Decanter Cleaning Beads: How to Use Them

How to use decanter cleaning beads, in four steps

1. 01

   Add warm water and beads

   Pour in warm water to cover the base by two or three centimetres, then a small handful of beads: enough to cover the base in a thin layer.
2. 02

   Swirl gently for one to two minutes

   Hold the decanter by the base and neck and swirl in slow circles so the beads roll over the stained glass. Do not shake it hard.

3. 03

   Pour through a strainer

   Pour the water and beads out through a small strainer or the mesh bag the beads came in. Count on a few staying in a corner: tip them out gently.

4. 04

   Rinse the decanter, dry the beads

   Rinse the decanter with warm water, then filtered water, and dry it upside down. Dry the beads on a towel before you store them so they do not spot.

Do cleaning beads scratch?

Stainless steel beads are made to roll smoothly over glass, and swirled gently they should not scratch. The risk comes from shaking them hard, or from grit trapped in old beads. Rinse the beads before use, swirl rather than shake, and for very thin handmade crystal check that the decanter’s maker allows them. Riedel describes its own beads as for “suitable decanters”.

Steel or copper beads?

When beads work best, and when they do not

• Best: the wide, flat base of a modern decanter, and curved designer shapes no brush can reach.
• Not enough: a ring right at the top of the neck. Use a soft brush there. See how to use a decanter brush.
• Old, set-in stains: soak in warm water with a splash of white vinegar for an hour first.

The beads worth buying

My picks come from the Amazon listings and from what a sommelier needs a decanter to do, not from a lab test. Price levels: $ budget, $$ everyday, $$$ mid-range, $$$$ premium. The button shows today’s price.

Cleaning beads: your questions