Tex
True Grumbler
At the risk of sounding like a numbskull, is there an accepted, without question, best method for cleaning glass? 
Cleaning Glass
- Thread starter Tex
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MIK
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Don't think so....
I spray the window cleaner on a clean cloth, wipe the glass with it then wipe dry with another clean cloth. Flip and repeat then wipe the edges again.
I spray the window cleaner on a clean cloth, wipe the glass with it then wipe dry with another clean cloth. Flip and repeat then wipe the edges again.
same.
but I don't do much glass cleaning; I wear cotton gloves whenever I handle glass. Any dust I just blow away.
but I don't do much glass cleaning; I wear cotton gloves whenever I handle glass. Any dust I just blow away.
Yup.
Apply liquid, non-ammonia cleaner to a soft cotton or microfiber cloth; not to the glass directly.
Rub the damp cloth with some pressure on the surface of the glass until it is clean all over; this is more than a quick wipe.
Turn the cloth to a dry section and buff to remove all traces of streaks or watermarks.
Apply liquid, non-ammonia cleaner to a soft cotton or microfiber cloth; not to the glass directly.
Rub the damp cloth with some pressure on the surface of the glass until it is clean all over; this is more than a quick wipe.
Turn the cloth to a dry section and buff to remove all traces of streaks or watermarks.
framah
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
...or spray the cleaner on the piece of glass and wipe thoroughly and then finish wiping with a drier towel and your done. What's up with spraying onto the cloth but not on the glass? Is the glass so sensitive that it will be offended if you spray directly onto it?
Spray onto the wipe and sneak up carefully to the glass so as to not frighten it and cause it to freak out and break. When you wipe it, do so gently so it feels safe and knows you are a friend and you mean it no harm.
The idea of only spraying onto the wipe is nonsense, pure and simple.
Even when I'm cleaning the second side of the glass and it is sitting on the art package, all I do is spritz into the middle of the glass and wipe the middle out to the edges and along the edges and then wipe dry and I'm done. The help I have had over the years were taught by me to do it that way and they had no problems, either.
It's how I was taught and since i've been doing it for over 16 years, and seeing as how it works just fine, I think I'll keep doing it my way.
The only time i spray onto the wipe is if the glass is already in the frame.
Spray onto the wipe and sneak up carefully to the glass so as to not frighten it and cause it to freak out and break. When you wipe it, do so gently so it feels safe and knows you are a friend and you mean it no harm.
The idea of only spraying onto the wipe is nonsense, pure and simple.
Even when I'm cleaning the second side of the glass and it is sitting on the art package, all I do is spritz into the middle of the glass and wipe the middle out to the edges and along the edges and then wipe dry and I'm done. The help I have had over the years were taught by me to do it that way and they had no problems, either.
It's how I was taught and since i've been doing it for over 16 years, and seeing as how it works just fine, I think I'll keep doing it my way.
The only time i spray onto the wipe is if the glass is already in the frame.
Bob Doyle
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Ahh Ralph, obviously you haven't gotten distracted while cleaning glass 
"Oh look this watercolor/paste must have museum glass on it" spritz spritz, oops look no glass! Guess I just bought a watercolor/pastel.....
There's also the fear that w are going to supersaturate the glass and then water/moisture will hydroscopically get drawn to the matboard and destroy the mat and you'll have to start all over.
Also I have had prints with no mat. when washing the glass it slips and scrapes off the top layer of the print. You know, the part our unlearned customers call "the picture" as in WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE PICTURE!!!!!
"Oh look this watercolor/paste must have museum glass on it" spritz spritz, oops look no glass! Guess I just bought a watercolor/pastel..... There's also the fear that w are going to supersaturate the glass and then water/moisture will hydroscopically get drawn to the matboard and destroy the mat and you'll have to start all over.
Also I have had prints with no mat. when washing the glass it slips and scrapes off the top layer of the print. You know, the part our unlearned customers call "the picture" as in WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE PICTURE!!!!!
The question was this:
The best answer is not this:
It may be acceptable when the glass is on the table, but not when it is in the frame. We advise consumers not to spray the glass directly.
The best answer is not this:
It may be acceptable when the glass is on the table, but not when it is in the frame. We advise consumers not to spray the glass directly.
MIK
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I just got into the habit of spraying the cloth so I don't get anything else wet. Plus after cleaning several pieces of glass (which I always do to remove any leftover oil from the oil glass cutter) your cloth is damp enough to clean several more pieces of glass without applying any more glass cleaner.
framah
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
I like how we can ask a simple question about cleaning glass and still manage to disagree about it.
Love this place!!
I Bob, I take my glass cleaning seriously!! I wait until there is no one around and with single minded purpose, go about the sacred ritual of removing offensive schmutz.
Sometimes incense and candles are used, as well.
Love this place!!
I Bob, I take my glass cleaning seriously!! I wait until there is no one around and with single minded purpose, go about the sacred ritual of removing offensive schmutz.
Sometimes incense and candles are used, as well.
You also chant I hope??? 
Greg Fremstad
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Try this: On a piece of black mat board, apply a grid of clear bumpons about 4 inches on centers over the entire board. Use this surface to clean your glass on.
Any smutz or schmears will show up nicely. The bumpons keep the glass from sliding around. Clean the 2nd side really good as it will be towards the art in the frame.
Put the mat board away when you're not cleaning glass to keep the dust off.
It's always a good idea to swipe (with a whetstone or smoot river rock) all 8 sharp edges of the glass to help keep the glass from shaving bits of wood, paint, or leaf off the rabbet. (This is where most of the dust comes from while fitting the frame) It also is safer to handle and you can certainly clean it faster, especially around the edges. It takes about 15 seconds to swipe a 16 x 20. I'll bet that you will save more time than it takes if you have to open a frame to get the dust out.
Any smutz or schmears will show up nicely. The bumpons keep the glass from sliding around. Clean the 2nd side really good as it will be towards the art in the frame.
Put the mat board away when you're not cleaning glass to keep the dust off.
It's always a good idea to swipe (with a whetstone or smoot river rock) all 8 sharp edges of the glass to help keep the glass from shaving bits of wood, paint, or leaf off the rabbet. (This is where most of the dust comes from while fitting the frame) It also is safer to handle and you can certainly clean it faster, especially around the edges. It takes about 15 seconds to swipe a 16 x 20. I'll bet that you will save more time than it takes if you have to open a frame to get the dust out.
Candy
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Thank you all for a good laugh this a.m. And on that note I will be off to work!!!
LOL
LOL
Tex
True Grumbler
Glass Cleaning Guru
Thanks to all for the good suggestions. They went hand in hand with the good humor.
I wonder though if one of those hepa room air filters, or something of that order, help to keep down the thingees that float around and tend to land on the glass just before you look at it one last time before buttoning it up, and finding it afterwards.
Thanks to all for the good suggestions. They went hand in hand with the good humor.
I wonder though if one of those hepa room air filters, or something of that order, help to keep down the thingees that float around and tend to land on the glass just before you look at it one last time before buttoning it up, and finding it afterwards.
If I were you I'd forget the filter.
A whole-room air filtration system big enough and efficient enough to capture all the paper dust in a frame shop, plus its maintenance, would certainly cost more than the labor to clean the glass. And even at that, dust could settle on your glass while it swims around the room, before it gets to the filter.
Check out Greg Fremstad's article about the "Dust Pump". FrameTek.com, I guess.
A whole-room air filtration system big enough and efficient enough to capture all the paper dust in a frame shop, plus its maintenance, would certainly cost more than the labor to clean the glass. And even at that, dust could settle on your glass while it swims around the room, before it gets to the filter.
Check out Greg Fremstad's article about the "Dust Pump". FrameTek.com, I guess.