The Best Ways to Keep Glass Clean & Streak-Free In Your Home

Keeping glass and mirrors clean around your home can be frustrating and time consuming.

If you’re looking for the best way to clean glass, you’re in luck. From windows and mirrors, to glass desktops and coffee tables, to glass shower doors and other decorative glass, keep reading for tips to help you keep your glass surfaces sparkling.

 

What are the best tools to clean glass?

The first step in your quest for clean glass is a proper selection of tools.

 

Microfiber Cloth or an Old T-Shirt: If you really are aiming for a streak-free and residue-free shine to your glass surface, clean using a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt.  Make sure you are not using paper towels or cotton towels as those leave behind fibers and streaks. Ideally, the softer the material, the better. Using a cotton swab to get tight spaces on your glass surface can also help.

 

Squeegee: Professional window washers use squeegees for a picture-perfect cleaning, and you should, too! 

• Have only the tip of the blade touching the glass.
• Apply even pressure and clean in horizontal stripes down the window, wiping the blade on a clean cloth after each stroke.
• Because squeegees don’t soak up any water, they tend to send liquids running down the glass. Be sure to place a towel below your glass surface to catch any drips.

Pro Tip: The best way to use a squeegee is by keeping one in your shower and using it after each use and in between cleanings.

 

Cotton Swabs: Cloths and squeegees work wonders on larger surfaces, but for the corners of windows and recessed mirrors, cotton swabs are the perfect tool. Dunk them in your preferred cleaning solution and twirl them away in the corners.

 

What are the best glass cleaning products?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, as any of the solutions below will work on all household surfaces. It all comes down to personal preference!

 

Commercial Glass Cleaners: Store-bought cleaners make quick work of dirt and grime. Here are some products you might want to try:

• Windex – The iconic blue solution contains ammonia, a common household cleaner. There are also ammonia-free versions if you prefer.
• Zep – Zep is also ammonia-based. Ammonia speeds up the drying process, which reduces streaking.
• Sprayway Glass Cleaner – Sold in an aerosol container, this foaming product is ammonia-free and suitable for all glass surfaces.

 

Dish Soap: Chances are you already have a powerful glass cleaner in your home: dish soap! Add a few drops of dish soap to a bucket of water, then watch oil and fingerprints disappear with ease. For best results, you can wash with soapy water first, then finish with a glass cleaning solution.

 

Homemade Cleaners: DIY-ing cleaning products can help you save money and can be better for our environment by reducing waste, so why not make your own glass cleaner? You can take equal parts white vinegar and water, or simply mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid and two quarts of water. If you are preparing to clean your glass shower with a grimy build-up, spray the vinegar first all over your glass and let it sit for 10 minutes, and then clean with a sponge dipped in baking soda. Rinse with water and wipe dry. 

 

What is the best way to clean glass surfaces?

With your cleaning arsenal at the ready, you’re prepared to tackle any job. For the best way to clean glass, follow these practices.

 

Remove Dust & Debris 

If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your glass surfaces, wipe the glass down with a cloth and some soapy water. A quick wipe-down removes dust or dirt instead of smearing it all over the glass.

 

Clean on a Cloudy Day

Try not to clean windows on hot, sunny days. The sun causes liquids to dry faster leaving streaks. Wait for a cool, cloudy day for best results.

 

Top to Bottom

To get the best streak-free glass, start from the top and work your way down. Mist your glass cleaner from the top to about a quarter of the way down and then let gravity help you, and remember to move side to side. If your glass surface is flat, like a glass desktop, start on one side and move your way across. Find the shortest length and work side to side in that direction. If cleaning your glass shower door, make sure it is very wet, soaking it in soapy water first and then dousing it in glass cleaner after. 

 

How to Clean Stains

Apart from dirt and fingerprints, you’ll sometimes find hard-to-remove water stains on exterior windows, shower doors, and bathroom windows. 

 

Spray some commercial cleaner or a water-vinegar solution on the glass and let it soak for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing with a soft cloth.

 

Alternatively, you can douse a towel in the water-vinegar solution and leave it to rest against the glass for several minutes. This technique ensures the cleaning solution won’t evaporate prematurely.

 

If you are interested in having brand new, modern, beautiful glass installed in your home bathrooms, contact Frameless By Design in Florida or Georgia! We design all glass enclosures using state of the art CAD software, allowing us to avoid outsourcing to third party vendors. Our company only sources glass and hardware from founders and leaders in the industry. We use top of the line materials, made in the USA, to ensure your glass enclosures are built to last. We use HD hinges standard on all of our custom glass doors – up to 36”, this above the traditional standard of 28”. Each design comes with a 5 year parts and labor warranty, and we strive to complete each project within a 3 week timeframe, so you can start enjoying your newly installed bathroom glass as soon as possible. 

 

We have shower and tub glass configurations for any size bathroom, but we also offer custom designs. You can also choose semi-frameless sliders with your choice of assortment of finishes and fixtures! With over 25 years experience, we here at Frameless By Design have the skillset, knowledge, and pride to achieve your desired vision. Whether you need help choosing your custom shower or you already have in mind what you’re looking for—we will guide you in making the best decisions that will not only leave your guests speechless, but to ensure that it’s long lasting! Contact us for a free consultation. We proudly serve northwest Florida and many counties in Georgia!