How to Clean a Wine Glass

Wine glasses have two common causes of bad smells: insufficient rinsing that leaves either a detergent or a chlorine smell, or absorption of environmental odors like a woody/cardboardy smell from a cupboard, or cooking odors. More good wine has been ruined by a malodorous glass than anything else. Always smell a glass before pouring wine in it. If you smell anything, don't pour. Wash or at least rinse it out. There are two methods for washing glasses:

Hand washing: Use lukewarm water, hopefully without too much chlorination. Rinse well under running water. If you want some extra sparkle, hold the glasses over some steaming water for 30 seconds. Use a lint-free linen without any fabric softener. Hold the glass by the bowl, not the stem, which is fragile, and gently polish off the water. Don't force the towel into the bowl. The glass is thin and might break. Just leave the glass turned upside down and let it drain itself onto a towel.

Dishwasher cleaning: Avoid it, if you can. Otherwise, be aware that in the long run, your glass will take on a bluish tint from pockmarking. If you must use your dishwasher, rinse the glass after you remove it to get the detergent smell off the glass. Then dry as above.