Drink presentation heavily relies on the cleanliness and quality of the glass it is served in. Unclean, poorly maintained glasses can lead to issues such as poor lacing, poor head retention, and flat pints, which can ultimately dissatisfy customers and harm your reputation. In this article, we discuss the importance of glass renovation, how to know when it's needed, and the different methods to achieve it.
Why is Glass Renovation Important?
In order to achieve the best results from your commercial glass washer, incorporating regular glass renovation into your cleaning and maintenance procedure is crucial. While using a well-maintained, top-of-the-line machine with high-quality chemicals is essential, several external factors can still spoil the results. The only way to counteract these factors is by renovating your glasses frequently using powder or liquid glass renovate.
When Should You Renovate Glasses?
Over-renovating glasses can cause degradation and make them more susceptible to scratches and damage. Striking a balance between renovating often enough to prevent yeast and protein build-up and not over-renovating is key. We generally recommend renovating glasses once a month for optimal results and at least once every two months as a minimum.
While we recommend making glass renovation part of your cleaning and maintenance routine, there are a number of signs that indicate when it is required.
Glasses:
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With a damp white napkin/towel, wipe the inside of a supposedly clean pint glass. A brown residue on the napkin/towel will indicate that there is protein build up and glass renovation is required.
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Water Break Test – fill a glass to the brim with the water, empty it and keep it upside down while drying. If the water inside the glass runs off in a continuous sheet, its clean. If droplets form the glass is contaminated and will need to be renovated.
Glasswasher:
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Wild Yeast – a build-up of beige or black film around the door and hinges indicates that yeast is present in the machine. This will contaminate the glass and ruin results.
Types of Glass Renovate: Powder vs Liquid
Powdered glass renovate is the traditional method for glass renovation. It typically contains:
- Non-Caustic Alkaline Detergent
- Water Conditioner
- Glass Protector
- Chlorine Release Agent
Liquid glass renovate, a more recent innovation, cleans and renovates glasses simultaneously. It usually contains:
- Caustic Based Alkaline Detergent
- Non-ionic Surfactants
- Sodium Hypochlorite
Powder vs Liquid Glass Renovate: Which is Better?
Both powder and liquid renovate have their pros and cons.
Pros
Powder:
- Less aggressive and better suited for manual washing
- Can be used without a glass washer
Liquid:
- More practical as it cleans and renovates simultaneously
- Less time-consuming and easier to use
Cons
Powder:
- Time-consuming and labour-intensive
- Can damage glasses if used too often
Liquid:
- Possible bleach odour during use
- Can degrade glasses if used too frequen tly
Both powder and liquid glass renovate are effective in maintaining glasses and ensuring quality drinks for your customers. It is recommended to test both to see which method suits your operation best. If you want try our liquid glass renovate, Refresh, you can order our Starter Pack of 2.5L Refresh and 2.5L Litre Supadri Rinse Aid.
Training Staff on Glass Renovation and GCare
Educating your staff on the importance of glass renovation and proper glass care is crucial to maintaining the quality of your glassware. This includes training on how to handle and store glasses correctly, the correct use of renovate glass cleaner, and how to identify when glass renovation is needed.
High-Quality Glass Renovating Products
We manufacture a high-quality glass renovating detergent called Refresh as part of our range of detergents and rinse aids.