Curing Your Painted Wine Glasses at Home in The Oven is Easy!
You’ve finished your beautiful painted wine glasses—now it’s time for the final step! 🎨🍷 Here is everything you need to know about how to bake hand painted wine glasses (or any type of glassware) at home!
If you painted your glasses at one of my workshops, you’ll want to cure the paint in your oven at home before using or washing them. Baking the glass helps the paint bond to the surface and makes your finished design much more durable.
Listen, I know you’re nervous. The first time I baked glasses in my oven, I was certain they would shatter! They didn’t (to my surprise, lol) If you follow these steps to a tee, they won’t break, honest.
The process is simple, but there are a couple of VERY important things to remember! The first being: DO NOT PREHEAT THE OVEN!!
Before You Put Your Glasses in the Oven
First, let your painted glasses dry completely after your workshop, 3-4 hours is okay. I usually wait 24 hours so that the paint is thoroughly dry before baking.
At this point you can also give your glasses a final spot check to see if there are any spots or smudges that need to be removed. For this you can either scrape off gently with a toothpick or your fingernail, OR you can very carefully apply acetone nail polish remover with a Q-tip. If you do this, be VERY CAREFUL and only use a tiny bit of acetone and don’ t let it drip anywhere you want the design to stay. It is super potent and will remove the paint.
Then:
- Make sure your glasses are clean ( alittle rubbing alcohol will remove fingerprints etc.) and completely dry.
- Place the painted glasses on a baking sheet (I usually use parchment paper on the baking sheet).
- If the bottom of your base is painted, place glass upside down, otherwise either way is fine.
- Do NOT preheat your oven.
- Put the glasses into a cold oven before turning it on.
Why is it so important to start with a cold oven?
Glass doesn’t love sudden temperature changes! 😬 It’s science!
Putting a cool glass into an already-hot oven can cause the glass to heat too quickly and unevenly, which can lead to thermal shock—and potentially cracked or broken glassware.
Starting with a cold oven allows the glass and the paint to gradually warm up together, making the curing process much gentler and safer.
How To Bake Your Hand Painted Glasses
For the paints I most commonly use in my workshops—Folk Art Multi-Surface paints and Folk Art Americana Gloss Enamels—my usual process is:
- Place your completely dry painted glasses in a cold oven.
- Set the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Once the oven reaches temperature, bake the glasses for 30 minutes.
- When the 30 minutes is up, turn the oven OFF.
- Leave the glasses inside the oven.
- Crack the oven door a tiny bit (optional).
- Allow the oven and glasses to cool completely before removing them.
⭐ The Most Important Part: LET THEM COOL!
I know—you’re excited to see your finished masterpiece! But please resist the temptation to take the glasses out right away.
Do not remove the glasses while they are still hot or even very warm.
Just like putting cold glass into a hot oven can cause thermal shock, taking hot glass out into a cooler room can cause a sudden temperature change too.
Leaving the glasses inside the oven as it cools allows the glass to gradually return to room temperature.
Cold oven → gradual heating → baking → gradual cooling = happy glass! ❤️
Always Check Your Paint Manufacturer’s Instructions
The 350°F for 30 minutes method is the process I typically use, but different paints and products can have different curing instructions.
Before baking your project, check the label on the paint you’re using and follow the manufacturer’s recommended temperature and baking time.
If the manufacturer’s instructions differ from the process above, the manufacturer’s instructions should always win.
Ok, now that you’ve learned how to bake your hand painted glasses, read on to learn how to keep them beautiful for many years to come!
You may also like: How To Paint Beautiful Wine Glasses Step-by-Step
Can You Put Your Painted Glasses in the Dishwasher?
I always get this question at every glass painting workshop I do. Here’s my two cents… Many glass paints advertise that properly cured glassware is top-rack dishwasher safe after baking. However, I personally always hand wash my painted glasses.
I want my designs to stay beautiful for as long as possible, so I treat my painted glassware a little more gently than I would my everyday dishes.
My Recommended Washing Method
- Hand wash with warm, soapy water.
- Use a soft sponge or cloth.
- Don’t scrub the painted areas aggressively.
- Don’t leave your glasses soaking in water.
- Rinse and dry gently.
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or scrubbers.
Why Shouldn’t You Soak Your Glasses?
Even though the paint has been cured, prolonged exposure to water can eventually cause painted areas to lift or wear away from the glass.
Soaking your glass for a few minutes while washing it isn’t something to panic about—but I wouldn’t leave your painted masterpiece sitting in a sink full of water for an hour!
A little extra TLC goes a long way. 💕
Keep Your Masterpiece Beautiful!
You’ve put time, creativity, and a little bit of yourself into your painted glass. With proper curing and gentle washing, you can enjoy it for a long time!
Your quick reminder:
🎨 Paint → Dry completely → Place in COLD oven → Bake according to paint instructions → Turn oven OFF → Leave glass inside → Cool COMPLETELY → Hand wash gently
And that’s it!
Now pour yourself a drink, admire your handiwork, and enjoy your one-of-a-kind painted glass. 🍷✨
Happy painting! Love, Luna
**Please always follow the specific curing and care instructions provided by the manufacturer of the paint you are using. The instructions above are general guidance based on the paints commonly used in my workshops.
