Does she have vision problems? Before cataract surgery, my husband would have thought it was just fine. And yes, I'd drink out of it.

Could also be a lousy d/washer. Depending on the type of friendship, she might appreciate a comment along those lines. If first time visit, i would pretend to sip and then just sit the glass. I'd bring up the dishwasher conversation via phone or text, at another time.

She might also handwash and air dry, which could cause the spotting. If it were me, i don't think I could make any comment about that, just not drink again, b/c it is unsightly to me.

Does this person have a dishwasher? If so, maybe it's just hard water stains. If not, I don't know if - and what - I would say. I get easily grossed out and a filthy glass would certainly do that. Edited to add: Bossy beat me to it re. the dishwasher. :)

In our house, a glass like this would not go into the machine, but would be washed by hand.

It would really depend, is it just water spotting from possibly air drying or is there other visible nasty stuff on it because to me I see what looks like specs of something on the rim. Like it wasn't washed at all. If just water spots I would probably take a sip or two and put it down. If there was visible ick on it no way. I personally probably would not have that problem because I bring my water thermos with me everywhere no question about it. So maybe you should do that when you go there just have your own drink with you. That avoids the situation.

Just to elaborate a bit...there is no dishwasher involved. And not quite 'spotting' but full out clouding/dirt (the above picture is actually on the good side).

I'd probably go to the sink and claim a gnat got into my wine, dump it into the sink and while I was there, wash the glass and then get more wine.

I like Olychick's answer. It would depend on who it was at to what I would say if anything.

OK, it's been established that there is no dishwasher (other than human).

Spotting can most definitely be a result of water spots forming while the wet glass was air drying.

Fingerprints would result from handling of the wine glass by the bowl of the glass rather than by the stem. Wine glasses, when drinking from them, should be held by the stem so that your body heat in your hand doesn't warm up the wine (cradle brandy snifters in your hand, though, to warm the brandy).

If the glass was left in a dishrack on the counter to dry, then picked up and put into a cabinet, then possibly moved within the cabinet to make room for another glass, then taken out of the cabinet to have wine poured into it, then handed to the intended wine drinker, it could end up with a lot of fingerprints on it.

Fingerprints and water spots would not bother me. If there is stuff on the rim, it could be a result of the person who washed the glass not having run the dishcloth all the way around the rim. This can be taken care of by taking your napkin and running it around the rim to remove the gunk.

If there is what appears to be dirt in the wine, it could be sediment from the wine bottle.

So, in answer to the original question, if the glass and wine looked unacceptable to me, I would likely fake a sneeze aimed directly at the glass, then say to the host/hostess, "oh, geez, I can't bring myself to drink what just came out of my nose. I'm going to make a quick dash to the kitchen to wash this out..."

I wouldn't say anything and risk hurt feelings but I wouldn't drink from it either. When I don't care for a drink that's given to me for any reason I just let it sit and if someone asks, I'll say my tummy started feeling a little "iffy" so I decided I better pass.

My best guess is that the glasses are washed lightly in a communal tub and then rinsed with lukewarm water, left to air dry, so there is a film of dirty grease soap water residue that is "drying" on the glass. Again, my best guess. This is not fingerprints from handling a clean glass, nor is it water spots. And not wine sediment. The dirt/film is both on the outside, and inside.

Eww. I'm sorry but that is my reaction to seeing it. I honestly don't know what I would do if offered that.

Probably take it but not drink out of it. I'm a little bit of a germaphobe.

No and I would say something. Friends should be honest. Hopefully mine would tell me if I was the one serving a drink in a dirty glass.

How's the rest of her house?

Kind of like a friend letting you know something is stuck in your teeth.

the OP original post had a LOT of questions and suggestions. And later there is more info and details. So, no I would not drink from this glass, AND - If this person who served this to you is your friend, then act like a friend and show him or her that the glass is dirty. Offer to help in some way.

We rarely drink wine and always have to wash wine glasses before serving in them. My mom in law had macular degeneration and I always found a polite way to rewash the dishes. Bless her heart, she just couldn't see it.

If this person who served this to you is your friend, then act like a friend and show him or her that the glass is dirty. Offer to help in some way.

What exactly do you say when pointing out the dirty glass? Do you mention that you've noticed this has happened in the past? What help do you offer?

Say, "hey friend, this glass is dirty, may I get a fresh one?" Then go with her to the kitchen and see if she needs help, and if you see that she does then say so and offer to help. What kind of friend are you LaLennoxa? What did you do when this happened before?!? Why did you return and expect something better?!?!?

What kind of friend are you LaLennoxa? You'd have to ask my friends.

What did you do when this happened before?!? Surprise = what just happened here...should I say something?

Why did you return and expect something better?!?!? I'm not sure where that question is coming from, as that is not something I ever stated.

On that note, why are people saying this person is a woman?

I'm curious as to how you took that picture without arousing some notice.

And if anyone wants to know, glasses CAN be hand washed and air dried without water spots, just use Dawn Platinum, that stuff is fantastic!

Rusty

The glass is filthy no I won't drink from it. If it was a friend I'd say..you using a new dish detergent because its not working..I'd chuckle and say it can happen to all of us, but can I have a fresh drink. Its a friend after all. Maybe the friend is trying to save money by not using the dishwasher.LOL.

You did say regular occurrence.

Oh, and if I'm a regular visitor, I would insist on washing the glasses, helping to clean up before I left and hope they'll still be clean for my next visit....

"My best guess is that the glasses are washed lightly in a communal tub and then rinsed with lukewarm water, left to air dry, so there is a film of dirty grease soap water residue that is "drying" on the glass."

Communal tub? Does more than one family wash their dishes in the same sink in the same water?

Glasses should always be washed first, while the water is still clean. Pots and pans are last.

This happened to me while visiting a neighbour. She had recently lost her husband and her house was in disarray. I accepted the red wine and did drink it. The next time I went over I took my own glass and wine, telling her I didn't want her to think I was only dropping by for the wine.

It's happened to me before too. My wonderful, generous, disorganized, messy friend doesn't really look at things the same as others. She doesn't notice what most of us obsess over. Yet friends flock to her and even to her messy house. We just shrug say thanks and pour more wine, (after we sneak clean our glasses). :). We don't want her to have our angst! And her bathroom is always clean. (thanks to her DH.)

My father uses glass pint canning jars for drinking glasses. He drinks a lot of tea, which he often leaves sitting for an extended time, so the glasses were always covered in a nasty film. I mentioned it, and he said he couldn't get his hands far enough into the jar's small mouth to wipe it out thoroughly with the dish cloth. I suggested he purchase a rounded brush specifically for cleaning the inside of glasses. He has, and it works much better, but, to answer the OP, I still do not drink from a glass/jar at his house unless I've washed it myself, or at least rinsed it.

Why did you return and expect something better?!?!? "I'm not sure where that question is coming from, as that is not something I ever stated. " - It's coming from the part where you said it was a common occurrence.

"On that note, why are people saying this person is a woman? " - For me its simply because when this is an unknown it is my habit to say she or her. What possible difference does this make in your inquiry.

What will you do next time LaLennoxal? What do your friends suggest. I often ask mine stuff like this, they know me! LOL and Cheers =/

Yuck! :0) Holding it in your hand, your fingers would feel the filth. Drinking wine is an elegant, fun...relaxing endeavor. The glass is a big part of the experience. In this case a "bad experience".

I live with the same thing. It's hard water etching the glass. If she has a dishwasher, suggest that she get Jet Dry. It's with the dishwasher detergents. Also, the new pods for the dishwasher help. But the Jet Dry does the job of alleviating the etching effect.

You could buy the Jet Dry for her. It's not expensive. Next time you visit, say - Here. I got this for you. I noticed your glasses look like mine did before I started using this stuff.

Our OP clearly stated that a dishwasher is not the issue for this person.

La, to answer your question, I wouldn't drink out of a glass that was that filthy nor would I feel that an explanation, excuse, or fabrication was necessary.

After drinking our wine with dinner last nite I looked at our glasses, and they were smudged with fingerprints. I thought of this thread. :-)

But to be served in a glass this smudged and filthy........an adamant no, would I drink out of it.

I don't like wine, so no I wouldn't drink from it. ;)