Crystal glassware: properties and features of choice

For many years, crystal glassware has been a symbol of prosperity, luxury and stability. Exquisite crystal wine glasses and salad bowls were in great demand, they could be seen at social receptions and parties. During the Soviet era, dishes made of such material in abundance occupied the shelves of the sideboards, gleaming with their edges in the light of the chandeliers. Today, such popularity is a thing of the past, but nevertheless there are crystal dishes in every home.

Crystal is nothing more than a type of glass. For the first time, the technology of its production was mastered by Georg Ravenscroft in the 17th century. Due to the fact that lead was added to ordinary glass, the material was able to play with light, that is, the edges of the resulting dishes shimmered and shone both in artificial and natural light. Besides, diamond edges are often added to the crystal, which allows the dishes to gain additional strength.

Decorated crystal dishes are very common. The most popular technique is the application of golden patterns, for which gold foil is usually used.... Etching also looks quite interesting, allowing the material to obtain a beautiful, rich shine. And also the masters can matting the crystal using coarse sand.

Crystal glassware has many significant advantages:

• exquisite appearance;
• relevance for any holiday;
• strength - unlike ordinary glass, crystal is harder to break;
• absence of defects - air bubbles, heterogeneity;
• transparency;
• low thermal conductivity - the glass in your hands will heat up very slowly.

Among the disadvantages, the following points should be noted:

• high cost;
• the need for careful care.

If we talk about some special benefit brought by crystal glassware, then it is practically absent. Rather, crystal does not affect health in any way.

In addition, many believe that drinking from such dishes is more pleasant than from glassbecause the drinks stay cool for much longer, which is uplifting and soothing. But in any case, it is not worth hoping to get any significant benefit from crystal dishes.

But the dangers of exquisite dishes should still be mentioned. The crystal contains lead, which does not have a very good effect on the body. But not everything is so scary. The fact is that due to the hardness of crystal, lead simply does not have time to get into a dish or drink in a few hours. You will need to keep the food in such a container for several days so that harmful impurities finally "come to the surface".

But even then, poisoning is unlikely to follow, since lead tends to accumulate in the body and do not act immediately.

There are several types of crystal.

• Mountain... One of the most beautiful species is quartz of natural origin. It is highly valued for its durability, shine, sophistication. Not only dishes are made of rock crystal. It is also a material for the manufacture of elegant jewelry, lenses, decor items.
• Lead... As mentioned, a similar type of material is produced in England. It practically does not undergo destruction, such crystal cannot be destroyed even with alcohol or alkaline mixtures.
• Barium. This material is almost completely analogous to lead, but the lead itself is replaced by barium.
• Bohemian. There is no lead in this kind of crystal; it is nothing more than calcium glass. One of the most expensive types of material.

If the composition contains cobalt, the dishes will turn out blue, silicon - pink, manganese - purple, cadmium - red. As for the harm from such dishes, it is only theoretical. The additives used for color are harmful, but they are too few to cause a significant impact on health. However, it is best to consume food from such dishes within a few hours.

Today the choice of crystal glassware is quite wide. As a rule, in stores you can find beautiful salad bowls, candy bowls, vases, jugs, dishes, napkin holders, plates, tea pairs. But the championship still belongs to the glasses.

To choose a really good dish, you should take into account several nuances.

• Crystal Is a material containing more than 10% lead, and the higher the indicator, the better. You can see the contents on the label of the dishes. Of course, the higher the percentage, the more expensive the purchase will be.
• Check the product for light. High-quality material will sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow. In addition, you will not see cloudy specks or air bubbles inside the selected product. If such flaws are present, then this is a fake.
• Lightly hit the side of the pan with a spoon. There should be a clear, crystal ringing.
• There can be no sharp, rough edges on a quality product. Also, the dishes will be heavy.

In order for dishes made of noble material to serve as long as possible, it is necessary to adhere to several rules of care:

• crystal is washed only with cool water;
• when pouring or putting in a hot dish, the container is placed on a wooden support;
• products do not fold one into another;
• none of the varieties of such dishes can be washed in the dishwasher;
• crystal products must not be heated in a microwave oven or oven;
• after washing, the accessories are gently wiped off with soft rags or a towel.

Crystal is a material that can lose its original appearance over time. There are many reasons for this, but the most common are usually associated with improper care. When preparing for the holiday, many housewives try to make the dishes look as if they have just been bought. Fortunately, if we talk about crystal, then there are many methods of how to return it to its former beauty.

• Potato. This method will allow you to remove fat from the dishes, it is especially applicable for patterned products with many hard-to-reach places. In addition, potatoes do an excellent job with the hated yellowness on the products. Boil a few potatoes, then let the water cool. When the liquid becomes lukewarm, immerse the dishes in it and hold it there for 10 minutes. After that, all that remains is to easily rinse the product. You can also use the second method: grate boiled potatoes and put the resulting mixture on problem areas. After 15 minutes, rinse the dishes.
• Detergents. If time permits, and you need to wash the dishes so that they shine, use glass detergents. Thus, you can clean tea pairs, plates, wine glasses well. Take a plastic bowl and place a soft towel at the bottom. Then fill with a little water and add the chosen product, fold the dishes. After several hours, the products are removed, rinsed and wiped off. If you want a perfect shine, rinse your utensils with water and lemon juice.
• Ammonia. One of the easiest methods. Again, you will need a bowl with a towel, but instead of detergents, drop a couple of drops of ammonia into the water. After a few minutes, the dishes can be removed, rinsed and grated thoroughly.

Finally, we will give some useful tips that are recommended to be followed when cleaning crystal products.

• Contrary to popular belief, this material cannot be cleaned with soda and sand, as well as other powder compositions. These elements are capable of leaving such scratches that they cannot be removed by any available method.
• When you wash your glasses, grasp them by the legs. This will prevent the product from cracking. And also it was already noted that when cleaning in the basin, there should be a towel at the bottom of the container.
• If there is gilding on the dishes, they are washed with water and a little vinegar.
• If you want to just wipe the product, use lint-free materials for this.

As you can see, caring for crystal products is not too difficult, the main thing is to follow a few rules. Perhaps, such dishes are not as popular as they used to be, but they still remain a frequent “guest” at festive tables and banquets due to their exquisite appearance, beautiful overflows and the ability to slightly, but still change the taste of dishes for the better.

For information on how to clean crystal at home, see the video.