Be it our homes or commercial buildings, glass is an essential building material of today’s infrastructure. Windows, interior doors, table tops, car windshields, shower doors, etc., glass items surround us.
Generally, we deal with 4 types of glass in our daily lives, tempered glass, annealed glass, heat-strengthened glass and coated glass. Each of them features different characteristics and requires a different cleaning technique.
If you’re wondering how to clean different types of glass, then here’s the guide.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass, also known as toughened glass, is mostly used in windows, shower doors and mobile phone protectors. Its made with controlled thermal and chemical treatments to increase its strength. Its difficult to clean as it easily gets scratched. To clean tempered glass, use a high-quality cleaner and a microfiber towel/sponge. Spray the cleaner on the surface, allow it to sit for a few minutes and gently wipe with a towel. Avoid scrubbing the surface or else it may cause damage.
Heat-Strengthened Glass
Heat-strengthened glass is a semi-tempered glass and provides higher resistance to thermal stress. Its mostly used in laminated glass for additional strength and buildings with high wind load areas. Cleaning heat-strengthened glass requires special attention. Generously spray a chemical-free cleaning solution on the glass surface and wipe dry with a cloth. Make sure that your cleaning materials are free of grit. Stop wiping when the surface is about to dry to prevent streaking. Don’t use blades or razors to clean the surface.
Annealed Glass
Annealed glass is the most commonly used glass in windows. Its made by cooling the glass slowly which relieves the internal stress. Cleaning annealed glass is easier compared to other types. Mix water and liquid soap to prepare a cleaning solution. Generously spray the solution and scrub or scrape the glass surface. Remove the solution with a squeegee and wipe dry the surface thoroughly with a cloth.
Coated Glass
Coated glass is prepared by applying a surface coating (a thin film) at high temperatures during the float glass process. Tinted and low-e are examples of coated glass. Its mostly used in windows as an energy insulator. To clean coated glass, prepare a solution by mixing one part vinegar with 10 parts water. Spray the solution on the surface and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. Use acetone for spot cleaning only if the manufacturer recommends it. Don’t use razor blades and ammonia/alcohol based cleaning solutions as they can leave visible streaks.
Different types of glass require different treatments. Some need a gentle touch while other need to be handled a bit more roughly. Its important to know the difference. Identify which one you are using and then apply the appropriate cleaning process.