Glass Christmas Ornaments are quite lovely. They have a terrific, reflective look. They are also quite sturdy, if you can keep them safe.

This article will provide tips on how to clean and store Glass Ornaments to ensure yours withstand the test of time.

Look Out for Crizzling

It’s possible that your glass ornaments may take on a hazy look over time making them appear dirty, even though they are not. The haze is caused by fine cracks that form on the glass due to prolonged storage in a high humidity atmosphere. The glass hydrates in this environment causing the alkali to come to the surface making a ‘crizzled appearance’.

It’s best not to try to scrub the ornament as this could make the crizzling worse. You can prevent crizzling by ensuring your ornaments are stored in a dry environment. It crizzling does appear, a professional treatment will get rid of it.

How to Clean Glass Ornaments

If your ornaments aren’t crizzled, you can clean them with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. If the ornament is crystal, wipe its surface with a jewelry polishing cloth. Stubborn stains can be removed with a paste wax. Apply the wax to the surface and buff it until it’s dry. Cotton swabs will be effective in removing dirt from crevices.

Storing Glass Ornaments

It’s best to store glass ornaments in a small box so they won’t roll around. Metal and wooden boxes are best as plastic traps moisture that can cause crizzling. A Ziploc bag will also do the trick.

Store your glass ornaments with other glass ornaments to keep them safe. Wrap them in acid-free tissue paper that will prevent moisture and color transfer from one ornament to the other. Use enough tissue paper to fill the spaces so the ornament won’t roll around. Packets of silica gel will trap moisture between ornaments and prevent mildew.

Once the ornament is well packaged, label the box so it’s easy to find. You may also want to write ‘fragile’ on it to ensure gentle treatment.

Avoid storing the ornament in a basement or attic as these rooms are prone to moisture. Closets are better options as they are typically low-humidity spaces.

Glass ornaments are truly precious. The tips in this article will ensure you are doing all you can to keep yours in one piece and looking its best. What care tips do you have to share?

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