Should You Actually Store Your Glasses Upside Down?

When you empty your dishwasher day after day, do you ever give much thought to the way you’re storing your drinking glasses in your kitchen cupboard? Given that many people store their glassware upside down in the kitchen, we’ve spoken with house cleaning experts to find out whether this is actually the most beneficial method or if it is indeed flawed.

We spoke to professionals about the pros and cons of placing glassware upside down, speaking to everything from cleanliness to accessibility to aesthetics.

Pro: Upside Down Storage Prevents Dust Buildup

One clear and commonly cited benefit of storing glassware upside down is that it is less likely to accumulate dust, and Fantastic Services’s house cleaning expert and supervisor Petya Holevich finds that this is generally the best and most practical approach.

“I’d specifically recommend upside-down glassware organization for items such as everyday drinking glasses and speciality glassware,” Holevich says. “Otherwise, you’ll need to remove dust every time you want to have a glass of water, for example.”

However, she notes that if your cabinets feature solid doors that shut, you do not need to worry about this occurring as much. If you’re storing glasses on open shelving, on the other hand, upside down is most definitely the way to go, though, she explains.

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Pro: Upside Down Storage Prevents Tipping

Do keep in mind that storing glasses upside down is associated with other benefits as well, aside from dust prevention.

Ryan Knoll, the owner of cleaning company Tidy Casa, adds that in addition to preventing the accumulation of dust, storing glasses upside down means that they are less likely to fall over, particularly if they are top heavy.

Pro: Upside Down Storage Is Aesthetically Pleasing

Additionally, from a truly style-based perspective, you may wish to opt for upside down glassware storage because it can look more elevated, notes Delah Gomasi, the founder of cleaning service MaidForYou.

“It just aids the overall aesthetic of the kitchen, especially if the kitchen cabinets have see-through glass doors,” he says.

Con: Upside Down Storage Can Lead to Moisture Being Trapped

Still, Gomasi says, placing glassware upside down in a cabinet is associated with some pitfalls. For one, you will always want to make sure that you adequately dry off your glasses before placing them upside down on a shelf.

Otherwise, placing them upside down while still slightly wet can lead to moisture being trapped, which can result in musty smells or mold, he explains. This is all the more likely to occur if you are living in a humid climate as opposed to a dry one.

Con: Upside Down Storage May Lead to Rim Damage

Placing glassware upside down may contribute to rim damage, Knoll says, meaning that you want to be especially mindful when it comes to vintage or more delicate items.

“For delicate dishes like Nana’s fine china, the glass resting on its rim might cause chipping or cracking,” he says. “[It is] probably fine for most glasses, but not all.”

Holevich expresses similar views.

“For speciality glassware, such as champagne flutes and wine glasses, upside-down storage will be beneficial because their most vulnerable parts are the rims,” she says. “Putting them with the rim downward will provide them with better protection and prevent them from accumulating dust.”

When it comes to storing more expensive or fragile glassware as a whole, there are other precautions that one can take as well.

“Consider investing in shelf liners for additional protection of the delicate material,” Holevich says.

At the end of the day, the way you store your glassware in the kitchen all comes down to personal preference, Knoll says: “You do you when it comes to glassware storage.”