If you mean the white, cloudy film (“patina”) that develops on drinking glasses, it’s usually mineral deposits from hard water or, if the haze doesn’t come off, permanent glass corrosion/etching from repeated dishwasher washing.
✨ A simple way to try removing it
- Fill a bowl or sink with warm water and white vinegar in roughly equal parts.
- Soak the glasses for 15–30 minutes.
- Gently wipe them with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Dry immediately with a lint-free cloth.
For stubborn mineral deposits, you can make a paste of baking soda and a little water, gently rub it over the affected area, then rinse. Don’t scrub aggressively, because scratched glass can become permanently cloudy.
Important: vinegar can’t fix etched glass
If the whiteness remains after soaking in vinegar, the glass may be etched rather than dirty. This commonly happens when dishwasher detergent, high temperatures, soft-water conditions, and repeated washing gradually damage the glass surface. In that case, household cleaning tricks generally cannot restore the original shine.
Tip: To prevent future cloudiness, don’t overload the dishwasher, use the recommended amount of detergent, and avoid very high-temperature cycles when the glassware manufacturer doesn’t recommend them.
