Washing glasses
Even though the smooth surface of glass makes it easy to clean and sanitise, it is more susceptible to changes in temperature and damage from mechanical forces. Because glasses are very delicate items to wash, you should follow the recommendations below:
The items to be washed should be cleaned immediately after being used.
The sooner cleaning takes place after use, the better the washing results will be. Dried-on food and drink make successful cleaning more difficult.
Avoid damaging glasses
The main cause of damage to glass is improper loading in the dish and glass racks. If the glasses touch one another, they may suffer increased damage to their surfaces and finishes. Please also make sure you have enough room available to store used and cleaned glasses near the dishwasher. Furthermore, drinking glasses should not be stacked in the cabinet because that can lead to damage, especially on the rims.
Use a dishwasher and cleaning agent designed for glasses
The high temperatures, longer wash cycles and stronger detergents in dishwashers shorten the service life of glasses immensely. Special glass cleaning agents (e.g. GASTRO STAR FR 30 and its matching rinse aid, GASTRO STAR K 3) and glass washers treat glass more gently, thus lengthening their service life.
Wash cycle duration
The wash cycle should not last longer than 150 seconds. The dishwasher must be opened immediately after the wash cycle to allow the steam to escape. Otherwise, the water that condenses on the glasses will place additional stress on their surfaces, impairing their ability to dry on their own.
It also eliminates the need to dry or “polish” them by hand
Manual drying poses a risk to successful cleaning because even fresh drying towels harbour germs and bacteria. The cleaned items must always be left to air dry.
Cloudy glasses as a result of lime scale
Lime scale deposits always occur when the hard water minerals contained in the water remain on the surface of the glasses after they have dried. If the water hardness is relatively low, a properly adjusted (rinse aid) dosing unit will leave your glasses spot-free when dry. However, if the overall salt content of the water is very high, we recommend using a rinse aid with partially or completely deionised water.
Lime scale deposits can be avoided by using a combination of a cleaning agent designed for hard water (e.g. GASTRO STAR FR 45) and an acidic rinse aid (e.g. GASTRO STAR K2).
Glass dulling as a result of glass corrosion
Glass corrosion is irreparable damage to the surface of glass that can occur following frequent washing in a dishwasher. Though certain types of glass, such as simple soda-lime glass, are more susceptible to corrosion, the effects can appear regardless of the quality of the glass. Cloudy glasses and damaged finishes can be prevented or at least delayed by using special glass cleaning agents.
Important: Dosing too little cleaning agent or rinse aid generally does less to aid the resistance of glasses and their finishes than dosing too much. However, excessive dosing will not improve the results. So, you should make sure you are using the right amount.