Heads or tails Kitchen reader Josie-o emailed in to ask us for drinkware storage advice ... and we're passing her question along to see if we can find any consensus on this.
"Just one of those things I've always wondered about. I was raised with 'right side up' yet curious when friends' kitchens had their glasses upside down," Josie-o said. Now we're wondering too:
We're not sure if there's one right answer for this one, but we did find this great tip on Martha Stewart's site:
Make the most of your cupboard real estate by adding another level of storage for glassware. Cut a piece of nonskid shelf liner (available at home-supply stores) to line a serving tray and a cupboard shelf; this will help glasses stay put and protect the rims. Place glasses used less frequently upside down on the shelf, set tray on top, and arrange everyday glasses upside down on tray.
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Bottoms up, except for some mugs on display on a shelf, where I need to see them right side up, though it means rinsing out the dust before I use them.
I use wire shelves in my cupboard to double up space for glasses.
And I read a good tip somewhere (possibly also Martha?), to arrange same-height glasses in rows from front to back (instead of putting all larger glasses in a row across the back, for example), so that the size glass you want is always accessible.
view Joan A.'s profile
Growing up my parents stored them right side up, but when I moved in with my husband and was unpacking all of our glasses to put in the cabinet I put them upside down. I'm not sure why, as we'd never done that growing up, but it just seemed to make sense to me and that's how we do it now.
view bluestar's profile
I store bottom side up. Realistically the glasses in the front always see more usage, the glasses in the back less so. This way I don't have to worry about dust in the glass when I go to use it.
view Zaya's profile
Ha, I alternate mine so that more fit in the space.
view Anne (in Reno)'s profile
I do bottoms up too, because of dust or whatever.. however, when it comes to glasses used for wine/beers that you really hone into their flavors, it's been said that you should store upside up, so as to not trap any weird flavors in the glass.
view cheflaura's profile
bottoms up for me too, due to the dusty factor
view Hanna's profile
I do right side up, because the sides of my glasses are thin and delicate. I'm afraid of chipping the rim!
view MariahB's profile
I do right-side up.
My current shelves leave bits of paint on rims it seems. Even though they were painted over 7 years ago.
My glasses are also in a cupboard- maybe cuts down dust? Or more likely I'm ok with the rinse step and occasional household dust ingestion.
view jocie-o's profile
Funny, in the debates I've heard about this issue, it's been about roaches, not dust: bottom's up says it keeps them out of your glass, right-side up says it keeps them from crawling around where you put your mouth.
view renata's profile
I hate the thought of the edge that I drink from touching my dirty cabinets...even with shelf liner!
So I always store them rim up and just rinse out the dust when need be.
view Marie's profile
We store right side up, but as they're in cupboards and also used frequently I think that's okay. If they were to be out in the open/less frequently used, then I think I'd want them bottom up.
view soul's profile
Definately bottom side up.
I grew up in the country and if you didn't store the glasses upside down you were at risk of later finding a small mouse that had climbed in and couldn't get out!!! My mom couldn't bear to think of the horrible final hours for that mouse ... and I still can't.
view Alex in DC's profile
I lined the shelves with a textured semi-cushy material and all regular glasses are upside down. I also use the wire shelves to double up the space for mugs and juice glasses. But yes, wine glasses and some tall bottom heavy cups stay upright because they aren't stable upside down. We also have a rack for some of the wine glasses to hang them upside down.
view kdb's profile
I like to go for shallow open-air wooden shelving and then place the glasses upside down and hanging slightly off the edge of the shelf. I don't have a dishwasher so that way they can air dry.
view peb's profile
Wine Glasses - Bottoms up
Beer Pints and Water Glasses - Right side up
I don't know why. It's just always been that way.
view Lori's profile
I like my bottoms up.
view DawnMarie04's profile
In my parentâs home we always kept them upside down, whether it was because of dust or just because my Mom likes it that way Iâm not sure...
But the wife and I keep them right side up. Iâve managed to setup our shelves to correspond with the height of the glasses so each size has itâs own shelf (yes, Iâm a detail freak sometimes) and dust is never an issue, even after months of sitting on the shelf.
Although the method of alternating to squeeze more in is a good idea! :)
view Pete's profile
When I lived in the desert, bottoms side up to keep the silverfish out of them...after I got married, bottoms side down because my husband couldn't stand the smell of the dishwashing soap that concentrated in the downturned glass.
view tadaa's profile
I also alternate, to fit them in the small cupboard space that's all that's available most easily.
view moiety's profile
right side up and that's how I often saw them stored in cupboards over the years.
view ciddyguy's profile
right side up - the rim of a glass is usually its thinnest point, most subject to breakage, so right side up keeps the rims from accidentally clinking or knocking against the shelves
view lizb's profile
Right-side up, here.
I can't stand the smell of drinkware that has been stored upside down. They smell like the cabinet, and/or dishsoap,etc. Also if the shelf isn't spotlessly clean, the rim likely collects whatever it's been standing in.
Plus, I think they're like terrariums for whatever would like to grow in a moist environment, bleech.
I'm absolutely freaky about this issue, and I believe my BF and I had just one very short discussion about this. He wisely let me win, LOL
view ohjodi's profile