7 Useful Tips and Tricks for Cleaning your Glazing
There is something quite upsetting about dirty windows; that they limit the natural light passing through them is just one of many drawbacks to having unkempt glazing. Here we are going to look at just a few simple tips and tricks to keep your windows gleaming.
1. In a pickle? Homemade Window Cleaner
It really is as simple as white vinegar and water! Mix equal parts hot water and vinegar. The acidic nature of vinegar is perfect for breaking down the naturally occurring film of grime on glass surfaces and ridding you of horrible streaks and smears. For particularly aggressive streaks we recommend you add a minute drop of dishwasher detergent for that extra kick! Pair this with your cloth of choice and watch as your surfaces shine.
2. Extra, Extra! Read all about it!
Newspapers are made from dense fibres yet contain no material that may cause scratching. For this reason, it really is a wonderful material to facilitate your window cleaning process. Ideally, you are looking for a paper printed with soy based ink to ensure no staining or ink smears. Petroleum based ink printing makes it useless as a cleaning material. High absorbency in newspaper is what makes it so effective for cleaning, meaning that it actually absorbs moisture on the glass instead of just moving it around.
3. A Cloudy day keeps the streaks away!
Cleaning your windows on a sunny day might not be as helpful as you may think. Whilst the sun shining through your glazing may better allow you to see the dirt and grime, the sun also has a detrimental effect on cleaning solutions you may be using. It has the disadvantageous effect of prematurely drying the solution into the glass itself, leaving streaks and residue. Waiting for a colder or slightly overcast day will prevent this drying and allow the cleaning solution to be wiped away and leaving you with a brilliant shine.
4. Say? Do you overspray?
When applying your cleaning solution; homemade or otherwise, less is always more. The application of too much solution on your glass surfaces will lead to the inevitable streaking. Over-saturating the glass won’t allow your rag, newspaper or squeegee to absorb enough of the liquid and it will be moved around the surface, accumulating residual dirt, rather than being wiped away.
5. Buff it! Buff it real good…
You’ve used the homemade cleaner, applied it sparingly and the Sunday times has made an appearance yet there are still streaks?? What went wrong? In reality, you did nothing wrong, sadly sometimes, streaks are inevitable yet the solution is simple; just give it a gentle buff. The only tool that is up to the challenge though is a clean and dry microfibre cloth. Microfibre cloths are super absorbent; in fact, it can hold up to six times its own weight! The tiny fibres will pick up every last speck of dirt from even the smallest of crevices while the lack of hard silicates in the fibres will prevent scratching. Small gentle circular motions will have those pesky streaks gone in no time!
6. Top to bottom, Head to toe…
It may seem like an obvious note, but when cleaning your vertical glass surfaces like windows and door panels it’s important to work from the top of the glass to the bottom. Moving in this manner allows the water to collect at the bottom of the glass rather than drip down from the top and potentially leave water marks and streaks.
7. All hail the Squeegee!
The squeegee is the ultimate window cleaning gadget in your arsenal! The Squeegee is a flat tool with a rubber blade which can be used to move and control the flow of liquid on glass. Some squeegees often utilise a built in sponge to help absorb the residual soapy water used to break down the dirt and grime on windows. The Squeegee is over 100 years old yet still remains an efficient tool for the cleaning of glass today. Check out the WikiHow link below on perfect squeegee glass cleaning techniques.
(https://www.wikihow.life/Clean-Windows)
We can all agree that a clean window can really make or break a space. And that is even more important when highlighting decorated glass elements like gold leaf, acid etching or sandblasting, all of which we offer here at Glacien Glass. Glass is unfortunately a material that easily catches dirt or grime and so it is important to keep on top of cleaning to ensure your glazing is gleaming for all to see.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help…
We can fabricate door and window panels, fanlights and mirrors to your exact specification; we can even create fully bespoke designs or replicate existing patterns to your liking. Why not have a look at our Glass Design Catalogue for examples of patterns and images.
