How to Clean and Care for Crystal

Cody asked, “Does anyone have any tips for cleaning Tiffany crystal?”

You Will Need:

• Clean towel, large enough to line your sink.
• Small washing cloth
• Dishwashing liquid
• Soft-bristle bottle brush
• Linen towel
• Hair dryer
• Windex
• Ammonia

Steps to Clean the Crystal:

1. Remove any jewelry, such as rings or a bracelet, to prevent scratching the crystal as you clean.¹
2. Before washing your crystal, line your sink or your dish pan with a towel. This will lessen the chance of breaking the crystal if it slips out of your hands.²
3. Consider covering the faucet with a rubber guard, found at many hardware stores, to prevent damaging the crystal on the faucet.³
4. When washing dishes, always work from the least dirty and most fragile to the messiest. So, wash your crystal first.¹
5. Fill the sink with warm water (avoid temperature extremes) and add a gentle dishwashing liquid.²
6. You can use a soft-bristled bottle brush, found in the infant section of grocery stores, to clean crevices or places that are difficult to reach with your cloth.²
7. Only wash one item at a time and always keep it in your hand; don’t let it float around in the sink.²
8. Use a linen towel or soft, lint-free towel to dry. Hold the item at a solid point. Don’t hold the stem of a glass or a decorative attachment.² Do not use a towel that has been washed with a commercial fabric softener as it can deposit residue on the crystal.¹
9. The chance of breaking a piece is highest during drying. You can air dry a piece, just make sure you have allowed for some air to get underneath; don’t just set it on a towel. If you have a vase or a decanter, it can air dry, just keep the stopper off for three to four days. If needed, a hair dryer on the cool setting can be used to hasten the drying.²
10. If your crystal is a decorative piece, you can use Windex to clean it. Spray, wipe with a washing cloth and rinse.²
11. You can also dust decorative pieces weekly with a soft lint-free cloth and if desired, slightly wet the cloth with a mild ammonia solution.²

You Will Need:

• White vinegar
• Denture tablets
• Ammonia
• Lemon (with seeds removed)
• Denatured alcohol

Steps to Remove the Stains, Water Marks or Wax:

1. If your crystal piece has stains, hard water lines, or water spots, soak overnight in a mixture of white vinegar and water or denture tablets and water. You can keep a vase filled with the vinegar solution for up to ten days if the spots to do not come off with the overnight treatment.²
2. Remove the seeds from a lemon and gently rub the stains or water spots. Follow the steps above for rinsing and drying your crystal.²
3. If the sparkle in your crystal seems to be faded, make a mild ammonia solution of several drops ammonia in 2 cups water and wipe the solution onto the crystal with a lint-free cloth, then rinse with water and dry as usual.⁴
4. If the water marks are frequent or you have hard water, you might think about getting a water softener or using distilled water when you wash your crystal.²
5. If you get wax drippings on your crystal, let it solidify in a cool place. Use your fingers to pick off the wax, then use a bit of denatured alcohol to remove any residue. Be very gentle; your fingernails can scratch the crystal. Don’t allow a candle to burn three inches or closer to a crystal candlestick. The high temperature might cause it to crack. You might consider using no-drip candles with your crystal pieces.²

• Empty glassware or clean dishes as soon as possible to prevent stains.¹
• Do not use any kind of abrasive cleaners like SOS pads on your crystal.²
• Do not put crystal in the dishwasher, oven or microwave. The change in temperature can cause it to crack and ruin the shine.²
• Due to the lead content that can be in the decorative accents of true crystal decanters and bottles, do not store liquids, including wine or liquor, in them.²
• Again, due to the lead content that artists use when creating crystal pieces, do not store or cook any food on a crystal piece.²
• If your crystal piece has become cloudy and our tips above are not working, you might want to contact a professional who is trained in cleaning crystal. There are special processes that can be used to restore a crystal piece.²
• Always ventilate the area well when using ammonia, and wear gloves. For more ammonia safety information, see Wikipedia.

1. Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook
2. Home Comforts; The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
3. Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
4. Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest