# How do I get rid of foggy appearance of washed tumblers?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 1, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603 "2008-05-01T14:24:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/1 "2008-05-01T14:24:45Z")
A few of the drinking glasses I’ve run through the dishwasher have come out with a foggy appearance. I know that d/w detergents are pretty harsh. Can they cause this type of damage? Is it permanent? I’ve tried washing them by hand with no luck. It’s only happened to a handful of glasses, and never before. Is there a \*layer \* of something on the glasses that can be removed with some solvent? I haven’t tried all the various solvents we have around the house yet, but I could muster up some good alkalai cleaners and certainly vinegar might work as an acid. What’s happened and does anyone have an idea of what we can do to resolve this? Thanks, dopers. xo, C.
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### Author:  [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/2 "2008-05-01T14:28:05Z")
This happens to me as well. AFAIK, what you seeing as fog is actually tiny scratches on the surface of the glass. It seems to be more of a problem if the machine runs low on rinse aid, or dishwasher salt.
Sorry, I should think it’s permanant.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/3 "2008-05-01T14:39:49Z")
Some glasses are permanently etched by alkaline detergents. If that’s the case here, you’re screwed.
However, the fogging you describe can also be caused by deposits of soap scum; mineral salts of detergents. If that’s the case here, an overnight soak in a citric acid solution, or in vinegar with a pinch of salt added, should dissolve the film.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/4 "2008-05-01T14:46:09Z")
Soak a wash cloth in vinegar and wipe the glass surface off with gentle pressure. Rinse off the glass and towel dry it. Either that worked or the glasses are etched. This is how you get mineral off canning jars that you sterilized, and it works.
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/5 "2008-05-01T14:49:24Z")
I had a load of glasses that I thought were etched from the dishwasher. They weren’t, and came up as good as new when I used kettle descaler on them.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/6 "2008-05-01T14:57:07Z")
Try soaking in [CLR](http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100783&id=prod1765587)
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### Author:  [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/7 "2008-05-01T15:10:37Z")
[CLR?](http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm)
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/8 "2008-05-01T15:17:40Z")
I had this too, and a cup of vinegar added to the dishwasher before starting it cleared it up, although I have heard advice not to put stainless steel in the dishwasher when you are doing this.
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### Author:  [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/9 "2008-05-01T15:31:22Z")
I use [LemiShine](http://www.lemishine.com/) and it works great. Be very careful with any glasses or dishes with painted surfaces as it will slowly but surely remove that paint. Glasses will come out of the dishwasher looking like new again - it’s pretty amazing.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/10 "2008-05-01T15:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=flex727]
I use [LemiShine](http://www.lemishine.com/) and it works great.
[/QUOTE]
> [@](#):
>
> [Lemi Shine](http://envirocontech.com/888-336-2582/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=46) is an all natural product, which is composed of natural fruit acids and oils.
That sounds like a mixture of citric acid and limonene. It _should_ work well.
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### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/11 "2008-05-01T20:10:02Z")
I was told that running your dishwasher with a large measuring cup (I use a three-cup size) of vinegar on the bottom rack was a good way to clean said dishwasher.
Put those cloudy glasses on the top rack when you do this and they’ll clear up just fine.
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### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/12 "2008-05-01T21:47:45Z")
I’ve used Efferdent on antique glassware that was “sick” and it brought it back.
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### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/13 "2008-05-01T23:01:16Z")
[QUOTE=Squink]
Some glasses are permanently etched by alkaline detergents. If that’s the case here, you’re screwed.
However, the fogging you describe can also be caused by deposits of soap scum; mineral salts of detergents. If that’s the case here, an overnight soak in a citric acid solution, or in vinegar with a pinch of salt added, should dissolve the film.
[/QUOTE]
What is it that the salt does?
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/14 "2008-05-01T23:28:48Z")
Many forms of dish scum are the metal salts of detergents. Most scum forming ions are divalent (Ca, Mg, Fe…) but potassium ions are also good at precipitating detergents. Sodium salts of detergents are often quite soluble.
Adding sodium chloride gives insoluble metal/detergent complexes the opportunity to form soluble metal chlorides, and soluble sodium/detergent complexes.
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### Author:  [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-foggy-appearance-of-washed-tumblers/447603/15 "2008-05-02T05:08:16Z")
If the tumblers _are_ etched and _not_ painted, try running them through a potter’s kiln. The heat will melt the etched surface smooth.