Do you avoid washing your windows at all costs? Does the thought of all that time spent swirling soapy water over endless glass surfaces (two sides go to every window or door) fill you with dread? And how many times have you gone to all that effort only to still end up with a streaky, smeared or cloudy finish?
Cleaning glass surfaces (not just windows, but mirrors, splashbacks and glass furniture) is one of the UK’s least favourite chores, and it’s not hard to see why. But in a lot of cases, this is a task that can be made a lot quicker and easier with only a couple of steps.
In this article, we’re going to look at how to clean glass in the most efficient and effective way possible. We’ll look at cleaning a range of surfaces, including windows, mirrors and shower screens, and highlight how to get the best possible finish too.
How often should you clean glass surfaces?
There is no blanket answer for when to clean all your glass surfaces, as they can be used in so many different places or purposes; it will depend on the surface.
One thing to bear in mind for all surfaces is that the more regularly you clean, the quicker the job takes. Wiping away a week’s dirt takes a lot less time than tackling a year’s.
| Surface | How often should you clean it? |
| Glass furniture and tabletops | Weekly |
| Glass splashbacks | Daily/Weekly |
| Internal glass doors and windows | 2-3 times a year |
| External window surfaces | 3-4 times a year |
| Mirrors | Weekly |
| Glass shower screen | Every day/Weekly |
Glass furniture and table tops
When it comes to glass furniture like table tops, you should wipe them down on a weekly basis.
A tabletop that is used every day will quickly collect finger tip smudges and spills, making regular cleaning a necessity to protect it. In contrast, a rarely used glass cabinet doesn’t need as much attention, but it will still collect dust.
Either way a weekly wipe down with your cleaning solution of choice and a microfibre cloth is a good way of keeping your glass looking its best.
Internal glass doors and windows
Cleaning glass windows can be a long-drawn-out process, just because of how large the surfaces are and how many there are. This makes it pretty unappealing, and most people put it off as long as possible.
With windows, this isn’t an issue – washing your windows a couple of times a year will probably suffice. They’re not ‘high use’ particularly during winter, and a quick wipe down every few weeks is enough maintenance to tackle the slight build-up that happens.
When it comes to internal doors, these are often high-traffic areas, touched regularly and left with fingerprints. Wiping them on a weekly basis is often enough to keep on top of too much build-up, though.
External window surfaces
It’s recommended you wash your windows every 6 to 10 weeks. While fingermarks aren’t going to build up on an external window, pollution or streaks from rain will, and they’ll be even more noticeable in direct sunlight during summer.
Glass splashbacks
The glass surface that needs the most regular cleaning is a glass splashback. As they are designed to collect the mess created by cooking, it follows that they get very dirty, very quickly. And the longer you leave it without cleaning, the more difficult it can be to cut through grease build-up.
A daily wipe down, or wipe down after cooking, is the easiest way to stay on top of it, with a deeper clean once-a-week to ensure a streak free finish is a good approach.
Glass shower screens
Shower doors and screens are another surface that benefits from daily cleaning – or cleaning after every use. Otherwise, limescale will rapidly build-up and when there is a thick layer, it’s a lot more difficult to clean off.
A spritz of a dedicated shower cleaner and wipe down with a squeegee can help protect the look of your shower screen and make deep cleaning your bathroom so much quicker.
Mirrors
How often a mirror needs cleaning depends on where it is. A bathroom mirror needs to be cleaned as regularly as possible – once or even twice a week. This is due to the regular exposure to humidity and risk of product splashback.
But a hallway mirror might only need cleaning once a month.
What is the best way to clean windows without streaking?
Few things are more frustrating than going to all the trouble of cleaning your windows, only to end up with a surface that is still stained or covered in streaks when you’ve finished.
The three most common mistakes that cause this are:
- using too much cleaner
- using the wrong cleaner
- leaving too much water behind
But identifying these issues means you can also avoid them with a few simple steps:
- Don’t over-concentrate your cleaner
With a cleaner that needs diluting, it can be tempting to think adding more will make cleaning easier. It won’t. The cleaning properties won’t be enhanced, and you’ll increase the risk of streaks. Follow recommended mixing instructions and proportions. And if you’re using a pre-mixed cleaner in a spray bottle or similar, don’t over-saturate.
- Use the right cleaner
Not everyone wants to use a dedicated glass cleaner, and that’s fine. But if you’re turning to other cleaners, not all generic ones are created equal.
Antibacterial or other multi-purpose sprays are a bad idea, as they will leave streaks and could even damage the surface. Washing-up liquid mixed with water is great, as long as you use one without balsam – ones with balsam can leave build-up. If you still have problems, try adding a dash of white vinegar as well.
- Leaving too much water behind
It is the process of water drying that leaves streaks, and if there is too much water, you are almost guaranteed a problem.
Swiping a squeegee across the glass when you’ve rinsed is one way to get around this. After cleaning, buffing the surface with a dry microfibre cloth can also help dry it off – but make sure the cloth is dry. If it’s wet, it will just create even more streaks.
Step-by-step guide to cleaning glass surfaces
Tools
- A sponge
- A squeegee
- A towel
- A dry microfibre cloth
How To Clean Glass Surfaces
- Mix up your glass cleaner of choice according to instructions.
- Spritz your window with a small amount of cleaner and leave it to work for a few seconds.
- If you’re using soapy water, soak your sponge and tightly squeeze it to remove as much water as possible, then gently rub across the surface of the glass in circular motions.
- Swipe your squeegee across the surface of the window. Use strong, steady strokes and snake your way down. The pressure here is key. If you’re too soft, you’ll leave water behind, too hard, you’ll find it difficult to move the squeegee.
- After each swipe, run the squeegee blade over a towel to remove dirty washing water.
- . Wipe the edges of the window with a dry microfibre cloth or rag. You can also use this to rub away at any stubborn finger marks or spots. Just make sure you keep the cloth dry – if it gets damp, it will leave streaks on the window.
- Finally, take your towel and rub the windowsill down to catch any water drips. This can be a dirty job, so it doesn’t matter if the towel is already damp.
Luckily, with the right tools and the right steps, it’s easy to achieve a streak-free finish. To start,
What is the best thing to clean glass with?
We’ll be honest, the best thing to clean glass with is likely a specialist glass cleaner, depending on the surface. That’s because they are designed with this specific job in mind.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s your only option. Homemade cleaners can still be good if mixed and used correctly. And they will usually be a cheaper option too.
What is the best homemade glass cleaner?
You can make a simple but effective glass cleaner from the following household staples:
- ¼ cup of clear white vinegar (or lemon juice)
- ½ teaspoon washing-up liquid
- 2 cups warm water
- Spray bottle
This cleaner can be spritzed onto any glass surface to give it a wipe down, and used correctly, you should be left with a sparkling clean and streak-free surface.
What is the best cleaner for glass shower doors?
Shower doors are exposed most days to hard water and soap scum. This creates a film that can actually do permanent damage to the glass, etching into the surface to cause clouding. And no amount of washing will clear that.
Prevention is better than a cure here. Using a squeegee to swipe the surface after every shower is one option, or spritzing using a dedicated cleaner. But if you forget, and build-up occurs, then smear a paste of water and baking soda over stuboorn patches to weaken them.
You can also use a simple solution of equal parts vinegar and water to spritz after cleaning to reduce streaks and watermarks in future.
What cleaner is best for a glass splashback?
Of all common glass surfaces, splashbacks are generally the most difficult to clean. They exist to protect your walls from dirt and are being splashed and splattered by food debris and grease on a daily basis – both of which can be difficult to remove.
For a splashback, you can either buy a dedicated cleaner or use a homemade cleaner, but you should leave it to sit a little longer to make sure it can break down the grease. You also need to make sure that all excess liquid is removed from the surface to make sure it doesn’t dry with streaks.
How to use newspapers to clean windows
There is a tradition of using a scrunched-up newspaper to clean windows, but this is not a necessary technique anymore. Newspapers can have an abrasive surface, which can be good for removing stubborn dirt without resorting to harsh chemicals. They will also not leave lint on surfaces.
However, they can be too abrasive, especially if used without water, and they can leave ink marks. A lint-free paper towel or microfibre cloth is a much safer option, while leaving cleaner to sit and more frequent cleaning shoud making removing dirt easier.
Glass cleaning mistakes to avoid
- Try to wash glass surfaces on cloudy days, or at least when the sun is shining directly on them – particularly windows. This dries them out too quickly and leaves them prone to streaks.
- Use the right -sized squeegee to ensure the best contact with the glass.
- Don’t use a pressure washer. However dirty your windows
- Only use microfibre cloths to avoid leaving too much lint behind, rather than standard towels or dishcloths. These are also great for polishing glass surfaces after they dry.
- Don’t skip the squeegee step. This is an important way of avoiding streaks or watermarks, especially on large surfaces.
- Remove dust or loose debris first with a cloth before applying cleaner. Otherwise, large particles can scratch the glass.
- Don’t get creative with vinegar choices – white vinegar is the most effective, malt vinegar and other types are not only more expensive, they’ll also likely leave a coloured residue.