One of the main responsibilities of the stewarding department is to make sure that all parts of the kitchen are spic and span.  This is most particularly important when it comes to all things that will touch the customers' mouths, one of which is the glassware.

You might be inclined to think that washing glassware is a very easy job to do, but if you are a hotel steward, you will find out that there are very strict guidelines when it comes to washing them.  After all, you are a member of the stewarding department, and you are responsible for the health and safety of the diners.

So, what are the common guidelines of washing glassware, and what are the responsibilities of stewards when it comes to washing them?

Restaurants need speedy cleaning of glassware, especially during the busy times like lunch and dinner, but it does not mean that you have to give up quality washing for quantity.  Restaurant kitchens usually make use of a detergent mixed with chlorine (about 50 to 100 ppm per 250 ml on 1 liter of water).  The glassware should be soaked in the solution for a couple of minutes and then scrubbed gently with a soft scrubbing pad so as not to leave scratches on the glass surface.  After this, the glassware should then be rinsed off with potable water.  Lastly, the glassware should also be disinfected with chlorine to make sure that any remaining bacteria or germs are killed off.

To store the glassware, make sure that you keep them in their proper location.  Most importantly, make sure that you store them upside down on their racks so as not to allow excess fluid to pool inside the glass.

As for the stewards' responsibilities, they are responsible for checking each glassware and making sure that there are no chipped rims or broken pieces.  Separate the glassware with chipped surfaces from the okay ones and report them to the appropriate personnel for immediate replacement.  Stewards are also responsible for disposing of the chipped glassware the proper way.

Aside from chipped glassware, the hotel steward is also responsible for making sure that there are no stains on the glassware.  Stains are more easily seen in old glassware, and it is a turn off to present stained glassware to diners.  For this reason, here are some simple steps on how to remove stain on glassware.

Instead of thoroughly scrubbing the glassware with a scrubbing pad, which can cause scratches, what you can do is to fill the glassware with warm water.  Mix in a little detergent to the water and then add about a couple of tablespoon of rice into the mixture.  Swirl the liquid and the rice around for about half an hour and then pour the contents out.  Rinse the glassware thoroughly and store them in their rack upside down so as to let the excess water flow off and not pool inside the glassware.

Another tip in removing stains is to use eggshells, instead of rice.  This way, you get to save some money at the same time.

In no time at all, your old glassware can look good as new.