Brand new glass in any form is crystal clear until it is subjected to fingerprints, stains, dust, dirt, and improper cleaning methods. After that, it seems impossible to make your glass shine again as if it were brand new. That’s because, more often than not, basic glass cleaning methods used by homeowners tend to leave streaks on the surface or, at best, a clean but cloudy-looking glass. The bottom line is that none of these results are acceptable! Especially not in Simply Maid’s books which is why we’ve gathered the best methods to make glass crystal clear again!
Whether you’re cleaning windows, mirrors, drinking glasses, or other household glass surfaces, these tips and tricks will help you get those sparkling results you’ve been missing out on!
How to Remove Scratches from Glass
NOTE: This method is effective for removing minor scratches on glass; it will not remove lines caused by cracks.
It may be hard to believe but those ugly scratches that are ruining your crystal clear glass can be buffed out using a microfibre cloth and non-gel toothpaste. The little soft cloth that comes in your sunglasses/spectacle case is perfect for this.
Before you buff out the scratches, however, you will first need to clean and dry the surface. When that has been taken care of, apply some white toothpaste to the microfibre cloth and use it to wipe over the scratches in circular motions. Keep wiping the glass until the toothpaste vanishes. If there is any residue left on the surface that makes the glass appear cloudy, take a fresh soft cloth and continue to wipe the glass in circular motions until it is clear and gleaming.
How to Wash Away Cloudiness from Glasses
Cloudy drinking glasses are frustrating to look at because even though they are clean, they look really shabby. If you don’t know what causes cloudy glasses, well, it is generally one of two things – water deposits, or etching over time. Fortunately, there is one simple way to get rid of cloudiness from your drinking glasses.
Gather up the glassware that is cloudy and load them onto the top rack of your dishwasher. Fill up a dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar, and place it on the bottom shelf. Allow the dishwasher to go through an entire regular cycle and your drinking glasses are guaranteed to come out crystal clear!
If you are looking to remove cloudiness from glasses without a dishwasher, simply soak the pieces in white vinegar for 30 minutes, and then wash them with dish soap and warm water.
How to Remove Sticky Substances from Glass
Don’t you just hate when you have to struggle to remove sticky residue from surfaces? Whether it’s a sticker, tape, glue, or a sticky substance caused by foods (such as caramel, gum, or sapodilla), getting the residue off can be challenging, especially when handling a fragile and damage-prone material like glass. Fortunately, this method allows you to remove sticky stains from glass with minimal pressure.
All you need is acetone or rubbing alcohol and a clean dust cloth. Simply soak one end of the cloth in some rubbing alcohol/acetone, and gently scrub the stickiness away! While these ingredients act fast to dissolve sticky substances, be patient when dealing with residue that has been left on a glass surface for a long period of time. If needed, repeat the process a couple of times to effectively remove sticker residue from the glass.
How to Avoid Streaks When Cleaning Glass
We’ve all been faced with streaks on glass surfaces and mirrors after putting in the time and effort to clean them. As frustrating as that is, we only have ourselves to blame for following the wrong practices! There are a number of reasons why streaks are formed when cleaning glass including the time of day or weather conditions and temperatures. For example, cleaning your windows while the sun is blazing outside will cause streaks because the glass cleaning solution is drying up too quickly. Similarly, other glass surfaces and mirrors are also prone to streaks due to evaporation, as well as incorrect techniques and cleaning tools.
One of the best ways to wash windows is by wetting the glass with the cleaning solution and using a squeegee in an S-pattern to clean. The use of glass cleaner and a coffee filter is also an effective way to prevent streaks on glassware. Yet another tip is to avoid re-wiping over a section when using a cloth or newspaper. If you are able to wipe off the cleaner in one quick swipe, you won’t find a single streak within that space!
How to Clean a Glass Cooktop
The stovetop is one of the greasiest and grimiest components of a kitchen. It generally requires daily cleaning, especially if used on a daily basis. The good news is that everyday cleaning of your glass stovetop can be limited to just a simple wipe down with a microfibre cloth and all-purpose cleaner. On the other hand, greasy glass cooktops will require a deep clean to make the surface sanitary and shiny again.
We find that an all-natural method to clean glass stovetops is extremely effective in tackling both old and new grease stains and gravy spills. For this, you will need to break out the white distilled vinegar and baking soda, and then follow the method below:
- Wipe over the glass cooktop to remove any large or loose debris.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the glass.
- Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the baking soda to dampen it. Allow the reaction between the two ingredients to settle down before moving on to the next step.
- Use a damp cloth or soft scrubber to wipe the cooktop clean.
Tips to Clean Up Broken Glass
At least once in your life (if not multiple times), you will encounter broken glass that needs to be cleaned up. While your initial reaction may be to sweep up the broken pieces and dispose of them, this just might be the least effective method. More often than not, shattered glass remnants remain on the surface which can potentially injure someone that comes in contact with them.
To clean up broken glass safely and effectively, Simply Maid recommends the following tips that have been tried and tested:
- Begin by ensuring that your kids and pets are kept away from the area
- Pick up shards of glass and place them onto multiple sheets of newspaper
- Use a slice of bread to pick up visible pieces of broken glass; do this by gently pressing the bread slice over the glass before placing it onto the newspaper to be disposed of later
- Vacuum the area thoroughly
- Cut a few pieces of masking tape and go over the area to ensure that any fine pieces of glass that are not visible to the naked eye are picked up from the surface
How to Dispose of Broken Glass
To dispose of broken glass safely, follow the steps below:
- Wrap up the broken pieces in multiple sheets of newspaper (at least 12-15 pages)
- Secure it with tape.
- Place it in a cardboard box; seal the box with tape.
- In capital letters, write “BROKEN GLASS” on all sides of the box so that the person who handles your waste is aware of the contents.
Remember, glass is a fragile material and therefore, must be cleaned and handled carefully. Nevertheless, if you’ve been having trouble making your glass items and surfaces spotless again, these tips and tricks are guaranteed to change that! Say goodbye to cloudiness, stains, and streaks, and hello to sparkling, spotless, and good-as-new glassware!
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