FAQs

· How should my glass and mirror products be cleaned? - Continued...

The glass industry takes extreme care to avoid glass scratches by protecting all glass surfaces during glass manufacturing and fabrication as well as during all shipping and handling required to deliver the glass to the end user. A large percentage of damaged glass results from non-glass trades working near glass. This includes painters, spacklers, ironworkers, landscapers, carpenters and other who are part of the construction process. They may inadvertently lean tools against the glass, splash materials onto the glass and / or clean the glass incorrectly, any of which can permanently damage glass.

 

One of the common mistakes made by non-glass trades people including glass cleaning contractors is their use of razor blades or other scappers on a large portion of the glass surface. Using two, three, four, or five inch larger blades to scrape a window clean carries probability of causing irreparable damage to glass.

 

The entire industry of glass manufacturers, fabricators, distributors, and installers neither condones nor recommends widespread scraping of glass surfaces with metal blades or knifes. Such scraping will often permanently damage or scratch the glass surfaces. When paint or other construction materials cannot be removed with normal cleaning procedures a new one-inch razor blade may need to be used only on non-coated glass surfaces. The razor blade should be used on small spots only. Scraping should be done in one direction only. Never scrape in a back and forth motion as this could trap particles under the blade that could scratch the glass. This practice can cause hairline concentrated scratches that are not normally visible when looking through the glass but are visible under certain lighting conditions.

 

Jobsite storage and construction conditions can lead to stains on the glass surface. Cleaning and removal of such stains may require the use of a more aggressive cleaning solution and procedure. If conditions are found that cannot be cleaned using the above procedures contact the glass supplier for guidelines on stain removal.

 

· The following are things to DO:

 

1. DO  clean glass when dirt and residue appear

2. DO determine if coated glass surfaces are exposed

3. DO exercise special care when cleaning coated glass surfaces

4. DO avoid cleaning tinted  and coated glass surfaces in direct sunlight

5. DO start cleaning at the top of the building and continue to lower levels

6. DO soak the glass surface with a clean water and soap solution to loosen dirt and debris.

7. DO use a mild, non-abrasive commercial window cleaning solution

8. DO use a squeegee to remove all of the cleaning solution

9. DO dry all cleaning solution from window gaskets, sealants and frames

10. DO clean one small window and check to see if procedures have caused any damage

11. DO be aware of and follow the glass supplier’s specific cleaning recommendations

12. DO caution other trades against allowing other materials to contact the glass

13. DO watch for and prevent conditions that can damage the glass

14. DO read the entire GANA bulletin on glass cleaning before starting to clean glass

 

· The following are things to NOT do:

 

1. DO NOT start cleaning without reading the entire GANA bulletin on glass cleaning

2. DO NOT use scrapers of any size or type for cleaning glass

3. DO NOT allow dirt and residue to remain on glass for an extended period of time

4. DO NOT begin cleaning glass without knowing if a coated surface is exposed

5. DO NOT clean tinted or coated glass in direct sunlight

6. DO NOT allow water or cleaning residue to remain on the glass or adjacent materials

7. DO NOT begin cleaning without rinsing excessive dirt and debris

8. DO NOT use abrasive cleaning solutions or materials

9. DO NOT allow metal parts of cleaning equipment to contact glass

10. DO NOT trap abrasive particles between the cleaning materials and the glass surface

11. DO NOT allow other trades to lean tools or materials against the glass surface

12. DO NOT allow splashed materials to dry on the glass surface