Personalised Crystal – How To Care For Your Collection

Personalised Crystal – How To Care For Your Collection. Crystal has long been a prize for its quality, durability and beauty. That’s why it is such a beautiful gift for a loved one, especially when personalised with your own special message. But like everything, it is important to ensure that your crystal gift is well looked after.

There are some simple do’s and don’ts when it comes to caring for your crystal: Here are a few tips on how to keep your crystal sparkling for generations to come!

Take care when choosing how to wash your crystal!

Think carefully before putting your crystal items in the dishwasher. The action of the dishwasher itself can have an abrasive effect because of particles from other items in the machine. This could mean that your crystal will become damaged over time.

There is also the risk of chip-damage caused by stacking your crystal carelessly with other items in the machine, which you should avoid at all costs!

Many dishwashers have a special low-temperature function for items such as crystal. There are detergents available which promote that they are safe to use with crystal. If in doubt, it is a good idea to check the manufacturer’s guidelines. Also. read the detergent packet to ensure it is safe to use with your crystal gifts.

Wash by hand

It can sometimes be best to err on the side of caution and wash your crystal by hand. When doing this, use simple warm soapy water and a soft lint-free cloth, and rinse with luke-warm water. This is particularly the case for larger objects such as decanters and tankards which can be tricky to stack in a dishwasher.

Be careful not to use water that is either too hot or too cold as this can damage your personalised crytal.

You can remove even stubborn stains from personalised crystal. Gently rub with a soft cloth soaked in vinegar, or by soaking in a vinegar/water mix. This is equally useful for windows!

Try to avoid contact with abrasive materials such as artificial sponges or scourers on your crystal. These can lead to damage. If you clean crystal which has lots of nooks and crannies, such as whisky tumblers, use a very gentle brush like an artist’s a paintbrush to ensure that it looks just as sparkling. When drying crystal glasses, such as crystal wine glasses or champagne flutes, do not hold them by the stem, but instead hold the bowl part of the glass.

Proper storage is important

Once you have cleaned and dried your personalised crystal, take care when storing it. For example, crystal whisky tumblers should not be stacked inside each other. If serving food from a crystal bowl, take care to use appropriate cutlery. You will minimise risk is you use wooden spoons which will not chip the crystal in the same way that metal cutlery might.  Remember, do not put your personalised crystal in a microwave.

An investment in a quality personalised crystal gift pays dividends.  They bring joy and satisfaction to the recipient.

After all, who doesn’t love to open a beautifully packaged gift to find its sparkling contents. Especially when nestled in a satin-lined presentation box? We hope that you enjoy your crystal for years to come.  In addition we hope these top tips give you a ‘crystal clear’ guide on how to best protect and care for your crystal both now and in the years to come!

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