How to Clean Glass Stains
Glass stains come in many forms and there are as many glass cleaning solutions as there are glass stains. Besides commercial glass cleaner available in most grocery stores, a number of homemade glass stain removal methods exist. The cleaning method often depends on the type of stain. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Cloth
- Newspaper
- Lemon juice
- Detergent
- Alcohol
- Tea
- Ammonia
- Petroleum jelly
- Razor blades
Instructions
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Cut surface grease with white vinegar for an economical stain solution. Purchase white vinegar in gallon jugs at the grocery store for a nominal amount and put in old, rinsed spray bottle for cleaning light glass stains and dirt residue. Use with a lint free cloth or even better, a sheet of newspaper to remove stains and give clean glass a high sheen.
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Mix lemon juice with water and put in spray bottle as an alternative to vinegar spray. If you have lemons in the house rather than vinegar, a mixture of half lemon juice (fresh squeezed if possible) and half tap water makes a viable alternative. The lemon juice cuts through surface residue and removes grease stains from glass.
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3
Clean water stains from glass shower doors using discarded newspapers. Simply dip the scrunched up newsprint into water and apply to the stains in a vigorous motion. Follow up with a dry piece of newsprint to finish the job.
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Dip small glass objects in a mixture of warm water and a few drops of liquid detergent in the kitchen sink. Wipe with a soft cloth and rinse in cold water for a sparkling finish.
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5
Apply rubbing alcohol to a dry, lint-free rag and use to rub makeup grease stains from mirrors. Small circular motions break up the oils in the makeup. Repeat with a clean cloth dipped in alcohol until the stain is removed.
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Steep 10 to 15 tea bags in cold water for 20 minutes to create a cold tea solution for glass stains. Remove the tea bags before placing the tea solution in a spray bottle. Wipe off with newspaper or lint free cloth.
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Combine approximately 2 cups of rubbing alcohol with 1/2 cup of ammonia and add to warm water to create a gallon of glass cleaning solution. Ammonia is a pungent but economical cleaning agent but should be used with care. Read label directions.
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Remove cloudy surface stains with petroleum jelly. Smear the jelly over the stain and leave in place overnight. Wipe off the next morning for clear glass.
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Consider a clean, sharp razor blade for the toughest of glass stains as a last resort. The edge of a razor blade scraped carefully across the surface of glass can remove difficult stains. Follow up with a spray solution like those mentioned above to finish the job.
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Tips & Warnings
Make cleaning solutions in bulk to save time during future cleanings.
Always use extreme care when handling razor blades. This solution is only for adults wearing protective gloves.
