Is it better to store drinking glasses up or down? Whadda you think?
I bet you’ve heard arguments for both sides. And they’re probably adamant about which is the correct way to store glasses.
But is there a correct way?
Or is it really personal preference and no one is storing drinking glasses wrong?
I’m here to tell you that there is a correct way to store glasses with stems. Wine glasses that is.
As for the rest of your glassware ~ it really doesn’t matter.
Really, it doesn’t.
Here’s why…
Is it Better to Store Drinking Glasses Up or Down? Pros & Cons
Storing stemmed glasses the correct way
Your stemmed glasses ~ your wine glasses ~ are typically your delicate glassware. They’re thinner glass, probably crystal, and fragile. Plus, they probably cost you more than any of your other glasses.
And because of this, I bet you want to keep your stemware in perfect condition as long as possible.
Which means, knowing how to store them.
Since wine glasses have a thin rim, you need to store them right side up. On their stems.
Otherwise, you risk weakening the rim and it getting chipped from putting them upside down on a shelf. The wine glass stem is also heavier than the bowl of the glass, which provides stability when storing the glasses right side up.
There is the option to hang your wine glasses. by the stem. This is okay, if you have open shelving and you don’t regularly use them. However, there is also a risk of the glasses hitting each other as you put them away because it’s harder to control the amount of space between each glass. Which increases the chance of breaking your glasses.
Whatever you do ~ don’t store your wine glasses upside down.
Pros and cons of storing glasses right side up
Most websites will tell you the correct way to store glasses is right side up. To prevent the rims from getting chipped. That’s the biggest concern. No one wants to drink from a glass with a chipped rim.
This way of storing glasses is correct for wine glasses. You need to store your wine glasses right side up.
And it’s true that storing drinking glasses right side up also prevents the rims from chipping. But drinking glasses aren’t as fragile as wine glasses.
Not only does storing your glasses right side up prevent the rims from chipping, it also makes sense when you consider that the most stable part of a glass is its base. The base of the glass is made to support the weight of the glass. Not the other way around.
However, if you store your glasses right side up, then dust particles can get inside. And if that totally bothers you, storing them right side up won’t work for you.
But, let’s be real, if you use your drinking glasses regularly, there’s really no time for dust to collect inside your glass. There’s just not enough time for a layer of dust to accumulate.
And if you store your glasses inside cupboards, creepy crawlies tend to stay on the outside of cupboards.
Also, if you’re really concerned about dust collecting inside your glasses, think a minute about the surface of your shelves. The dust and dirt on it. When you place a glass upside down on it, you’re probably pushing the glass back, thereby pushing it across whatever has accumulated on the shelf. So whatever is resting on the shelf is now on the rim of your glass.
Pros and cons of storing drinking glasses upside down
If you have open shelving, there’s a benefit to storing your drinking glasses upside down.
With open shelves, your glassware is open to the elements. To the dust, splatter, and insects in your kitchen. Your glasses aren’t as protected as in a cupboard.
If those things bother you, and to keep them from getting into the bowl or inside of your glasses, storing them upside down makes sense. A lot of sense.
Also, if your drinking glasses are top-heavy, there’s less chance of them tipping over. Pint glasses come to mind. They’re wider on top.
However, the drawback to storing glasses upside down is a greater chance of their rims getting chipped. Because, as you put the glasses down on the shelf, you’re putting pressure on the rim which is typically the weakest area of a drinking glass.
Also, drinking glasses are heaviest on the bottom, so placing your glasses upside down might make them unstable if the mouth of the glass isn’t larger than the bottom. You increase the risk of your glasses tipping over.
Now, there is the argument for putting your glasses away upside down, directly from the dishwasher, so the water drops fall out of the glass and don’t create a small puddle inside the glass. I get it. My dishwasher doesn’t completely dry my glasses, and my family doesn’t take the time to dry them before putting them away.
The bottom line for how to store drinking glasses
The bottom line when it comes to the best way to store glasses is it’s personal preference. Yep – there’s no real right or wrong way. Store your drinking glasses the way that works best for you, and don’t worry about it.
Unless they’re wine glasses, lol! Store them right side up.
So, are you team right-side up or team upside down?
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