Frosted glass adds a beautiful, classic touch to any establishment. It increases privacy without compromising the light that enters a space. It also keeps the indoor temperature consistent in summer or winter, making it an energy-efficient choice.
It’s no wonder many homeowners are choosing to equip their homes with frosted glass instead of regular glass.
That said, cleaning frosted glass can differ from cleaning typical glass windows. This is because the pitted texture of the frosted glass needs a gentler touch. Otherwise, you risk scratching or damaging its surface.
What are the best ways to clean frosted glass? Are there products you should avoid using when polishing the glass? We’ll answer those questions and more in this article, so keep reading!
Things You Should Know Before You Clean Frosted Glass
Pristine windows make good impressions—everyone can agree on that. But before getting into the cleaning aspect, it’s important to know how frosted glass is made so you can understand why it needs proper care.
Frosted glass starts as a clear sheet of glass. A pitted surface is created on one side of the glass pane through sandblasting or acid etching. This scatters the light that passes through the glass, making it look opaque. It also blurs visibility on one side while still being able to transmit light from the other side.
Although this type of glass looks low maintenance, it still needs frequent cleaning to ensure you maintain its quality and avoid dirt or smudges from building up. Frosted glass can get stained by calcium, hard water, or lime deposits, which leads to fingerprint smudges and white spots. So, you might need more than one cleaning tool or solution to get the job done.
Here are some simple tips you can follow before cleaning frosted glass:
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals
If you want to use glass cleaners, ensure that they don’t contain harsh chemicals or materials, such as abrasive powders, steel wool, or rough cleaning pads. These can corrode the frosting film and ruin the surface of your windows.
Consider using ammonia or alkaline-based glass cleaners instead. Ammonia evaporates faster than other cleaning chemicals, making it less likely to leave behind dust particles or streaks. Alkaline is your next best bet if ammonia-based glass cleaners aren’t available.
Related article: The Best Way to Clean Windows in 3 Easy Steps
- Consider Adding Waterproof Layers
Frosted glass windows tend to get stained by water elements more often due to the fact that they’re usually installed in bathrooms. So, consider adding a waterproof layer and using a waterproof spray to ensure water won’t remain on the glass.
What’s even better is that you don’t need to wipe the glass when you spray it. If you do want to wipe the excess solution off, ensure that you’re using a high-quality cloth to avoid abrasions.
Gather Your Equipment
It’s important to note that there are different ways of cleaning frosted glass, and this will depend on where the glass is installed.
The first step is to gather all the materials you need before you start, including:
How to Clean Frosted Glass Windows
Different types of grime can accumulate on the surface of the glass, and each of these will require specific methods of cleaning. For instance, if you are removing dust from the surface, consider using a soft sponge with clean water to prep the glass for cleaning.
There are many window cleaners available for use. It’s up to you which brand you choose, but make sure you steer clear of harsh chemicals. Additionally, avoid using cleaners that have a citrus base, no matter how nice they smell. These types of cleaners don’t do well in terms of clearing up smudges.
Step 1: Spray your windows with your chosen glass cleaner.
Step 2: Wipe them with a paper towel, not a normal towel. This is done for two reasons: 1) you’ll end up with a cleaner window without risking scratches, and 2) normal towels leave lint behind. The fibres will be difficult to remove from the patterned surface of the window. So, ball up a couple, and rub the window in circular motions to avoid streaks.
Step 3: Once done, dry the surface using a microfibre cloth to remove any excess residue.
How to Clean Frosted Glass Shower Doors
Because shower doors have a larger surface area than windows, they are harder to clean in one go.
Step 1: Start by spraying a small square section of your door (two by two feet is a good measurement to start with). Sectioning your cleaning routine will help you clear the entire shower door before the glass cleaner dries. Start from the top, using your stool, and work your way down.
Step 2: Just like when cleaning frosted glass windows, ball up paper towels or old newspapers and scrub the damp surface. Remember to scrub in circular motions to avoid streaky.
Step 3: The next step is to rinse the surface with water to get rid of the excess dirt and grime.
Step 4: If you still find stains after the frosted glass door dries, clean them with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water in a bowl, and add a dash of dishwashing liquid or vinegar to the solution.
Step 5: Then, apply the mixture to the shower door using a sponge or towel, but don’t scrub it off just yet. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before using the paper towel trick to loosen the grime build-up. Then, rinse the surface with water.
Step 6: If you’re still unsatisfied, spray the shower door with glass cleaner again. Repeat the process until the stains have been removed. A word of caution though, be careful not to use too much vinegar. Otherwise, you risk scratching the surface of your frosted shower door.
Find the Best Windows and Doors for Your Home at Clera
Now that you know how to clean frosted glass, it’s time to elevate your home with these timeless fixtures!
After having successfully transformed over 250,000+ homes over the past 45 years, Clera Windows + Doors guarantees clients only the best craftsmanship at affordable rates. We can fully customize your new frosted glass window and doors, as well as offer reliable support that continues after a successful installation.
Contact our expert team today to learn more!
