How do you remove wine stains from a decanter?

After a night of pouring wine, a purple or brown haze often remains in the decanter. This is wine scale: a combination of tannins, color particles, and minerals that adhere to the glass. In a decanter with a narrow neck, this is difficult to reach with a regular sponge. Nevertheless, the scale can be easily removed, without abrasive cleaners or aggressive cleaning agents that can damage the glass.

Why does scale form in a decanter?

Wine contains natural substances such as tannins, anthocyanins, and tartaric acid. If wine stands in a decanter for a long time or if wine residues dry up, these substances adhere to the glass. Red wine leaves the most traces, but white wine can also leave a light scale over time. The longer you wait to clean, the more stubborn the scale becomes. Rinsing thoroughly immediately after use prevents most of the problem.

Method 1: salt and ice cubes

A proven method is to combine coarse sea salt with ice cubes. Put a generous tablespoon of coarse salt in the decanter, add a handful of ice cubes and a splash of cold water. Close the opening with your hand and shake the decanter vigorously back and forth for a minute. The salt acts as an abrasive, the ice cubes move the mixture and also reach the bottom and sides. Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

This method works well for fresh scale and is safe for both regular glass decanters and wine decanters. Note: do not use hot water immediately after shaking with ice, as too great a temperature difference can cause the glass to crack.

Method 2: white vinegar or citric acid

White vinegar dissolves wine scale due to its acidity. Pour a splash of white vinegar into the decanter, add lukewarm water, and let the mixture stand for an hour. Move the decanter occasionally so that the vinegar water touches all sides. Then rinse thoroughly several times with clean water to remove any vinegar residue.

Citric acid works in the same way. Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid powder in lukewarm water, pour it into the decanter, and let it soak overnight for stubborn stains. Both agents are mild enough not to damage glass and leave no odor if rinsed well.

Method 3: cleaning beads or decanter brush

Special cleaning beads for decanters are small stainless steel balls that you put into the decanter along with water. By shaking or rotating the decanter, the beads scrub the inside clean. They also reach places that cannot be reached with a brush, such as the wide bottom of a decanter.

A decanter brush with a long, flexible handle works well for decanters with a wider neck. Always choose a brush with soft bristles, so you don't scratch the inside of the glass.

Method 4: effervescent tablets or denture cleaner

Effervescent tablets for dentures contain active cleaning agents that also dissolve wine residues. Put one tablet in the decanter, fill with lukewarm water, and let it fizz. After half an hour to an hour, rinse the decanter thoroughly. This method is little known but works surprisingly well for stubborn stains that do not completely disappear with salt or vinegar.

What you should avoid

Abrasives and steel wool damage the glass and leave microscopic scratches where new scale adheres more easily. Soap with a strong scent penetrates the glass and affects the taste of the next wine you pour into it. Hot water in combination with cold glass carries a risk of cracking, especially with thin-walled decanters.

Also avoid the dishwasher, unless the manufacturer explicitly states so. The high temperatures and aggressive cleaning agents in the dishwasher can dull the glass or affect its shape. Handwashing is always the safest choice for decanters. You can read more about washing wine glasses in how to wash wine glasses.

Dry the decanter well after cleaning

After rinsing, drying is the next challenge. Water droplets that dry leave limescale streaks, especially in a decanter with a narrow neck where a cloth cannot reach. The handiest solution is a drying rack on which you place the decanter upside down. This allows the water to drain out and the decanter to air dry, without streaks.

Mémoire has a decanter drying rack specifically designed to safely and stably dry decanters upside down. Also view the complete collection of decanters if you are looking for a new decanter that is easy to clean.