Keep Your Glass Clean

We have windows and glass walls installed because we like being able to see what is on the other side. It’s undeniable that few things are more beautiful that floor-to-floor windows looking out onto a cityscape or a mountain view. 

Unless, of course, those windows are covered in dirt. 

Glass windows, whether on a home, car, or office, are often exposed to a lot of filth, and after a while, it starts to build up. We’re here to give you some advice on how to keep your glass windows cleaner for longer, and with very little effort.

If there happens to be a lot of loose dirt or dust on your windows, take a portable vacuum cleaner to the glass. This will get rid of a lot of the build up instantly, and will make the job easier when you start spraying cleaning product on the windows. 

Once you’ve vacuumed up any loose dirt, it’s time to wash the glass itself. While using store bought product may seem like the easy thing to do, these solutions can contain harsh chemicals that could damage your glass. Plus, they get expensive after a while. You can make a simple and effective cleaning solution with products you already have at home. 

Create a homemade cleaning solution of 90% water and 10% vinegar. That’s all! Spray the surface of the glass lightly in, then using a clean cloth, wipe the dirty area until clean. Spray the solution in small areas at a time to avoid a mess. Once the glass is rid of dirt, rinse the windows with water and dry with a clean, lint-free cloth. 

For best results, start at the top of the glass and wipe the windows from side to side while drying them, working your way down. An up and down motion is more likely to cause streaking and leave water spots.  

Before you run off to clean every glass surface in sight, keep in mind there are a few things you should NEVER do when cleaning glass windows. Despite what you may have read in the past, you shouldn’t use abrasive scrubbing brushes, putty knives or razor blades to remove dirt. If you do, you run risk scratching and chipping the glass, and you don’t want to turn a routine cleaning job into an expensive replacement job. 

Also keep in mind the product you’re using. If you buy a cleaning product from the store, make sure the solution isn’t petroleum based or have too many chemicals, as these could damage the surface and seal of the glass.  

With a little maintenance and care for your windows, cleaning them won't take more than a couple of minutes, and they'll stay sparkling. 

 

Fight the Freeze: How to Prevent Ice Buildup on Your Windows

Most Colorado dwellers who have spent a winter in the area know what waking up on a frozen morning is like. Sitting in your car for 20 minutes while defrosting the windows or not being able to see your front yard due to ice can be more than frustrating. While we don’t have a magical cure for keeping the snow away, we DO have some steps you can take to prevent ice buildup on your car and home’s windows. 

The best way to prevent ice from building up on your windows is pretty obvious: cover them up. If you have the option, keep your car warm in the garage, or close the shutters over the windows on your home. If you can’t do either of these things, don’t fret.

There are plenty of “de-icing” products for windows and glass that you can buy in the store. They typically involve spraying the areas each night you want to keep frost-free. While it may seem easy and guaranteed buying products from the store, this method can become expensive quickly, and the formulas aren’t always guaranteed to work. 

If you can't see out the window....

Lucky for you, there are safe, homemade recipes that you can make to de-ice your windows. And trust us, these work! To prevent as much icing as possible on your windows, simply mix 3 parts vinegar and 1 part in water in a spray bottle (you can pick them up at the dollar store). Apply to all windows each night before you go to sleep. 

If the ice buildup becomes too thick, take the next step. While the right ice scraper can be a miracle tool, they (like store bought spray solutions) can get expensive fast, and you still need to put in quite a bit of elbow grease to get rid of the ice. Why not pair your preventative homemade solution with one to actually get rid of ice too?

Here are two recipes that are helpful for removing ice:

Mix one part water with two parts rubbing alcohol. Apply to the window and watch the ice slip right off.

OR

You can also use a salt-based solution to de-ice your windows. For your home, mix together a saltwater solution in a bucket. Dip a sponge in the mixture, wash the inside of your windows with it, then rub them dry with a towel. For your car, dampen a small cloth bag and fill it with salt. Rub the car’s windows with the salt cloth to keep ice from forming and building up on the glass. 

Let us know if these tips work for you! Send us comments of your homemade de-icing solutions here!