Glass is everywhere around us, look around where you are now and you will probably see some, but how do we keep glass clean and in pristine condition? Read on to learn how to clean Glass.

In this guide we focus on cleaning methods for glass, we provide:

1. Step 1: Glass cleaning preparation
2. Step 2: Cleaning Glass Windows
3. Step 3: Cleaning Glassware and also
4. Tips – helpful tips and advice on glass cleaning

Glass is typically brittle whilst also being transparent. Due to the brittle nature of glass, caution needs to be practiced whilst cleaning it so as to prevent breakages and personal injury. The word “glass” is said to have developed from a glass making facility at Trier, Germany. Glass originates from the Latin term “glesum” and the Germanic word “glessum” and is translated into a transparent, lustrous substance. Glass is also hard and stands up well to natural elements such as wind, rain and sun.

A dictionary definition for glass is provided: "A usually transparent or translucent material that has no crystalline structure yet behaves like a solid. Common glass is generally composed of a silicate (such as silicon oxide, or quartz) combined with an alkali and sometimes other substances. The glass used in windows and windshields, called soda glass, is made by melting a silicate with sodium carbonate (soda) and calcium oxide (lime). Other types of glass are made by adding other chemical compounds. Adding boron oxide causes some silicon atoms to be replaced by boron atoms, resulting in a tougher glass that remains solid at high temperatures, used for cooking utensils and scientific apparatuses. Glass used for decorative purposes often has iron in it to alter its optical properties." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Glass – Source the Free Dictionary

Glass is used in many different ways in our modern society, just a few examples being car windscreens, eyewear, fish tank, glass bottles, glass windows, glass mirror, glass sliding doors, glassware and oven glass doors. There are literally hundreds of other examples of use of glass in the 21st century.

In 2004 various glass companies announced the creation of self cleaning glass. This type of glass is not covered by this guide, we are advising on how to clean traditional glass. Here is a quote though on this technological breakthrough: "Pilkington, PPG, Asahi Glass Co. and Saint Gobain (glass companies all) have designed a titanium dioxide coating for glass which, when exposed to UV light, breaks down oil on the surface, allowing it to be easily washed away and causes water to "sheet" over the surface (which prevents it from fogging)."http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/04/self-cleaning-glass/ – Quote from a web article by Engadget

A vital part of how to clean glass is the preparation. You will need to make sure you have all the equipment you need and also prepare areas around the glass to prevent the glass getting dirty again very quickly. Also your own safety is important and precautions need to be taken.

Ingredients

1. Warm Water – this cleans better than cold water and is especially welcomed for outside work
2. Vinegar (also known as Acetic Acid preferably White Vinegar or Detergent

Tools/Equipment
Ensure you have everything you need from the following equipment list. (N.B. Actual equipment required entirely depends upon the type/size of glass you need to clean):

1. Bucket – the traditional bucket for carrying you warm water around in
2. Chamois Leather or dry cloth (for washing, drying, and shining)
3. Squeegee (also called squimjim) - A high-quality squeegee makes for a flawless finish and significantly reduces time spent on the job.
4. Washing up sponge with scourer
5. Stepstool or ladders (if applicable)
6. Dish Mop – for getting to those hard to reach places
7. Broom (if applicable – for removing cobwebs and other debris off surface of glass)
8. Garden Hose
9. Towel – This will absorb any water which falls but also in the case of an overturned bucket having a towel to hand is essential
10. Washing up Brush
11. Old Toothbrush – for scrubbing those hard to reach places
12. Bottle brushes – can be used to clean narrow vases, decanters and glassware
13. Sharp knife or scalpel for clearing rust stains
14. Cotton Swab/Ear Bud – ideal for those hard to reach places

The following preparation can take place for cleaning glass, whether it is appropriate for your glass may depend upon the exact type of glass you are preparing:

1. Remove any cobwebs you might see with an old broom or old cloth.
2. Remove any excess dust or dirt from the outside windows with a garden hose. Rinse one window at a time, so that water spots don't dry on the windows.
3. Lay a towel underneath where you are cleaning the glass to soak up any water which drips

If you want to prepare your own homemade glass cleaner, the following mix can be made:

1. Get a small spray bottle
2. Add 3 tablespoons white vinegar,
3. Add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol and
4. Add 1/4 teaspoon dishwasher detergent.
5. Fill the bottle with water and shake well.

You can substitute 2 tablespoons ammonia or lemon juice for the vinegar. This can be used, just as if it was a window cleaning product you bought from a store.

The cleaning of glass windows is one of the main challenges facing people who want to clean glass. Windows look great when they are immaculately clean, but few would argue that dirty, smear stained windows have a bad effect on the appeal of a building, especially when viewed close-up.

Our step by step approach to cleaning glass windows is:

1. Soak your sponge in a bucket filled with warm water
2. Clean off any dirt/debris from the window frames before you was the glass. If you leave the window frames dirty this causes a risk that your chamois leather/dry cloth will become dirty when drying the window
3. Starting at the top left corner of the window work downwards making an “ s-shape” until you reach the lower right corner of the window.
4. Start cleaning the window from the top left corner and bring the sponge (or squeegee) if you prefer straight down. Use a chamois leather or a dry towel to remove excess water from the sponge/squeegee after each stroke you've made, then start cleaning the next column of glass until you reach the far right side of the window. If you don’t follow this approach you may get streaks and visible lines on the glass.
5. Once you’ve cleaned all the glass, ensure that you dry off (using a chamois leather or dry cloth) and re-clean the window frames.

Tips

1. It is best to use a squeegee mounted on a long handle or a sponge with squeegee combination to prevent streaks on larger windows where reach is a challenge.
2. Tiny scratches on glass can be treated by polishing the affected areas with toothpaste.
3. Washing glass windows is preferably undertaken on a cloudy day. Cleaning in direct sunlight is possible but requires extra care, often cleaning solutions before the glass is polished properly.
4. Tools such as cotton swabs or a soft toothbrush are ideal to clean corners.
5. Windows can be polished to a sparkling shine with crumpled pieces of newspaper. The newspaper also leaves a film residue that has resistance qualities to dirt.
6. Always wash glass windows from the top down, this helps to prevent drips.
7. If you use window cleaners with chemicals in them (e.g. ammonia) this can pose a threat to your wooden frames. Avoid these solutions from dripping onto the wooden frames, where they do, simply wipe off with a dry cloth.

Another important skill for people to master is how to clean glassware, we deal with this subject in this step. By glassware we are referring to items such as goblets, wine glasses, drinking glasses, vases, cruets, carafes, etc and there is many more. A definition of glassware is "Objects, especially containers, made of glass" http://www.thefreedictionary.com/glassware – source “The Free Dictionary”.

A step by step approach to cleaning glassware Although this will vary according to the type of glassware that needs cleaning the following approach is fairly applicable to most glassware items. Actual cleaning approach will vary:

1. Ensure you have all of the equipment and tools you need
2. Rinse the glassware in fairly warm water (not hot water). It is best to rinse glassware one at a time to avoid chinks in glasses by accidental contact during the rinsing process.
3. Rub the glassware with a scouring pad dipped in white vinegar, this will enable extra shiny streak free glasses.

A step by step approach to drying glassware

1. Rinse out the glassware one final time, this time though use distilled water (if available)
2. Place the glassware upside down (if possible) and let them self gravity drain
3. When absolutely dry the glassware can simply be moved to a storage area. Rather than touching glass with your fingers (which will leave fingerprints) it is advised that you hold the glassware with an absolutely clean dry cloth and transfer this way.

An alternative drying method is the glassware can be dried by rotation within a dry tea towel.

Tips, especially for specialist types of glasses:

1. Remove diamond rings, these will potentially create scratches on glassware
2. Hard water stains can simply be removed by rubbing the stain with a scouring pad dipped in white vinegar
3. Never use very hot water, abrasive soaps or ammonia on gold or silver rimmed glasses
4. A lathered shaving brush is good at cleaning deeply etched or textured glass
5. Use a slice of lemon to rub egg residue off your patterned glass tableware
6. Use bottle brushes to clean narrow vases, decanters and other types of glassware
7. Never wash (or rinse) glass objects in very hot water. Although often this will be fine, in some cases a glassware item will have a weakness and break causing damage to your property and risk of personal injury to yourself
8. Don't dry glassware with a hairdryer, this can adhere air particles and grime from the airline straight onto your clean glass
9. Abrasive liquids such as “CIF” are especially good at cleaning moulded pressed glassware