A Streak-Free Shine: How to Clean & Disinfect Glass like a Professional

December 14, 2020

It’s the season for holiday window displays. Whether you’re lining up your finest goods for the world to see, or simply keeping your windows clear of the falling snow, that glass storefront is the first impression that needs to charm. Clean, shining glass is a reflection of the business inside.

In today’s world with the increasing demand for sanitization and proof of cleanliness, it would not be unreasonable for potential clients to quickly walk past any business with a dirty front window or door. After all, if the glass isn’t clean, the glass barriers or surfaces inside probably aren’t either.

If your goal is a nice, streak-free shine for your glass windows and doors to charm everyone who walks by, this guide will help you break down the tools you need and the methods to use to get the best window clean possible.

The Tools to Unlock the Cleanest Glass on the Block

When it comes to cleaning your glass, there are two categories of tools:

1. 1. Tools you absolutely need
  2. Tools you sometimes need

Let’s start with the equipment you must have.

There are 6 essential tools to make sure you achieve that streak-free glimmer you’ve been hoping for.

Towel – The towel is used at the base of your glass to protect window sills or soak up excess water. You may find use for a towel during the process as well, in order to wipe off a squeegee if you choose to use one.
Bucket – Here, we have our trusty bucket. This will be handy for keeping water, detergent or other liquid materials you use in one place.
Distilled Water – This is essential. No matter what soap or cleaning material you are mixing it with, there will be a need for water. The benefit distilled water provides is that it is not filled with hard minerals like tap water, that can cause streaks left behind on your glass.
Either vinegar or dish soap – both these agents are able to dissolve dirt on your glass, but an advantage to using a dish soap or detergent is that it suds up to lubricate your cleaning tool as it passes over the glass. Mix this with your water in the bucket. How strong you make it may depend on how dirty your glass is, but a small amount should do the trick.
A cleaning tool such as: lint-free cloth, squeegee, or newspaper – Ensure all cloths or rags used are lint-free to make sure there is no residue left behind. Stay away from paper towels since they tend to leave lint after cleaning. If using a squeegee to clean your glass, make sure to remember to wipe after each swipe.
Gloves – Finally, last but most certainly not least, don’t forget your gloves! This will protect your hands from drying up from touching the cleaning solution, and prevent any dirt or residue from your cleaning tool from spreading onto them. Even better, this will also stop your fingerprints from getting all over your freshly cleaned window

With these 6 things in mind, we can also take a closer look at some things you might want to have, depending on where your glass is located.

Ladder – Sometimes you just need that extra boost to reach your glass comfortably. When using a ladder, make sure to practice basic ladder safety including keeping it on a level surface to keep it sturdy.
Dry rag or cloth – sometimes, if the glass is extremely dirty, it’s recommended to use an extra rag or cloth to dust your window before adding soap and water.
Cotton swabs – Does your glass have tight corners or crevices where liquid or dirt collects? Cotton swabs can help you get to these hard-to-reach areas.
Window chamois – Have you done it all, but you’re left with one stubborn streak that won’t go away? This is the answer to that problem. A window chamois, which can be picked up at various retail locations, will clear that stubborn streak effortlessly.

Now you’ve collected your tools, and you’re ready to get that glass clean! The real question is: how do you do it?

The Method Behind Giving Your Glass a Professional Shine

There’s an easy method to follow when trying to get clear glass.

Scrub the glass – This is the step where you remove any caked on dirt or stains. Use the extra rag or cloth you have with your cleaning mixture. This is also the time to clear the grime out of your nooks and crannies.
Clean a starting strip – This is easiest when using a squeegee, but also works while using a cloth or crumpled newspaper. Tip the cleaning tool so that only the corner contacts the glass, or use a finger on your cloth or corner of your newspaper bundle. Then, starting at the top corner of the glass, clean a narrow strip of glass from top to bottom on one side.
Clean across the top and work down the glass – using your cleaning tool, start at the top and clean your way down the window. Remember to refresh your cleaning solution frequently and wipe down your squeegee or squeeze out your cloth after each wipe.
Wipe off excess water – After reaching the base of your window, wipe off any excess water that remains. We recommend using a second, dry lint-free rag to do this.
Remove lingering streaks – Finally, using the window chamois, remove any last streaks if they are present.

As you can see, it’s actually quite simple to keep your glass looking streak free and clean. Most businesses will have access to these tools, and if not, they are easy to find for a low cost. With this guide, your glass will have the perfect streak-free shine to reflect your business.

You can not only give off the best first impressions and build trust in your business’ sanitization and cleaning abilities, but also maintain a professional and sleek appearance all year round.

Whether you’re looking for durable, high quality glass for your business, custom glass for your door, or even glass barriers to protect staff and customers from COVID-19, AMG has options for your glass needs.