Most paper towels are treated for absorbency. That makes them great for wiping up spills, but terrible for cleaning glass. The absorbency treatment is why your glass tables, mirrors and windows end up covered in lint and dry with a film. If you must use paper towels, go with untreated towels such as SCOTT Glass Towels.
But, that right there is your problem. Paper towel is the number one culprit of leaving behind streaks and lint. Paper towels are typically treated for absorbency, which makes them ideal for spills, but awful for glass cleaning. Instead, substitute your paper towels for something more practical, like actual cloth.
Choose lint-free
Microfiber or other lint-free towels won't leave behind little specks on glass surfaces. Newspaper or old, clean cotton diapers are other great options.
Microfiber cleaning cloths are one of the most important window cleaning tools used by professionals to attain streak-free windows. The fibers' are effective as cleaning agents because of their finely split strands. These greatly increase the surface area for the microfiber cloth to collect dirt and dust.
Microfiber cloths are the agreed upon winners when it comes to glass cleaning. These cloths made of polyester and polyamides are great for sensitive surfaces like glass. They attract lint and dust, and soak up your window cleaning product to leave your windows with that professional-quality finish.
Use a cleaning solution: Like Glass-Rite cleaner! Or we also recommend a simple solution of equal parts vinegar and water, a Windex solution in water is good also. Do not use glass cleaners that are ammonia or alcohol based. They may leave streaks or make a film that attracts moisture or dust.
Strict 'No' for Paper Towels, Dry Cloth and Tissues
Avoid using paper towels, clothes and tissues as they may be soft, but may have a crude surface that can easily attract dust or scratch your residential glass or storefront glass.
Most professional cleaners providing cleaning services in Pennsylvania will use special cleaning cloths such as microfiber towels. However, whether you choose rags, paper towels, or special cleaning cloths, it will all depend on the type of surface you are cleaning as well as the dirt that you are wiping off.
No, you can't. In contrast to toilet paper, things like tissues and kitchen towels are designed to retain their strength as much as possible, especially when wet. Flush a tissue or paper towel down the toilet and it won't break down, at least not readily, so it's a prime candidate to clog your pipes.
It is stated that in the US alone, 6,500,000 tons of paper towels are sent to landfills each year. And landfills pose an even bigger threat to the environment since they release deadly methane gas into the air which is 28 times more potent than methane gas.
We use Bounty paper towels for dirty clean-ups and frame putty wiping, but they don't work as well as microfiber or cotton cloths for cleaning glass or acrylic. The paper is abrasive enough to scratch acrylic and coated glass.
Microfibre (UK) or microfiber (USA) is the name of the cloth used to clean spectacle or sunglasses lenses. Made from polyester, microfibre is the best material for safely cleaning ophthalmic lenses without scratching their surfaces or coatings.
A tell-tale sign that windows and mirrors were cleaned using paper towels are the steaks and lint left behind. The trail of lint and residue left on the surface is an inevitable result of the tiny paper fibers that make up a paper towel.
Odd though it might seem, wiping down glass with newspaper not only helps produce streak-free glass, but also a lovely, bright shine! Be sure to spray your cleaning product on the newspaper or cloth rather than directly on the mirror. This will prevent the cleaner from dripping into the frame and possibly corroding it.
Microfiber cloths are your best bet for effective and damage-free cleaning and drying. But a dirty one can exacerbate your grime, not alleviate it, so treat your eyeglass-cleaning cloths like reusable handkerchiefs and wash them often.
Although you know the piece is clean, it still—somehow—looks dirty. "Cloudy glasses are a byproduct of hard water," says Ron Shimek, the president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company. "Minerals like lime are trapped in the water and the water sticks onto glasses and dries.
Rinse your glasses under the tap with lukewarm water
Hold your glasses frames under the faucet and rinse them off well. Lenses too! Warm water is best for dislodging dust and gunk, but don't let it get too hot or you risk damaging any specialized coatings on your lenses.
Bounty makes the best paper towels we've ever tested. These redesigned paper towels feature microstructures for increased absorbency. While you can't see said microstructures just by looking at the paper towels, you can tell they're present when you're sopping up liquids and cleaning up messes.
A big problem is the evaporation rate. If you're cleaning your windows on a warm sunny day, the liquid part of the solution evaporates quickly and leaves behind a residue that appears as streaks. On the other hand, if you don't entirely remove the liquid you can also be left with a streaky window.
We've mentioned that paper towels can be abrasive, so it's no surprise they shouldn't be used to wipe the lenses of your glasses or sunglasses, which are often coated with a protective film. Needless to say, don't use a paper towel for your camera lenses, either, including your phone camera lens.
How Frequently To Replace Towels. The frequency with which you replace your towels really depends on what you're using them for. "A good thing to remember is to replace bathroom towels every two to five years and kitchen towels and washcloths every year or every two years, depending on their quality," explains Wischnia ...
If your towels look worn or smell unpleasant, it's time to invest in new ones. Remember to wash new towels before you use them for the first time, as they have a silicone finish that makes them less absorbent. This also sets the colour so that it doesn't run or fade.