What is a Glasswasher?

A glasswasher is a commercial warewashing machine built to quickly and efficiently wash and rinse large quantities of glassware. They are invaluable for businesses with high drinks orders such as pubs, sports bars and clubs.

Most glasswashers wash and rinse a rack full of glasses in less than two minutes. This means your fast paced bar will always have clean glasses ready for serving. It is best practice to have at least two glasswasher racks per machine for an efficient washing cycle - while one rack is in the machine, the others are readied for the next cycle.

TIP: Using a commercial glasswasher means you’ll be able to reach rinse temperatures of up to 70°C, heats that can’t be guaranteed when handwashing. This makes cleaning your equipment with a commercial glasswasher the only way to ensure effective sanitation when washing - protecting staff and customers against transferrable viruses and bacteria.

The Difference Between Glasswashers and Dishwashers?

Glasswashers are specially designed to wash only your glassware. Glasswashers have a quick wash speed and can easily be stored under counters, allowing you to position them close to your front of house or serving area.

You should not use a commercial dishwasher in place of a glasswasher as they are designed to wash plates in a different manner to glasses and at a higher heat, which risks damaging your glassware. Glasswashers also wash faster than dishwashers which can be invaluable to businesses during peak periods when demand is at its highest.

Whilst some warewashers are available that can wash both plates and glasses, glasswashers are more affordable and traditionally offer a higher output for a lower price, making them the best choice for businesses where the prime focus is drinks.

What Should I Consider When Buying a Glasswasher?

When purchasing a glasswasher, there are three main things you need to consider:

• Your level of demand i.e. how many glasses do you serve or need washed per hour. There are a variety of glasswashers on the commercial market with varying outputs to match different levels of demand. First and foremost you need a machine that can match your establishment’s demand during peak periods.
• The amount of space you have available and where you can place your glasswasher. Ideally you will want to locate your machine as close to your serving area as possible to minimise the time between each wash cycle and keep up with demand.
• What type of drainage your machine will need. Glasswashers operate very similarly to dishwashers and likewise drain through either gravity or a drain pump. If your glasswasher’s waste outlet is lower than the drain standpipe, a drain pump is required. Alternatively you could use a warewasher stand such as Classeq's warewashing stands to raise your machine above the drain, which then allows for gravity assisted draining (please note, branded stands fit branded machines).

For further details on aspects such installation, drainage and water softness, look at our dishwasher buying guide.

How To Use a Glasswasher

Part of a glasswasher’s appeal is how quickly and easy it is to use. All brands and their machines operate in a similar way. After turning the glasswasher on and loading your rack of glasses into the machine, press the begin wash cycle button to start your two minute wash. The machine will have finished once the wash active light turns off.

Classeq have also provided this video to give a demonstration on how to operate your glasswasher: