When it comes to glass features in your homes like window glass and sliding doors, especially with the surfaces that face the outdoors, let’s face it, they can get really dirty. All the dirt particles and pollutants in the air can start to take up residence on your beautiful glass. The grease and debris that can end up on your glass splashback in the kitchen and the mineral buildup and soap scum on your frameless glass shower can also become frustrating problems.
When you find you have really dirty glass, you have two problems. One, you aren’t getting the clarity and beauty your home’s glass products should provide. And two – you have a rather tough cleaning job on your hands!
To make your life easier – and to help you enjoy that crystal clear you should see with your windows, shower screens, and other features – here’s a simple glass cleaning trick you can use to achieve fantastic results.
Start with the Right Glass Cleaning Supplies
In order to do Simple Glass Cleaning and remove all that grit and grime, we recommend using a good-quality scouring pad. We have specially formulated polishing pads that we use on glass surfaces before applying an EnduroShield treatment, which is used to protect glass surfaces from buildup. These scouring pads are a little pricier, but they do the job well when your goal is to get rid of every little speck of dirt and buildup on the glass.
You can use a similar product or any other high-quality polishing pad – the ones we use are made from fine steel wool, and they are designed for glass surfaces. The reason they’re so effective is they help you get a thorough clean, but they aren’t too abrasive for glass surfaces as long as you don’t use harsh scrubbing. Make sure you don’t use something that will scratch your glass! You can also use quality cleaning rag. Just make sure you are using a clean, lint-free sponge, cleaning pad, or rag.
Next, you just want to use a good glass cleaner. It’s better to avoid harsh, chemical-heavy cleaning products, but what you do want is a product that will get really soapy and wet on the glass surface when you spray it on. This lubrication will help to draw up all the dirt and muck. It will also stop your scouring pad or rag from scratching the glass with the grit that you’re trying to remove. We use a citrus-based glass cleaner, but you can also use a truck wash or any other similar product.
Easy Steps to Achieve Beautifully Clean Glass
Now, it’s time to work our magic.
- First, wash the glass with fresh water to rinse off any surface dirt.
- Next, spray the glass with your glass cleaner. You can use a generous amount – remember, you want that nice wet and lubricated surface.
- Now, take your scouring pad and lightly go over the glass, trying to polish away all the dirt and grime. To do this, use a simple, circular movement, making circles all the way from the top and working your way to the bottom.
The trick is to make sure you use this circular motion over the entire glass surface. This way, you won’t miss any spots. Also, you don’t want to apply a lot of pressure – just a consistent, gentle pressure for your scrubbing motion.
When you do this, you can usually hear the muck and residue lifting off the glass. Be sure to make sure the pad you are using is not scratching the glass though! You’ll also notice a nice foam building up over the surface where you’ve scrubbed. This lets you know you’ve cleaned the glass in its entirety.
Now, you’re ready to clear off all your cleaning product and reveal that sparkling glass underneath. To do this, take a basic household squeegee. This is a much softer sponge that will help to soak up all the moisture and cleaning product.
Start at the top and wipe across the glass, removing all your residue. Do this same step all the way to the bottom, starting at one side and wiping across. That’s all there is to it! You can clean the glass with some fresh water, and the job’s done.
This is a really Simple Glass Cleaning way to deal with even the toughest glass cleaning jobs. It’s great for glass windows, sliding doors, and other glass features that are regularly exposed to muck and dirt.
What about Routine Glass Cleaning – Do I Need to Use the Glass Cleaning Trick?
This Simple Glass Cleaning trick is perfect for glass that needs a lot of tender loving care. With glass surfaces in the home that don’t see a lot of dirt, like mirrors and balustrading, or for window and shower screen glass that doesn’t look particularly dirty, you don’t need to use the scouring pad and the squeegee, nor do you need to wash the glass off with fresh water to get started. You can simply spray with a gentle glass cleaner and then use the same circular motion with a clean rag, such as a detail rag. Then, instead of wiping away the product and residue with a squeegee, use a clean microfibre cloth to soak up any moisture and buff the glass.
What if I Can’t Get My Glass Fully Clean?
The thing about glass is that when it’s clean, it will always look like new. If your glass looks mucky or discolored even after you clean it, it may have some intensive buildup on the surface. If you find that you have soap scum or other stains that you simply can’t get rid of, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We have a few other glass cleaning tricks up our sleeves!
