For your most delicate glassware, even handwashing in the sink may be too risky.
Published Jan. 1, 2012.
Hand washing fragile stemware or china can result in one of the more frustrating kitchen mishaps: having it slip through soapy hands and chip or break on the hard surface of the sink. The stylish Washing-Up Bowl ($85) by Normann Copenhagen is a soft rubber basin with a rolled brim that gives breakables a cushiony landing spot while keeping them contained. We filled the 11-inch square vessel with warm, sudsy water and got busy, using the included beech-handled brush. The bowl held four of our wineglasses at a time, or three larger pieces of stemware (such as margarita glasses or beer steins), and all fit easily in the 5½-inch-deep space. The folded-over rim provides extra cushioning in case of accidental bumps. The product can also serve as a wine chiller or a fruit bowl. The product is also dishwasher-safe, emerging good as new after three cycles. The only problem? When it comes to protecting breakables, it doesn’t do anything that an ordinary $5 plastic washtub can’t do.
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