With a sleek and elegant appearance that also maximises light and creates a more spacious feeling in any room, there’s no doubt that glass furniture is an eye-catching design choice.
However, as durable toughened glass furniture is also used for practical purposes, it will be exposed to build-ups of dust, dirt, and various spillages over time.
Whether it’s a mirror, table top, shelf, splashback, shower screen, or door in a domestic or commercial property, it’s important to keep glass surfaces clean to maintain their impressive look and extend the lifespan of glass furnishings.
The best way to keep fingerprints and stains at bay from the start is to choose glass with a protective polymer coating, which is available with bespoke orders from The Glass Warehouse.
This makes glass more hygienic and easier to clean, ensuring your furniture will still look great even after years of use. However, if your glass doesn’t have a protective coating, you’ll probably notice grime visibly accumulating faster.
In any case, cleaning your glass furniture regularly is essential to maximise your investment in these striking interior design pieces.
So, if you’re someone who struggles to keep glass clean and finds it frustrating to deal with finger marks and streaks, follow the tips below to enjoy a polished glass finish once again!
Start by clearing the glass surfaces
Of course, if there’s anything on or in front of the glass that would interfere with cleaning, it will be necessary to move these items safely out of the way until you’re finished.
For example, you should remove any items displayed on glass shelves or left on glass tables, such as ornaments, magazines, or coasters for drinks.
Similarly, if there are bath products blocking access to a glass screen or mirror or kitchen equipment in front of a splashback, they should be temporarily relocated while you’re working.
It’s likely there may be some looser deposits left behind, such as crumbs or clumps of dust. While you’ll need to sweep any loose debris away, you shouldn’t use a dry cloth or duster, as even tiny pieces can scratch the surface if they’re dragged across it.
The best way to go about removing debris is to lightly wipe a damp cloth over the area to pick up the loose bits and leave the surface ready to be cleaned properly.
Use the best cleaning materials for glass
There are plenty of glass cleaning products on the market, but if you’re going to opt for quick and easy sprays or wipes over a home-made solution, be sure to look for products that are specifically made for cleaning glass without abrasive chemicals.
This is because non-specific cleaning products may contain oils or even caustic ingredients that can damage the glass and could even transfer to anything else that touches it.
Generally, the simplest way to clean glass is by mixing a basic solution of filtered water and non-scented soap. It should be warm but not hot, so you can safely dip a clean cloth into the mixture, wring out excess water, then wipe the glass to remove marks and stains.
In the case of stubborn grime, you could add a splash of vinegar to the solution and rub a little harder (in wide circular motions, without using too much force).
After all traces of dirt have been cleaned off, you can wipe away any residue with a dry cloth and polish the surface to achieve a nice, clear, shiny finish.
As you should be avoiding abrasive materials, you should use a soft microfibre cloth for both cleaning and drying rather than scrubbing brushes or rough towels.
Avoid leaving streaks on the glass
Streaky glass is the bane of any cleaner’s existence, but there are several reasons why this common problem occurs that you should be able to avoid easily.
Firstly, make sure you’re using an appropriate amount of your cleaning solution. Using too much can end up leaving lots of streaks, especially if you apply it directly to the glass.
Secondly, your drying cloth needs to be absorbent enough to pick up leftover cleaning fluids effectively. Otherwise, moving moisture around with a damp cloth will result in a streaky finish.
Thirdly, avoid cleaning glass in direct sunlight or near an active heat source. If the water dries and evaporates before you’ve finished buffing any residue away with your dry cloth, you’ll be left with unsightly streaks across the surface.
Lastly, you should be wiping the drying cloth across the glass from one edge to the opposite side with a consistent and even pressure. Whether you wipe horizontally or vertically is less important than making sure you cover the whole area equally.
Maintain glass furniture with regular cleaning
If you follow these glass furniture cleaning tips and take the best possible care of the glass, you should be able to enjoy these stunning elements for many years.
It’s best to create and stick to a regular cleaning schedule for glass items, such as once a week, to prevent grime from building up and ruining their appearance with dirt and discolouration.
You should also clean up any spillages as soon as they happen to help prevent build-ups – for example, if you accidentally knock over your coffee one morning, don’t leave that unappealing sticky stain on your table until the weekend!
In tandem with regular cleaning, another maintenance tip to keep glass furniture looking spectacular is to avoid placing objects with rough surfaces or sharp edges on or next to the glass, preventing scratches that would otherwise dull its shine.
With careful upkeep and protective placemats, your glass furniture should still be impressing guests and creating a sophisticated atmosphere for years to come.