We've all been there: standing over the dishwasher with a rack full of cloudy, white glassware wondering why it happens every time. Well, the problem is
hard water which has deposits like limescale that leave this unpleasant coating on your favorite glass dishes. The problem can also be
soft water, which with too much dish soap or too hot of water can cause permanent etching.
But, however you ended up with this white film on your glassware, you know how hard it can be to get rid of it. So here we've compiled a list of the top 5 best tips and tricks to rid your dishes of limescale and that annoying white cloudy film.
1. Baking soda and white vinegar If you're on the lookout for a way to remove those streaky white stains from your glass dishes, this simple trick by
Cleanipedia is just what you've been looking for. They suggest combining baking soda with white vinegar and mixing it into a paste, then smearing it on your glass dishes. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes so it can break down the limescale - then remove with a sponge and rinse.
2. Cheap white toothpaste That's right: grab a toothbrush and toothpaste for this one. If you've got hard water stains,
Lifehacker says you should get the cheapest white toothpaste you can find, apply it to your glassware, and scrub with a toothbrush. The toothpaste is going to lift all that limescale off, and with some gentle scrubbing, your glassware will be good as new.
3. Lemon juiceIf you get that white film across your glass dishes, and nothing seems to be working, the tipsters at
Thriftyfun say you should try reaching for citric acid. Combine 2 tablespoons of the concentrated lemon juice with water, place your dishes right in it for 5 minutes, and voila! Your cloudy, white dishware will look as good as the day you brought it home. No elbow grease needed.
4. Vinegar in the dishwasherInstead of running a normal wash cycle,
Bottom Line Inc. says you should place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack, your cloudy dishes up top, and run the washer just like that - with no detergent. They say this trick helps remove the white, cloudy film while also cleaning out your dishwasher.
5. Just do it by handWhile there are a few great tricks here to help you solve the problem of limescale build up after using the dishwasher,
Good Housekeeping says you should ditch the dishwasher altogether. They suggest washing your glassware by hand every time with some simple dishwashing liquid and then rinsing it with clean water.
If you do need to use the dishwasher, though, Good Housekeeping says to make sure your detergent is topped up with salt and rinse aid. Another tip: Remove the glassware before the drying cycle - as the high temperatures quicken the etching.
Great tips right? Be sure to share these kitchen-hacks with your friends! 