Over time, glasses often become cloudy and “milky”. But how does this coloration occur? And how do you get rid of it?

Glasses that have been in use for a long time become cloudy over time. This look is also called “milky” because it usually looks as if milk residues are still collecting in the glass. But how does this unattractive coloration go away again?

Milky glasses: A cloudy look can be easily remedied with a life hack

To really address the problem, you should also know how the streaks occur. Mostly the origin of milky glasses lies in the dishwasher and/or the calcifications therein. The culprit, in turn, is water that is too hard, as the dishwashing tab manufacturer Somat explains. This means that the water has a particularly high mineral content, including lime, gypsum and chalk deposits. Too many minerals in drinking water are also not always good for the body. The hardness of water varies from region to region.

The salt content in the dishwasher can also cause milky glasses: If too little salt is added, this leads to the annoying streaks. To prevent milky deposits from forming in the first place, the dishwasher should always contain enough special salt.

Glasses are cloudy after rinsing: Milky appearance has several reasons

As Somat explains, an incorrect dosage of rinse aid can also be to blame for cloudy glasses. Both too little and too much rinse aid can cause “lime spots and streaks in the long term,” the company says on its website. However, the exact dosage can be regulated in most dishwashers with a rotary control. It can be found near the rinse aid container.

If the haze appears in the dishwasher despite proper precautions, simple home remedies can help. For very light water spots, even a soft cotton or microfiber cloth will help. With this you need to gently polish the glasses in circular motions. If this method does not help, the cloth can also be touched up with lukewarm water and a little washing-up liquid.

Home remedies for cloudy and milky glasses: vinegar and citric acid are all-rounders

It is worthy to note that these home remedies also help with cloudy glasses:

  • Vinegar is a household all-rounder anyway. It can remove limescale from milky glass. To do this, simply soak the glasses in warm water with a few splashes of vinegar and then rinse them with cold water.
  • Bit cleaner also helps against coffee stains. But it also fights limescale and cloudy deposits. Proceed with this agent in exactly the same way as with the vinegar method.
  • Raw potato: Speaking of the vinegar method, this can be further enhanced by spreading the vinegar-water mixture over the glass with a raw potato. Again, be sure to rinse with clear, cold water.
  • Citric acid, like vinegar, is a versatile home remedy. A few squirts, or a teaspoon if using the powdered variety, in clear water will help with cloudy staining. Just let the jars soak here, too, and then rinse with clear water.

Cracks in jars can aggravate milky coloration

Not only milky glasses can be visually unsightly, but also dull ones. Here, several fine cracks have already formed on the surface, a condition known as glass corrosion. Although this does not render the glass unusable or broken, it does cause it to lose its shine more quickly. Above all, the cloudy lime haze can visually intensify these cracks again.

Unfortunately, the cracks do not go away, confirms Somat. The main thing here is good prevention. Dishes should be washed at low temperatures if possible. Mild detergents are also recommended.