How to Clean Stained Glass Windows

One of the most beautiful and revered forms of window glass, stained glass has existed since the 4th century and continues to be made to this day. Today,  most stained glass is created for city architecture, but some people still choose to have stained glass windows in their home. 

If you have purchased a property with a stained glass window, or if you’ve decided to have one fitted as a feature piece, the team here at Scott & Sons are here to help by detailing exactly how to clean your stained glass window.

Find the right cleaning solution

The first thing that you need to do is find the perfect cleaning solution. The most important thing here is to find a solution that’s ammonia free. Many standard household window cleaning solutions are simply too aggressive to be used for cleaning stained glass, this is because they contain a substance called ammonium hydroxide that can damage the coloured elements.

Find the right cloth

Stained glass is precious, so it’s important to make sure that you’re not damaging the glass in the process of cleaning it. With this in mind, we would always recommend that you use a soft microfibre cloth to clean stained glass, rather than simply kitchen roll or, worse, newspaper. Microfibre cloths are easy to find too. If you can’t find one at your local supermarket, you should easily be able to find one online with ease.

Find the right balance of pressure

The problem with cleaning stained glass windows is finding the right pressure to use. Given that the cames that hold the glass together can contain lead, you don’t want to use too much pressure, as this could potentially remove the glass from its frame. However, at the same time, you want to make sure that you’re using enough pressure to actually remove any dirt and grime. This is especially important if the stained glass you’re cleaning hasn’t been cleaned in a very long time.

Protect the edges

It’s very easy for dirt and grime to build up where glass meets the came, which is why you want to pay special attention to these edge areas. The best way to clean them is gently coating a cotton earbud in your chosen cleaning solution and running it up and down the edge to remove any buildup of dirt.

What not to use

We would advise you to not ever use abrasive powders, metal tools, steel wool or scrubbing pad to clean the stained glass windows. Otherwise, you risk leaving scratches and you may cause serious damage to the glass surface. 

If you’re concerned about cleaning your stained glass windows, Scott & Sons can help. We offer an unrivalled window cleaning service and would be well equipped to give your stained glass windows the care and attention that they deserve. To find out more about our professional window cleaning services, please feel free to take a look around our website and don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’d like to arrange a clean.