Cleaning is considered to be a given when it comes to preparing your home or business for people to visit, but sometimes more than just general cleaning needs to be done. When it comes to the products that we offer, here is some good advice to help you look their best when outsiders are taking a look around.
We prefer to go the natural way when it comes to cleaning, but we realize that not everyone is as green as we are. For a great quality glass cleaner, go with a foaming, non-ammonia one such as Sprayway Foaming Glass Cleaner. This is a great quality all around cleaner that will leave your glass and mirrors (in home and car) streak free, sparkling, and clean as a whistle. Plus it does not take very much to clean even a large surface and it will not run like regular glass cleaners do. They also offer a stainless steel foaming cleaner to help you with other items in your home, and the glass cleaner (because it is ammonia free) is pretty safe to use on other items in your home (like Pledge multi-surface cleaner). For those of you who are Sam's Club members, they sell a 3 pack for under $10 (the last we checked) so it is very economical while being super efficient.
Shower Cleaning
The metal frames of shower doors can get water spots on them that seem at times to be impossible to remove. Lemon oil removes those tough water spots. Apply a little oil to a rag and rub over the metal. Use a lint free, dry cloth to buff the metal to a shine. The oil will continue to work as it will help to repel water and make it tougher for new water spots to form.
Glass shower doors will sparkle and stay clean if you wipe them down once a week with a sponge dipped into full strength white vinegar. You can also clean out shower door tracks with a toothbrush (not the one you use of course!) or cotton swab dipped into a solution of bleach and water.
Mirrors
You may have seen on cleaning products to spray cleaners onto a lint free rag or towel prior to cleaning the mirror, rather than spraying the cleaner directly on the mirror. The reason why this is very important is that you do not want to get the cleaner behind the mirror. In other words, if you choose to spray the cleaner directly on the mirror, do NOT spray it anywhere close the edges where it might possibly get behind the mirror. The reason why the cleaner should not go behind the mirror is that it could potentially cause "desilvering" where the silvering on the back of the mirror may ruin quicker than it normally would. This will cause the mirror to have a "bad spot" on it, and if large enough of an area, will be funny looking and even possibly show as a black spot in that area. In other words, to protect the lifespan of your mirror, do not let cleaning products (or even water) get behind your mirror.
Now your wheels are probably turning in your head with thinking about your bathroom mirror sitting right on the back splash with your sink directly in front of it. Or you might be thinking about all of the water that the kids manage to get on the mirror when they are brushing their teeth. If you have had a mirror installed by Speedway Glass, you are covered in this department. However, if you have not, this can be an easy DIY fix that will take less than five minutes and cost less than $10 (should be less than $5). Please see our post on caulking your mirror for more details.
Streaks can be removed from mirrors (and glass) by using a felt blackboard eraser. Just make sure it is clean before using.
Windows and Other Household Glass
Although many people read their news online now or on various handheld devices, newspaper still has a very important function as the best way to clean a window. The print on the newspaper acts like "bluing" in laundry detergent and even some gray hair shampoos. Wearing gloves will prevent the print from getting on your hands when cleaning with it. Newspaper helps your windows not only get cleaner but also be more streak free.
For a sparkling shine, use a natural linen towel or soft cloth, a damp chamois cloth, a squeegee, or crumpled newspaper.
Avoid cleaning windows and glass when the sun is hot and shining on the window as the glass will dry too fast and there will be streaks no matter what precautions you take to prevent them or what product you use.
Wash one side of the window in an up and down (vertical) direction, on the other side scrub side to side (horizontal). This will help determine which side of the glass has the streaks that need to be polished out or what side still has dirt remaining on it.
Streaks can be removed from glass (and mirrors) by using a felt blackboard eraser. Just make sure it is clean before using.
Make Your Own Cleaners
Mirrors AND Windows
Vinegar:
Pour 1/4 cup white vinegar in a 500 ml spray bottle and top up with water. Spray on windows and mirrors and wipe off with a lint free rag. This mixture can also be made by using one part white vinegar to four parts water. Always shake to mix ingredients before using.
Tea:
Combine one cup of cold, strong, black tea with 3 tablespoons of vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake bottle prior to using. Spray on the mirror or window and wipe dry with a lint free rag or towel.
Mirrors
Alcohol and Ammonia:
Combine 2 cups water, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon ammonia, and, if desired, blue food coloring (optional) in a spray bottle. Mix the ingredients and apply the cleaner by spraying on a lint free towel or rag to clean and wipe dry. May also be used on window and table top glass.
Castile Soap:
Combine 1/2 teaspoon of liquid castile soap, 2 cups of water, and 3 tablespoons of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake to mix ingredients prior to using. Spray on lint free rag or towel and wipe mirror.
Lemon:
Combine one part water with one part lemon juice (fresh squeezed works best) in a spray bottle. Shake to mix ingredients prior to using. Spray on lint free rag or towel and wipe mirror.
Corn Starch:
Combine 2 quarts of warm water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch in a container. Mix ingredients well until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Place on lint free rag or towel and wipe mirror.
Citrus:
Combine 1 1/2 cups white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 8 drops citrus essential oil of choice in a spray bottle and shake well before use. Spray solution onto lint free towel or rag, then wipe and dry mirror.
Windows/Glass
*Note: Not all of these are safe for automobile glass or tinted glass. Use at your own risk in those cases.*
Liquid Soap and Vinegar:
For dirtier exterior windows: Pour 1/4 cup white vinegar in a 500 ml spray bottle, add 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, and top up with water. Shake the bottle well prior to using to mix ingredients. Spray on windows and wipe off with a lint free rag. If necessary, you can rinse off any excess residue. Additionally, once cleaned with this mixture you can use the above vinegar mixture to keep the windows clean.
Ammonia:
Pour 1 tablespoon cloudy ammonia into a 500 ml spray bottle and top up with water. Shake well and spray onto windows. Wipe off with a lint free rag.
Lemon Fresh:
Combine 3 tablespoons of lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best), 2 cups of club soda (you can use water or a water/club soda mixture but 100% club soda works best), and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in a spray bottle. Shake bottle to mix ingredients prior to using. Spray on window or glass and wipe dry with a lint free rag or towel.
Rubbing Alcohol:
Combine 2 cups of rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl), 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 teaspoon liquid dish detergent in a bucket or container and top off with water until you have 1 gallon of window cleaner. Mix ingredients by stirring or shaking, place on lint free rag or towel and wipe the window down. You may also rinse with water if desired and follow up with a cleaner that does not contain liquid soap or detergent if necessary or to maintain your clean windows.
Lemon and Vinegar:
Combine 1 gallon water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh squeezed works best, and a squirt of liquid dish detergent. Mix ingredients by stirring or shaking, place on lint free rag or towel and wipe the window down. You may also rinse with water if desired and follow up with a cleaner that does not contain liquid soap or detergent if necessary or to maintain your clean windows.
Cornstarch and Ammonia:
Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup household ammonia, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and 1 gallon of water. Mix ingredients by stirring or shaking (make sure all cornstarch is dissolved completely), place on lint free rag or towel and wipe the window down. You may also rinse with water if desired and follow up with a cleaner that does not contain liquid soap or detergent if necessary or to maintain your clean windows.
Lemon-Mint:
Combine the juice from 1 lemon, 2 cups of club soda, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a spray bottle. Shake well before using, and wipe dry with a lint free towel or rag.
Toothpaste:
Rub a little toothpaste (white) into the scratch. Polish with a soft cloth. The best type to use tends to be the cheapest white toothpaste without any "bells or whistles" in it.
Dry Mustard:
Mix 1 part dry mustard and 1 part white vinegar into a paste. Use something other than your fingers to do this as you want to avoid eye contact completely. Dry mustard can be damaging to the cornea. Apply the paste to the scratch, and polish with a soft cloth.
Plexiglass:
Well, plexiglass tends to change colors over time if you are not using the right cleaning products and this color change is not reversible. The best thing to use on plexiglass is a non-ammonia cleaner such as the Safeway Foaming Cleaner that was mentioned at the top of this post.
If your plexiglass has gotten some scratches on it, there are products available on the market which are scratch removers. A simple online search will give you several options to choose from or you can check your local hardware store.
Final Thoughts...
It is easy to keep your windows, glass, and mirrors clean and ready for any occasion with items you already have in your home.
Make sure to check back for future postings of additional cleaning options for your windows, glass, and mirrors.
Happy Cleaning!
Warning: NEVER mix chlorine products with baking soda, automatic dish detergents, or other products containing ammonia or acid. When combined, they give off potentially hazardous gases. While some just smell really bad, others are very dangerous when inhaled. Read all labels carefully because products are frequently reformulated. Chlorine products include bleach, tile cleaners, mildew removers, and even some powdered cleaners. Ammonia products include vinegar, lemon juice, muriactic acid, and toilet bowl cleaners. Keep all cleaning products and chemicals out of the reach of children and pets, and make sure to use in a ventilated area. Even if a product is made from "pantry ingredients" that were safe to do so individually, do not ingest, inhale, or place in or around eyes once combined due to the potential changes which products undertook when combined.
Disclaimer: Although we have used the above recipes, tips, tricks, and hints ourselves, we cannot guarantee the safety of them for your glass, windows, or mirrors. If you are in doubt, place on a small test area prior to using on the entire surface.
