What causes cloudy or spotted glasses in the dishwasher?

Cloudy or spotted glasses are usually caused by hard water deposits. To confirm this, soak the item in white vinegar for approximately 5 minutes—if the cloudiness is removable, adjust your detergent amount to match water hardness and always use rinse aid. If cloudiness is not removable, it is permanent etching caused by water that is too hot, too much detergent, or prewashing.