Handling Clean Glassware

Follow these rules for glassware storage.

Don’t dry glasses with a towel. Towels can leave lint and also transmit germs and odors.

Store your glassware in an area free of undesirable odors, smoke, grease or dust.

Don’t store glassware on a towel, a rubber drain pad or any other smooth surface. These can cause odors to be transmitted to the glass and may also slow the drying process.


Instead, store glasses on a deeply corrugated surface or, preferably, in a stainless steel wire basket to allow maximum air circulation.

Don’t store glasses in a refrigerator that also contains food products such as meat, fish, cheese or onions. These odors can be easily transferred to your glassware.

Don’t put wet beer glasses in a freezer. When you draw the beer, frozen glasses can foam excessively if there is ice on the glass, which could cause your profits to go down the drain (in the foam). If you must chill the glassware, chill glasses at 36° to 40° F.

Electric Glasswashing Machines

If you use a mechanical glasswasher, be sure to regularly service the machine based on the manufacturer’s/installer’s guidelines.

Testing Your Glass

Glassware is clean if it can pass all three of the following tests.

Sheeting Test
Dip the glass in water. If the glass is clean, water will shed evenly off the glass when you lift it out of the water. If the glass still has an invisible film, water will break up into droplets on the surface of the glass.


Salt Test
Salt sprinkled on the interior of a wet glass will adhere evenly to the surface if the glass is clean. The salt will not adhere to surfaces on the glass that still contain a greasy film.


Lacing Test
Fill the glass with beer. If the glass is clean, foam will adhere to the inside of the glass in parallel rings after each sip of beer, forming a lacing pattern. If the glass is not properly cleaned, foam will adhere to the inside of the glass in a random pattern, or may not adhere at all.