It's not a good idea to wait until you're setting the table on Thanksgiving eve to check for cracks and chips in your crystal glassware and serveware. By then, it'll be too late to do anything but pull the pieces from service or hope no one notices.
A better idea is to take some time now to eyeball your pieces to be certain they're in good shape for the big meal ahead. Here's what to know if you find you have some in less than perfect condition.
Small chips and cracks can be fixed (and the repairs are usually just about invisible).
You can opt to tackle small nicks yourself with a crystal file or even a nail file. While these tools work well to smooth rough edges, chips repaired this way will likely still be noticeable.
An alternative is to take or send the damaged piece to a professional crystal repair service and from what we've seen at the Good Housekeeping Institute, it's pretty amazing what they can do! To see just how skilled these craftsmen are, we sent several dinged glasses to a few shops. Our glasses with chipped rims were evenly filed down until the chips disappeared. We did notice they were microscopically shorter than their unrepaired mates, but on a set table, we couldn't detect a difference. Tiny cracks were filled with a sealing compound. A faint line was still visible, but that's about the best you can really expect.
Large chips, cracks and actual breaks can be repaired so the item looks whole, but such a repair is not recommended for drinking glass rims.
It puts a weak spot in an already delicate area that may give way during use. A repair of this size is best suited for vases, platters, snapped stems, and decorative items.
Wash any repaired crystal item by hand instead of in the dishwasher.
Use lukewarm water, handle it carefully, and don't twist or exert pressure on the piece when drying it.
What else to know:
- Some services require on-site assessment to quote a price. Others will do so online if you send them a photo of the item.
- Repairs can take anywhere from one week to one month to complete and can range in cost from $10 to $85 or more depending on the type of crystal and extent of the damage.
- To find a crystal repair service in your area, just Google "crystal restoration" plus your town.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
