The cleaning tips your glazier actually uses. What to use, what to avoid, and the 30-second daily habit that keeps glass looking new for decades.
It sounds counterintuitive, but commercial glass cleaners are the worst thing you can use on architectural glass. Most glass cleaners contain ammonia, and ammonia attacks the silver backing on mirrors, causing a defect known as edge creep — a dark, cloudy deterioration that spreads inward from the edges and cannot be reversed.
On splashbacks and shower screens, ammonia-based cleaners leave a film that builds up over time, dulling the surface and making it harder to clean with each application. At Harbour Glass, we’ve seen brand-new installations damaged within months by well-meaning homeowners using off-the-shelf glass cleaner.
The solution is simple, cheap, and more effective than anything you’ll find in the supermarket cleaning aisle:
Mix 50% methylated spirits with 50% water in a spray bottle. Apply to the glass surface and wipe with a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth. That’s it. This solution cuts through grease, soap scum and water marks without leaving residue or damaging coatings.
For shower screens specifically, the single most effective habit you can adopt is squeegeeing the glass after every use. Thirty seconds with a squeegee prevents the mineral deposits that cause hard water staining — the kind that requires professional intervention to remove once it’s set in.
Transparent Polymer Coatings (TPC) and similar surface protectors create an invisible hydrophobic layer on your glass. Water beads and rolls off rather than sitting on the surface, which significantly reduces mineral buildup and makes routine cleaning faster.
However, surface protectors are not a substitute for regular maintenance. They slow the buildup — they don’t stop it entirely. A coated shower screen still needs a quick squeegee after each use, and occasional cleaning with the 50/50 methylated spirits solution.
We offer TPC application on all new shower screen installations. If you’d like to add a coating to an existing installation, get in touch and we’ll advise on the best option for your glass type.
The glass gets most of the attention, but your hinges, clamps, handles and channels deserve equal care. Most shower screen and pool fence hardware is finished with a protective lacquer coating over the base metal — chrome, brushed nickel, matte black or satin. That lacquer is what keeps the finish looking sharp and prevents corrosion.
Wipe hardware dry after each use. Standing water — especially in coastal areas like the Coffs Coast where salt content is higher — accelerates corrosion and can penetrate lacquer seals over time.
Once a week, wipe all hardware with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a small amount of mild soap (standard dishwashing liquid is fine). Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
“Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, or bleach-based products on hardware. They strip the lacquer coating, and once that coating is compromised, the underlying metal is exposed to moisture and corrosion. The damage is permanent.”
— Harbour Glass team
A short list of products and methods that will damage your glass or hardware:
| Product / Method | Why It’s Harmful |
|---|---|
| Commercial glass cleaners (Windex, etc.) | Ammonia damages mirror backing and leaves film on glass |
| Abrasive creams (Jif/Cif) | Micro-scratches the glass surface permanently |
| Steel wool or scouring pads | Scratches glass and strips lacquer from hardware |
| Bleach-based cleaners | Corrodes hardware finishes and degrades silicone seals |
| Razor blades or scrapers | Scratches toughened glass — damage is irreversible |
Pin this to the fridge. Five habits that will keep your glass and hardware in pristine condition for years:
| Frequency | Task |
|---|---|
| After every shower | Squeegee glass panels and wipe hardware dry |
| Weekly | Clean glass with 50/50 methylated spirits & water solution |
| Weekly | Wipe hardware with mild soap, rinse and dry |
| Monthly | Check silicone seals for any gaps or lifting |
| Annually | Inspect hardware screws and fixings for tightness |
Following these steps doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes per day, and it’s the difference between glass that looks brand new at ten years old and glass that needs replacing at five. If you have questions about caring for a specific product or finish, the team at Harbour Glass is always happy to help — contact us or call (02) 6652 9669.
