Beaded Edge glass looks like china or Corelle, can it go in the dishwasher? No. Resist the temptation to wash any of your vintage glass, including milk glass like Beaded Edge, in the dishwasher. Modern detergents are strong and can remove the pretty painted fruit decoration and the water and drying cycle are hot enough to stress the glass.
Instead wash your glassware in hot, soapy water, rinse and let dry on a drying mat or hand dry with a soft towel. Your beautiful glass will last much longer. Be aware that milk glass can get tiny cracks, too small to see, that can absorb colors from fruit juice or other foods and sometimes these stains can be impossible to remove.
In general care for Beaded Edge very much the way you would softer depression ware. Always put paper plates or paper towels between plates or bowls when you stack them; store cups and tumblers and sherbets upright; don’t use this glass for foods one must saw with a knife. You can see some of my care tips here and here.
We talked about purchasing Beaded Edge online in our prior post (here). This pattern doesn’t have a lot of sharp edges that tend to nick, but there are potential trouble spots that can damage.
- The painted decorations seem to wear well, but always check for scratches or scuffs on the design.
- The edge of plates just inside the beaded rim can get tiny nicks. I’ve not seen much problem with this pattern, certainly far less than mass-produced glass with beaded rims such as Iris & Herringbone, but it’s wise to check each piece. Run your finger along the edge, top and bottom of the beads, then run it along the inside edge of the plate where it meets the beads.
- The very attractive square-shaped creamer and sugar have lids. Check the inside rim of the base and the inside flange of the lid as these tend to get nicked with daily use. Also check the pointed edges and corners; run your ringer along the top edge, the outside edge and especially the inside edge. You can imagine how these might chip over the years.
Like all glass Westmoreland Beaded Edge can crack suddenly or shatter if it’s been weakened by heat or sudden temperature changes. Do not use this in the microwave or conventional oven nor on the stove top. Milk glass made for tabletop use is not meant for cookware.