It is easy to spot glass that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Unfortunately, it’s also easy to spot glass that has been cleaned poorly – just look for the streaks and residue grime and dirt. In fact, cleaning can add streaks and make the glass look just as bad as before you started, depending on how you do it.
So, how do you clean glass to ensure it is streak free and extra shiny? Here are our 11 top tips.
1. Work from the Top Down
If you start at the bottom and work up, you will have drips running from the top onto the part you have just cleaned. So, start at the top of the glass and work your way down to avoid streak-causing drips.
2. Use a Homemade Glass Cleaning Solution
You don’t need an expensive glass cleaner to get the best results – a homemade solution using vinegar and water is just as good. Use one-part vinegar to four-parts water for glass that is relatively clean. For glass that is grubbier, add more vinegar.
3. Add Dishwasher Liquid
If the glass is particularly grimy or has a waxy film, add dishwasher liquid to your vinegar and water solution. Don’t use very much as it will cause streaks, but the addition of dishwasher liquid will clean away the grime. You can then use a vinegar and water solution to finish cleaning the glass.
4. Use a Squeegee
Squeegees give great results plus they make cleaning your glass easy. It is worth investing in one. Microfibre cloths are also good.
5. Don’t Use Paper Towels
Unless you want glass that is streaky, don’t use paper towels.
6. Rub the Right Way
Start rubbing the glass in a circular motion to clean it. Once you’ve covered the entire surface with this motion, go over it again with vertical wipes followed by horizontal. This will make sure it is shiny and helps to remove streaks. Also, it helps if you mix the horizontal and vertical wipes on glass that you clean on both sides. For example, on one side, rub vertically then horizontally and on the other, do the opposite – horizontally then vertically. This helps you spot streaks.
7. Dry the Glass
Streaks appear on glass that is not dried after being cleaned so make sure you dry and buff the glass. Also, try to dry the glass immediately after you clean it.
8. Get the Corners
Use a smaller tool to get into the corners of the glass. A cotton bud is ideal.
9. Finish with Newspaper
If you still get newspapers in your home, they are a great tool for cleaning glass. Use a scrunched-up piece at the very end and rub it over the surface of the glass. The ink on the newspaper removes any remaining streaks and leaves the glass ultra-shiny.
10. Try to Clean Glass on a Cloudy Day
Streaks appear on cleaned glass when the cleaning solution dries too quickly. This happens most often when you clean the glass on a sunny day. Cloudy days are, therefore, best.
11. Avoid the Frames
Do your best to keep the cleaning solution away from any frames on your glass, particularly if its wood.
Finally, the more you clean your glass, the easier it is to keep clean. Plus, glass that is always clean looks better in your home.