Glass Cleaning: The Ultimate Guide

Glass surfaces get dirty super quickly. And I get a lot of questions about how to clean glass. And what I get asked about most are windows, glass stove tops, and shower doors. I’ve written about some of this before, but I still get asked about this subject a lot. So here is my ultimate guide to cleaning glass. Today we’re learning: 

• How To Clean A Glass Stove Top
• How To Clean Glass Shower Doors
• How To Clean Windows

Plus, I’m going to share my DIY glass cleaner recipes with you! Welcome to the wonderful world of glass cleaning. It’s like stepping into Mr. Wonka’s chocolate factory, except without the candy and with a lot more microfiber cloths and spray bottles. 

How To Clean A Glass Stove Top

Cleaning your glass stove top is important to prevent scratching and chipping and maintain its “health,” if you will. You don’t need much to clean a glass stove top effectively. Simply grab a non-scratch sponge, a bowl of hot water, microfiber cloths, paper towels, baking soda, and rubber gloves. 

Luckily, Maker’s Clean has microfiber cloths specifically designed for glass cleaning: our Glass & Electronics Flat-Weave Microfiber Cloths. They’re specially made to clean and buff delicate surfaces like glass stove tops, TV screens, and more. A lot of microfiber cloths are terry weaves, which can scratch the surface of glass or mirrors. So I highly recommend using a microfiber cloth made specifically for glass cleaning. 

To start, make sure your stove top is fully cool, then sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over your stove top. Then, wet your microfiber cloths, so they are damp, not dripping, and lay them down flat over the whole stove top. You want to use pretty hot water, so protect your hands by wearing dish gloves. The hot water activates the baking soda and loosens grease and stains. Let this sit for fifteen minutes. 

After fifteen minutes, remove the wet microfiber cloths. Use one cloth to wipe the stove top, working in an “S” pattern. When you have cleaned as much of the stove top as possible with your microfiber cloth, switch to your sponge. Only use the scrubby side of the sponge, not the abrasive side, and work on any stubborn stains that are left. 

If you encounter any really tough stains that won’t come off, add some extra baking soda and moisture and let sit for longer. Then, take a plastic tool, like a spatula, and scrape the offending spot off. Never use a metal tool for this as it can damage your stove. 

Finally, when all the dirt and grime is removed, take a clean and dry microfiber cloth and use it to buff your glass stove top until it’s shining like new!

How To Clean Glass Shower Doors 

So many people ask me how to clean glass shower doors! And luckily for those of us that have them, it’s not hard at all. Grab some vinegar and add it to a spray bottle. You’ll also want a squeegee, a microfiber cloth, and a non-scratch sponge. 

Vinegar is the perfect shower cleaner, and for glass shower doors, you don’t even have to dilute it. Spray some vinegar on your shower doors. You can do this generously. And let this sit for about ten minutes to work its magic on soap scum before you tackle your shower doors.

After ten minutes, grab your non-scratch sponge and start scrubbing. Work from top to bottom and left to right, like in an “S” pattern until soap scum is gone. Then, you’ll need to rinse with hot water. A removal shower head is a great tool for this, but if you don’t have one, use a container to douse your shower doors. 

Finally, pretend you’re at a car wash and grab that squeegee! Squeegee your doors squeaky clean to avoid streaks. And follow with your microfiber cloth to buff. Sometimes it helps if you listen to “Workin’ at the Car Wash, Ya!” But I digress. If you want more info on how to clean your showers and tubs, read my article How to Clean A Bathtub & Shower Like A Pro!

How To Clean Windows 

The most-asked glass cleaning question I get is probably, “Hey Melissa, how should I clean my windows?!” There are actually a lot of different parts and types of windows (think window sills, second-story windows, etc.) If you want the full rundown, check out my article How To Clean Interior and Exterior Windows. But for the basics on how to clean window glass, keep reading. 

All you need to clean windows is a spray bottle, water, vinegar, and a microfiber cloth. Add one cup of water and one cup of vinegar to your spray bottle and shake to mix. Next, I spray the window down with my cleaning solution. Using my microfiber cloth, I work in an “S” pattern until the window is clean. Follow these instructions, and your window will be shining and streak-free in seconds. 

Glass Cleaning The Easy Way

Glass surfaces can get dirty quickly. Smudgy fingerprints, scummy soap residue, and greasy food stains show instantly on any kind of glass surface. But having simple DIY glass cleaning recipes, glass cleaning tools, and glass cleaning techniques in your back pocket means that the glass surfaces in your home can look their best quickly and easily. 

What surfaces do you find yourself cleaning over and over? And have you tried these easy glass cleaning hacks? Leave us a comment below to share your glass cleaning headaches and experiences.