Stay Away from Harsh Chemicals Harsh chemicals, especially those containing bleach or chlorine, should be kept away from glass surfaces. These chemicals can damage window frames, seals, and surrounding materials.
While glass provides excellent resistance to most acids, there are three types which cause significant damage – hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, and phosphorus acids. When glass is attacked by these acids, especially when they are concentrated solutions, corrosion can occur quickly.
Don't use harsh chemicals or ammonia-based cleaners. These products can damage the integrity of your glass. Likewise, you should avoid ammonia and alcohol-based cleaners as they can leave streaks and make your glass look dirty.
Harsh chemicals or cleaners not specifically formulated for glass surfaces can damage the windows or leave behind stubborn residues, compromising their appearance and longevity. Harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach can corrode or etch the glass, leading to permanent damage.
Use a proper cleaning solution: For an effective and streak-free clean, consider using a white vinegar-based solution. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Wipe in a "Z" pattern: Spray the solution onto the glass and wipe it in a "Z" pattern using a microfibre cloth.
The best window cleaning solution is a simple blend with basic ingredients you likely already have. The most common professional window cleaning solution recipe is filtered or distilled water and dish soap.
Vinegar is not only safe and environmentally friendly, but it also provides a high standard of cleaning for your windows. Its acidic nature helps dissolve grime, stains, and dirt present on glass surfaces. Moreover, vinegar leaves a streak-free shine that makes windows look crystal clear.
Abrasive cleaning products like scrubbing sponges, scouring pads and liquid and powdered cleansers can cause micro-scratches on glass surfaces. In the short term, this will negatively impact the aesthetics of a window, causing it to look foggy and rough; in the long term, it may lead to cracks or other serious damage.
It's important to be careful when choosing a product to clean your windows with. Be sure to avoid any harsh sprays, like those containing solvents such as grease remover, chlorine bleach, ammonia, dyes, and strong soaps and detergents. These ingredients may discolor your windows or frames, and damage the glass.
Too Much Soap in the Solution
Well, window cleaner, this can absolutely apply to your soap solution. Your windows could be looking murky because you're using way too much of the good stuff. When it comes to concentrate, a little goes a long way, even if you're using regular dish soap.
Microfiber Cloth or an Old T-Shirt
If you really are aiming for a streak-free and residue-free shine to your glass surface, clean using a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt. Make sure you are not using paper towels or cotton towels as those leave behind fibers and streaks. Ideally, the softer the material, the better.
Stoneware is not recommended. It may scratch the surface and will give poor cooking performance. Cast Iron cookware is not recommended.
When used as directed, the sodium hypochlorite bleach active in Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach is highly effective at cleaning mold and mildew from a variety of bleach-safe surfaces, including glass window panes, vinyl or painted wooden window frames, grout and caulk.
While chemical reactions are not a common cause of glass shattering, certain chemicals can cause glass to break down and weaken over time. For example, hydrofluoric acid can react with the silicon dioxide in glass, causing it to dissolve and weaken.
Heavily soak the window with soap and water or glass cleaner. Gently scrub areas with stuck-on debris or scrape the hardy glass with a razor blade. Remove soap and water from the glass with a squeegee. Follow up with a microfiber towel to thoroughly dry the window.
Cloudy eyeglasses can be cleaned using warm water, a microfiber cloth, and a suitable cleaning solution. Cleaning sprays designed for glasses work wonderfully, but dish soap can be used as well.
If your shower screen glass is laminated, the bleach will damage the laminate over time making it appear opaque. Toughened glass screens are not damaged by bleach, although, bleach does break down the silicone that is used to prevent water seeping outside onto the outside floor of your bathroom.
Dish Soap Solution
Believe it or not, one of the most common and effective window cleaning solutions that is used by professionals is a mixture of dish soap and water. Simply mix one gallon of water with two teaspoons of liquid dish soap, and you have a professional window cleaning solution.
(To learn how you can seal your windows, yourself, read our How-To blog on window sealing.) So, why do your windows appear more grimy after they are cleaned? Cleaning your windows tends to reveal hard water stains, especially if they've been left untreated over the years.
White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.
Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)