Coloured crystal is not fragile, but it is particular. Five minutes of the right habit keeps a set looking new for years.
Wash by hand
We recommend handwashing every piece in the range, in warm — not hot — water with a soft cloth and a small amount of mild detergent. Wash one glass at a time. Most breakage happens when two glasses meet in a full sink.
Hold a stemmed glass by the bowl rather than the stem while you wash it. Twisting the bowl against a held stem is the most common way to snap one.
What to avoid
- Abrasive pads and scourers. They leave a haze on crystal that never comes out.
- High-phosphate and acidic detergents. Over time these etch the surface and dull applied finishes.
- Sudden temperature change. Don't pour boiling water into a cold glass, or put a warm glass straight into cold water.
- The dishwasher, for anything hand-finished. Lume's pearlescent lustre will dull under dishwasher detergent. Handwash only.
Drying and storing
Dry with a soft lint-free cloth while the glass is still slightly warm — that is when water spots are easiest to prevent. Stand glasses upright to dry and to store. Resting a glass on its rim puts weight on the thinnest, most vulnerable part of it, and traps moisture.
Store upright with a little space between pieces. If you stack anything on a shelf above, make sure it can't shift.
Marks and cloudiness
White film on the outside of a glass is usually limescale from hard water. Soak briefly in a solution of warm water and white vinegar, rinse thoroughly, and dry by hand. Cloudiness that does not come off with vinegar is etching from detergent, and it is permanent — which is the whole argument for handwashing.
A note on variation
Small differences in depth of colour, and in where an applied tint fades out, are characteristic of how these pieces are made. They are not faults, and they are not something washing will change.
If something arrives damaged, our returns policy covers it.