Get to know the different types of glass cleaners that differ in their composition to ensure you’re using the right type on a particular glass surface for the best results.
Glass cleaning holds a lot more importance than you might initially think. From maintaining the efficiency of the windows to the integrity of the glass, glass cleaning plays a major role. You may think that simple dusting or wiping is enough to have clean windows, but in reality, to make sure the windows are actually clean, the cleaning process tends to be a bit more time-consuming.
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The Importance of Glass Cleaning
Most of the people like to have their windows and glass table-tops neat and tidy, but the process of cleaning them is something that does not seem very appealing. However, when you get to know about the numerous reasons why glass cleaning is considered super-important, you may change your approach.
In today’s era, the majority of the population is switching to energy-efficient windows. Getting old windows replaced with energy-efficient windows is a major investment. Did you know that if you don’t clean your windows from all the dust and dirt that settles on the glass, the efficiency of these windows gets reduced? If you have energy-efficient windows installed, you need to be extra vigilant about cleaning these windows.
Not many people are aware of the fact that glass is a porous material. If it is not cleaned properly, particles of dust and dirt and microorganisms can accumulate in these pores. With this, the glass becomes cloudy, weak, and can shatter a lot more easily. If you want your windows and any other piece of furniture that has glass incorporated in it to last for a long time, you need to make sure that you clean the glass regularly.
Smoke from cooking, smoking, and burning the fireplace gets deposited on the glass that not only gives the glass a dirty appearance but also leaves your house smelling unpleasant.
Above all, clean glass (in windows and furniture) adds to the visual appeal of your house. Unclean glass is a turn-off, no matter how clean the rest of your home is.
What Is a Glass Cleaner?
A glass cleaner is a specialty cleaner that is intended to be used on glass surfaces. It can cut through tough stains like grease, dirt, grime, and smudges on different glass surfaces.
Types of Glass Cleaners
Now that you know how important glass cleaning is, let’s move onto the types of glass cleaners that are available today. Since, each type of glass has a different composition, the type of glass cleaner used should be suitable for the glass that is to be cleaned.
Primarily, there are a few basic types of glass cleaners, based on their composition. These are:
- Ammonia-Based Glass Cleaners
- Non-Ammonia Based Glass Cleaners
- IPA-Based Glass Cleaners
- Cleaning Agents Based Liquids
- Foam Glass Cleaner
1. Ammonia-Based Glass Cleaners
Most of the glass cleaners available today, like Windex, contain ammonia. It is a powerful cleaning agent that can break down stains that are caused by grime, grease, or animal fats. Also, it evaporates rapidly, which makes sure that no streaks appear after the glass surface is cleaned.
Ammonia-based cleaners work great for cleaning sinks, tubs, tiles, toilets, kitchen countertops, and glass surfaces. Ammonia-based glass cleaners are low-cost and give incredible results.
2. Non-Ammonia Based Glass Cleaners
Non-ammonia based glass cleaners or ammonia-free glass cleaners are also available in the market. You may wonder why anyone would opt for a non-ammonia based glass cleaner considering the incredible cleaning properties of ammonia. Well, we have a pretty good explanation.
Ammonia is not suitable for glass surfaces that have tints or any other kind of coating. Ammonia can cause the coating to peel or scratch, killing the purpose of the coat. In addition, if you are using an ammonia-based glass cleaner for car windows and the windshield, the fumes can accumulate in the closed space of the car, which is extremely harmful to the health of the passengers and the driver.
3. IPA-Based Glass Cleaners
IPA-based glass cleaners are one of the most common types of window cleaners used today. They are based on the ingredient, isopropyl alcohol. These types of glass cleaners can clean a variety of stains and substrates.
The numerous benefits of IPA-based glass cleaners make them incredibly common and one of the most efficient types of glass cleaners. A major benefit of these cleaning products is that their use is not limited to just glass. They are also used as multi-surface cleaners that can be safely used on plastics. They dry out fast and leave behind no residue. IPA-based cleaners reduce the wear on a surface, and since this type is water-soluble, it can be diluted in water.
4. Cleaning Agents Based Liquids
Cleaning agent-based glass cleaners are similar to soap in composition. These glass cleaners are water-based. They contain emulsifiers, surfactants, and a carrier. What makes them different is the final formulation that is made to work specifically on glass surfaces.
They are cheaper in cost as compared to IPA-based glass cleaners. Unlike IPA-based glass cleaners, cleaning agent-based liquids do not dry rapidly, which allows you to clean any glass surface slowly and even leave the liquid on the surface for some time. However, cleaning agent-based glass cleaners leave behind residue. To make sure that the cleaning is thorough, you have to wipe the glass surface quite well.
5. Foam Glass Cleaner
A foam glass cleaner consists of a pressurized cleaning liquid enclosed in an aerosol can or aerosol spray. This type of glass cleaner has a number of benefits over the more common types of glass cleaners.
When the foam is sprayed over a glass surface, foam, having a great adhesive force, sticks to the surface to be cleaned, which ensures a more sparkling and thorough glass cleaning. Moreover, since the foam has a creeping characteristic, the use of a foam glass cleaner allows you to clean corners of surfaces where you might not be able to reach otherwise.
Foam glass cleaners can be wiped using a microfiber cloth (MF). Microfiber has a greater drying capacity as compared to usual fabrics.
A foam glass cleaner is an excellent option for windows, windshields, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. Foaming removes dirt and grease effectively and delivers a streak-free shine. Foam glass cleaners like Sprayway are gaining popularity in the market today due to their ease of use and the sparkling results that these products give.
