This Posted Was Updated in June of 2022
“Stained Glass, Engraved Glass, Frosted Glass; Give me Plain Glass.” – John Fowles
Frosted glass and normal glass are obviously very different, but some of those differences aren’t as apparent as others. Normal glass has a shine to it that makes it crystal clear and flat. You can see right through it. Frosted glass, on the other hand, has a frosted effect on it that lets light through, but you can’t clearly see through it. You can likely make out vague shapes, especially if there’s a light on behind the frosted glass, but you won’t be able to make out any details. This makes it ideal for bathroom windows, office doors, and other instances where you would like some natural light but also need privacy.
One of the differences between a clear glass window and a frosted glass window is how you clean it. The cleaning processes can be very similar, but they’re not identical. The fact that frosted glass has pitted surfaces that give it the frosted look is the reason why cleaning it can be more of a challenge. Because of this, you may need a different method for cleaning any frosted glass in your home or office. The following list of tips and guidelines will help you learn to properly clean frosted glass without damaging it.
How Frosted Glass is Made
Before getting into cleaning it, it helps to know how frosted glass was made. This process is what sets it apart from standard glass. All frosted glass starts out as a sheet of clear glass. It is then put through a process involving acid etching or sandblasting. This process covers the entire surface of the glass with small pits or indentions. Only one side of the glass is done with this process. Once it’s finished, the glass takes on a frosted look because light hits the small pits and is scattered. That blurs the image of whatever is on the other side while still allowing some light to pass through.
How do you clean this type of glass? From the inside, you can use standard glass cleaners. This side of the glass wasn’t sandblasted or etched with acid, so it’s the same as a normal glass pane. In some cases, it may be very easy to tell which side of the glass is frosted. However, if you’re not sure, treat both sides as if they were the etched surface. This way, you’ll be sure to use the correct cleaning process.
Before You Start, Get a Pair of Gloves
You should always wear gloves when you are cleaning any type of glass. This is partially because of the chemicals in your glass cleaner. The types of products you use can be harmful to your hands or skin, so it’s best to be safe. Should you have an accident and break the glass, the gloves will also help protect your hands from being cut.
It’s also beneficial to wear gloves to keep your fingerprints off. It can be extremely annoying to find a little fingerprint on glass that you’ve just cleaned. These fingerprints can be avoided by wearing gloves.
What type of gloves should you use? It really doesn’t matter too much as far as protection goes. A pair of rubber dish gloves will work. Just be sure you can hold on to your glassware while cleaning it. If the gloves don’t allow for that, you may want to consider buying a different pair. You may also want to clean your glasses and other fragile items over the sink. You can put a soft towel in the bottom of the sink to cushion the glass if you accidentally drop it. Using the sink also keeps any glass shards contained if you do drop the item and it shatters.
Find the Right Glass Cleaner
There are a lot of glass cleaners out there, but for frosted glass, you should use one that is ammonia-based. Some popular brands are Sprayway 707 and Safelite. Spray the pane of dirty glass with the cleaner and gently wipe it off using a micro-fiber towel. Wipe in circular motions, not vertical or horizontal ones.
While you can use paper towels or other clothes, micro-fiber is the best option because it won’t scratch. If you don’t have any micro-fiber towels, your best bet is to use newspaper instead of other types of fabric. Many people used newspaper before micro-fiber was widely available and had crystal clear windows, glass tabletops, and even champaign flutes and other pieces of glassware.
Should You Use an Abrasive Sponge?
Many people are hesitant to use anything abrasive on glass because they’re afraid it will scratch or otherwise damage the surface. This is true with frosted glass. While you can use abrasive sponges, they shouldn’t be your first option. Abrasive sponges should only be used if your paper towels, micro-fiber towels, or newspapers aren’t giving you the desired results. If you have something sticky on the window, getting it off could require one of these sponges.
When using an abrasive sponge, you will want to use a firm amount of pressure. However, you need to be careful and not press too hard. You can do some unnecessary damage if you are going too fast and applying too much pressure. Also be careful if your glass has any sort of wood surface or wood surroundings. You can seriously damage wood with an abrasive sponge, and that could cost you a lot of money to repair.
Try Emery Paper Instead of a Sponge
Emery paper is a type of abrasive paper similar to sandpaper. It can be used to remove material from surfaces or mechanically finish a surface. Many people use it for things such as deburring, polishing, paint removal, corrosion removal, and sizing. Emery paper can also be used to help remove metal marks from frosted glassware.
Metal marks and scratches can slowly cause more damage over time if you don’t deal with them. To remove the metal marks, you’ll want to get what is called wet-and-dry emery paper. You’ll want to use emery paper that is similar in coarseness to your glass. If the paper is too rough, it can scratch up the glass. If it’s too smooth, however, it may also cause some damage. . Take a finger and run it along both the glass and the emery paper. They should feel very similar.Wet the paper. Then use circular movements to clean off the metal marks. If some marks don’t appear to be rubbing off, don’t apply much extra pressure. Simply keep rubbing in a circular motion. Eventually, the streaks will begin rubbing away. Be sure you rub the paper into the pits around the streaks to get any marks off that may be difficult to see. Once you’ve removed all the metal marks, give the entire surface of the frosted glass a good cleaning so the glass is completely spotless.
Now Use Your Window Cleaner
Now it’s time to make your windows sparkle and shine! After you’ve gotten your frosted glass to the level of cleanliness you desire, you can spray it with a window cleaner. Any household window cleaner will work if it’s ammonia based, so you don’t need to worry about finding a special frosted glass spray or other product. Spray it down, then polish it off nicely with a lint-free cloth. This is going to give it that finishing crystal clear sparkle without leaving any residue on your cleaned glass.
It’s Not Too Difficult
These are the most relevant tips for cleaning your frosted glass windows, shower doors, wine glasses, and other items. The main things to remember are to always use your gloves and use a good glass cleaner. A micro-fiber towel is a great investment, too, not just for your house glassware but your cars as well. They really protect against scratches. Don’t use too much pressure, especially on fragile stemware. If you simply want to remove fingerprints and smudges, you don’t need to press that hard. If there’s a scratch, you may need to apply a little pressure.
All in all, cleaning frosted glass doesn’t have to be a daunting adventure. Frosted glass cleaning is all about getting into those pits and getting it as spotless as possible. There’s no real best glass cleaner brand for this type of glass. Again, just make sure it’s ammonia based. Other than that, you can use your favorite brand. You can use the same product for cleaning glass shower doors, windows, and glassware.
D&D Glassworks Can Help You Replace Old Frosted Glass
Cleaning your dirty glass windows can make them look brand new, but it won’t fix cracks or scratches. If you need glass replacement, D&D Glassworks can help you find the perfect new windows or doors for your home. We also offer glass shower enclosures, mirrors, and other glassworks. We offer brands such as Simonton Windows that are known for creating products that look great and last for years.
If you’re ready to replace some of your older windows, reach out to us today at 707-536-9183 to learn more about the process and to discuss your options.