Cleaning the various glass surfaces in your home can be a bit of a challenge — but it doesn’t need to be. Regardless of the type of glass you’re cleaning, there are a few key techniques that can help you achieve streak-free, sparkling-clean glass with minimal effort.
Clean glass at home by misting the surface with a homemade vinegar-and-water cleaning solution and then wiping it with a squeegee, microfiber cloth, or coffee filter. It’s best to start cleaning at the top and then work your way down. Use cotton swabs to clean corners and other hard-to-reach areas.
When it comes to cleaning glass surfaces, keep in mind that moderation is key. If you apply too much of the cleaning solution, you’ll end up with streaks. Let’s look at how you can clean glass surfaces with household items and how to do so without leaving streaks behind, so that you can have sparkling clean tabletops and windows without needing to hire a professional cleaner.
How to Clean Glass Using Household Items
The best and most effective way to clean glass is to use a natural, streak-free glass cleaner. While you can opt for commercial, store-bought options, keep in mind that they usually leave some residue behind.
Luckily, there are several different ways you can make a strong glass cleaner with household items, including:
- Equal parts water and distilled white vinegar
- Half a gallon of warm water and two tablespoons of ammonia
- Half a gallon of water and two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid
Choose the solution you find easiest to make, pour it into a spray bottle, and then decide on your cleaning tool. While using a squeegee — like this one from HIWARE (on Amazon) — should do the trick, keep in mind that using it requires some finesse and a bit of fancy wrist action.
Instead, some people may prefer to use either microfiber cloths (on Amazon) or coffee filters, as they’re much easier to use and yield almost the same streak-free shine as a properly-wielded squeegee.
How to Clean Glass Tabletops and Windows
- Mist the windows or tabletop with your homemade cleaning solution. For windows, it’s best to start at the top and then work your way down.
- After misting, use a squeegee, microfiber cloth, or coffee filter to gently wipe away the cleaning solution from the glass.
- Switch your cloth wipes or filter once they get too damp or you start to see streaks.
How to Clean a Bathroom Mirror
- Dampen a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol (on Amazon) and use it to remove any dried-on hairspray and toothpaste splatters.
- Spray the bathroom mirror with your cleaning solution.
- Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the mirror.
- Check for any streaks and buff the mirror until the glass is completely clean.
Tips for Cleaning Glass Surfaces Without Leaving Streaks
Glass cleaning is an art that requires your attention and care. To help you master the art, here are a few tips to ensure all the glass surfaces in your home remain clear and sparkling, both inside and out:
Clean From the Top to the Bottom
Since cleaning solutions drip down the glass, it’s better to use gravity to your advantage and let them drip into all the areas you haven’t cleaned yet. Start at the top and then work your way down to ensure the cleaning solution doesn’t spread to areas that you’ve already completed.
Use a Squeegee
Using a squeegee — if it doesn’t bother your wrist — makes a world of a difference when cleaning glass surfaces. This simple tool allows you to effortlessly polish every section of the glass, making it ideal for cleaning tall windows, shower walls, and shower doors.
Try Using an Old T-Shirt
Old t-shirts are excellent for cleaning glass surfaces because they don’t leave behind any lint residue, and they’re absorbent enough to polish a window clean.
Along with being a great way to cut down on housekeeping costs, using old t-shirts instead of a disposable item like paper towels is good for the environment as well.
Use Cotton Swabs to Clean Corners
No matter how much you clean, some sort of residue always seems to build up in and around the corners of your glass surfaces. Unless you use the right tool, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of that residue. Luckily, cotton swabs (on Amazon) are perfect for cleaning all those hard-to-reach areas and corners.