only.

AFTER USING: First, rinse the glasses in warm water to remove any remaining beverage. Apply some gentle liquid dish soap to a damp soft sponge or lint-free cloth. Holding the bowl of the glass, gently wipe the inside and outside of the bowl, the stem, and the foot. Pay special attention to any waxy lipstick residues on the lip of the glass.  Rinse well in warm water, and dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth. You can use paper towels if they are lint-free, or try coffee filters. 

We recommend that the cloth items you use to care for your crystal be reserved for this task, and not used for other cleaning. This will ensure your glassware is not damaged by cleaning products or dirt particles that can become embedded in the fibers.

We also recommend that you do not wear rubber dishwashing gloves while you clean your crystal. This will allow you to feel the water temperature, ensuring it is not too hot, and to maintain a better grip on the beautiful but delicate glassware.

AFTER STORING: If your crystal has not been used in a while, it is likely to collect dust, even if it is inside a cabinet. Do not wipe this dust off with a cloth, as the microparticles can cause scratching, which will result in a permanent haze. Instead, rinse the dust off the glassware with warm water, and wash and dry as described above. 

Lines, or cords, occur in finished crystal due to density differences that happen during the manufacturing process, while the glass is in liquid form. These almost-invisible gradations sometimes appear due to their different light refraction properties, but are impossible to see when the glassware is filled. This is not a flaw, but a natural effect of the artisanal nature of the product.

Miniscule bubbles, smaller than the head of a pin, can occur during the handcrafting of molten crystal. They do not affect the strength or quality of the glassware, and if they are completely on the interior of the crystal, are not considered flaws. A bubble that is open to the air, creating a small divot or hole, is not desirable. We carefully quality check our products to exclude these from our collection.