AT HOME
For glass items used in the home, care is quite simple. We do not recommend putting handblown glass items in the dishwasher. The abrasive quality of the dishwashing solution, along with the higher rinse temperatures of the dishwasher, will over time cloud the glass surface, and may make it more susceptible to cracking or chipping.
So wash your glass in warm soapy water with a warm water rinse and dry with a soft cloth. In most cases that will be all you need to do. If you are using a vase for flowers, sometimes it is hard to clean residue in the bottom of the vase, or a mineral ring forms from the water inside. If a gentle scrub will not do, you can take a half or whole tab of denture cleaner, (we use anti-bacterial Efferdent) fill the glass with warm water and leave overnight. Then use your soft scrub cloth or bottle washer the next morning, and all should be well!
If you have purchased a bowl or vase from us with an outer silver jacket applied, please follow this protocol. Rinse the glass with warm soapy water, rinse with warm water, and with a micro-fleece cloth, gently rub dry. This will not score the silver. If the silver tarnishes or shows fingerprints, and/or you prefer the shinier finish, you can use a liquid silver polish such as Hagerty’s. Use a dampened soft micro-fleece cloth, apply the silver to it, then gently rub the silver surface, removing tarnish. Rinse with warm water, and dry with soft cloth.
IN THE GARDEN
Weather
We are often asked whether or not to leave the glass outside in the winter. This depends on where you live, how severe or prolonged your winters are, and whether your garden may be subject to high winds, deep snow, and long periods of low temperatures in the 20’s or under. If any of these factors worry you, it is best to lift the glass off your garden stake and put it in a box indoors for the duration of your winter.
All of our hollow glass, like owls, fish, frogs, etc. should always be stored and overwintered indoors. Hollow enclosed items if they gather water inside are subject to freeze-thaw, and there is the possibility of cracking.
Here in the pacific northwest, our milder (generally) winters enable us to leave the sculpted items, such as birdbaths and leaves, outside year-round. We bring glass in if strong windstorms might strew branches around, or bring down trees and fences.
Best advice: if it worries you, have peace of mind and bring it in. Many of our customers bring favorite pieces indoors to enjoy in the home!
Cleaning
For most items, a simple swish with mild soapy water will do, followed by a rinse. We hose off our garden glass (gently) to keep them sparkling. If you discover a mineral ring on your birdbath bowls, you can do this: try filling the bowl overnight with a clear vinegar solution. Usually you will be able to remove the ring the following day with a soft scrub sponge. If the ring is tougher, as in pollen season, you can use liquid Barkeepers Friend with the same soft scrub sponge, and it should be easily removable. Rinse after.