Cleaning glass can be an enormously frustrating experience, especially for the perfectionist. After all the effort you put into cleaning, you expect glass to sparkle. Luckily, the streaking and hazing issues that tweak your temper post-wash (you know – when the sun hits the glass just right) are usually more a matter of having the right tools and technique than lack of effort.
How can you get the many glass surfaces in your home sparkling clean?
As with all tasks, there are things you should (and should not do) to achieve superior results. When it comes to glass cleaning, always remember to…
- Avoid direct sunlight to reduce streaking.
- Keep cleaning solutions simple: Use soap and water, commercial glass cleaner, or a mixture of one part white vinegar and four parts water (preferably distilled).
- Always work from top to bottom – this includes window glass, and when cleaning windows on multi-storied homes.
What is the best thing to use to clean windows?
Clean interior and exterior windows with ease with warm water and a mild detergent solution. Start with a warm water prewash. Mixing a bucket of warm water and detergent, follow your prewash up with a thorough sponging of the window glass, working from top to bottom. Using a lint-free paper towel and a dab of warm water, remove any excess detergent, then squeegee to remove the soapy water, working again from top to bottom. Wipe excess water from the perimeter of the glass with a chamois. Finish drying the window glass with a lint-free towel – but don’t go overboard – too much wiping can cause dust-attracting static electricity.
Having problems with streaks?
Sometimes, figuring out how to clean glass windows without streaks can be frustrating. First and foremost, make sure you’re not working in direct sunlight. Second, a prewash (or rinse) prior to applying cleaning solution will help you start out right. If you’ve done these things and you’re still battling streaks after drying with a lint-free microfiber cloth, buffing the glass with wadded up (black and white) newspaper usually offers tried-and-true results – as does vinegar (see below).
How to clean mirrors without streaks
Mirror glass, such as you would find in your bathroom, is often a trouble zone. To avoid streaks from toothpaste, soap, makeup and other splatters, start out right by removing these substances with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball or pad. Only after should you utilize glass cleaner, wiping with a microfiber cloth and buffing until mirror glass is completely clean. Have a medicine cabinet mirror? Adding a small vinyl decal where you touch the glass can help guard against fingerprints.
Out of cleaning solution? Learn how to clean mirrors with vinegar
Mirrors – and glass – can be easily cleaned to a streak-free shine with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part distilled water. Effective and economical, it packs a powerful cleaning punch, fighting the streaks often left behind by detergent-heavy cleaners.
How to clean a glass table
Keeping up with glass dining, coffee and side tables can be a challenge. First, remove household detritus to avoid steering around magazines and mugs. Then remove spilled debris, using a cotton pad and rubbing alcohol for sticky spills. Prewash with warm water, then clean with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water or commercial cleaner. Buff with newspaper for added sparkle.
Clean your glass, but things still look a little foggy? It might not be your technique. From repairs and replacement to glass protectants that guard against scratches, dirt and grime, return things to sparkling with the help of Glass Doctor today.