Canberra’s experts share their glass cleaning tips

Instructions on cleaning your quality glass screen

Glass cleaning and regular maintenance is essential to preserving the clarity and performance of your Mitchell Aluminium glass screens. Any deposits of dirt on your glass surfaces need to be removed promptly as, if ignored, it can lead to permanent damage to the glass surface.

Care and Maintenance

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Important information

Never use metal scrapers, blades, or steel wool on either surface of the glass

Do not allow water or cleaning fluids to remain in contact with the glass, frame, sealants, or gaskets for long periods

Do not use abrasive cleaning solutions or materials

Glass cleaning products we recommend

A solution of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts clean water

Windex® Multi-Surface Colourless Cleaner, manufactured by SC Johnson and Son Pty Ltd

Never use Windex blue coloured products

Glass cleaning instructions

Glass should only ever be cleaned when it is cool to the touch and should never be cleaned whilst in direct sunlight.

Completely drench the glass with clean water to loosen any residues, deposits, or dirt.

Spray one of the recommended cleaning products (mentioned above) onto the glass surface.

Immediately remove the cleaning solution with either a squeegee or a lint free cloth.

Any stubborn dirt should be lightly sponged off but you must be careful not to scratch the glass.

All traces of water and cleaning solution must be removed from the glass and window frames as well as any sealant or gaskets present. Failure to remove any residue may cause these components to deteriorate.

Instructions for cleaning G.James Solect and Optilight glass

The interior surface of G.James Solect and Optilight glass products feature an exposed metal-based coating which requires appropriate care when cleaning. While the recommended cleaning method is the same as other glass as described above, G.James Solect and Optlight glass need hand cleaning with a soft lint free cloth instead of a squeegee.

Spot cleaning stubborn dirt and residues

The aluminium cleaning required is really dependant on the severity of your local environment and the following time periods we have provided represent a guide only.

Rural and suburban environments: The maximum period between cleaning should never be more than 6 months.

Coastal, pool, and industrial environments: Your aluminium will need more frequent cleaning and we recommend a maximum between cleaning periods of no more than 3 months.

Extreme climates and conditions: Any aluminium facing severe conditions involving heavy grime deposition and atmospheric pollution must be cleaned at least once a month.

Procedure

Spot cleaning employs a simple, two-cloth method, where one cloth is used to break up the dirt and residue and a second cloth is used to remove the residue from the surface. Please see steps below.

Apply a small amount of acetone to a clean, slightly damp cloth.

Rub this cloth onto the affected area.

Use a second lint free cloth to remove the residues from the surface.

The entire surface should now be cleaned as per the regular cleaning procedure to eliminate streaking.

It is important that the frames, sealants, and gaskets are protected during spot cleaning as Acetone and other such solvents can cause irreversible degradation to these components.

Alternative solvent

If the spot cleaning procedure did not remove the residue, you can try applying a mild 1% hydrochloric acid solution to a clean cloth or the tip of a cotton bud. You must follow the manufacturer’s safety and handling instructions at all times.

Apply the solution in a circular motion on to the deposit area and rinse off thoroughly with water. Then re-clean the whole window as per the glass cleaning procedure above.

Frequency of glass cleaning

The glass cleaning required is really dependant on the severity of your local environment and the following time periods represent a guide only.

Rural and suburban environments: The maximum period between cleaning should never be more than 6 months.

Coastal, pool, and industrial environments: Your aluminium will need more frequent cleaning and we recommend a maximum between cleaning periods of no more than 3 months.

Extreme climates and conditions: Any aluminium facing severe conditions involving heavy grime deposition and atmospheric pollution must be cleaned at least once a month.