The Most Important Step When Cleaning Wine Glasses

I’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about how to clean wine glasses. Few things bug me as much as going to someone’s house and being offered vino in a

dirty-looking glass

Now, my wine glasses don’t tend to get that dirty, because we keep them in a closed cabinet and use them fairly frequently. And my methods aren’t particularly fancy — I’ve found that unscented dish soap, hot water, and a gentle scrubby sponge do just fine! (Although some people say to use no soap at all!)

There’s just one extra step I’ve learned to take that makes a big difference in whether my clean wine glasses look just kinda clean or extra clean.

The secret to cleaning wine glasses? Drying them.

Here’s why: Even if you clean your wine glasses thoroughly, water spots will make them look dirty. If you allow them to dry upright, that can mean a little dirty-looking puddle at the bottom of the glass, which will make others think you never cleaned them. If you dry them upside down, water can still pool along the rim, leaving spots.

My favorite way to dry them is simply with a microfiber cloth. A microfiber cloth is super-absorbent and lint-free, so you’re not leaving behind any unwanted fuzz as you dry. A paper towel works great, too, if you don’t mind that it’s disposable. A dish towel works medium well, depending on what it’s made of and how many other dishes you’ve already dried. But if you dry your glasses the right away and put them away properly, they’ll always be sparkling-clean and ready to use when you want them!

• The Little Secret to Pouring the Right Amount of Wine (No Matter What Glass It’s In)
• The One and Only Wine Glass You Need, According to Sommeliers

• The Only Thing You Have to Clean Before Company Comes Over