Glass balustrades are used increasingly on apartment complexes and condominiums balconies, as well as on terraces of private houses. Nowadays, an unhindered view is important and privacy is less of a concern, which is why glass balustrades become more and more popular.As pool safety laws become stricter, glass balustrades are also found increasingly around swimming pools. Glass balustrades around the pool prevent children from drowning and other accidents that could happen next or inside of the pool.

Glass Balustrades

Glass Balustrades

While glass balustrades have many advantages compared to railings made out of different materials, glass railings do need regular cleaning to stay as clean and sparkling as possible. Glass balustrades don’t need much maintenance but keeping clear glass clean can definitely be a challenge if you don’t know how to clean it right. In this article, you can read about everything you need to know to maintain and clean your glass balustrade.

Types of glass balustrades

The most common type of glass balustrades consists of either clear glass panels or frosted glass panels supported by brackets or base shoes made out of wood, concrete or steel.

The glass panels used in glass railings are usually about 12 by 12 inches big and four to six inches thick. Frameless glass balustrades are most popular and don’t have balustrades to keep the view unhindered. Frosted and clear glass can almost be cleaned in the same way, but when the frosted glass gets very dirty, it is helpful to use a slightly different technique.

Glass Balustrades

Glass Balustrades

Cleaning glass balustrades

Glass railings have many advantages and simply look great. But they can get dirty very easily and do need regular cleaning to stay nice and spotless. Water spots from rain or pool water, bird droppings, dust streaks or grease from outdoor cooking can make glass balustrades look smudged and dirty.

  1. Step 1 : To clean glass balustrades is really easy. First, you don’t necessarily need commercial glass cleaner because some of them always leave residue behind on the glass and make it hard to clean it right. The best way to actually clean both frosted and clear glass panels is by using dishwasher soap and warm water. Just fill up a bucket with warm water and add a few squirts of liquid soap. Another popular method to clean glass railings is by using vinegar. If you want to clean your glass panels with this option, just add a little undiluted white vinegar to the water instead of dishwasher soap.
  2. Step 2: Use a clean sponge and wash the glass with the cleaning solution. If you have frosted glass balustrades that are very dirty, you can also use an abrasive sponge but you have to use it carefully. If using an abrasive sponge, gently go over the glass in circular movements until the dirt is gone. For clear glass railings, you should definitely use a softer sponge.
  3. Step 3: After cleaning the glass balustrade, use warm water to rinse it off. You can just let it air dry and remove the remaining dirt after with a lint-free clean cloth or an old T-shirt or.
Cleaning Glass Balustrades

Cleaning Glass Balustrades

Tip

To prevent your glass balustrade from getting too dirty you should clean rainwater immediately after the rain has stopped using a shower squeegee. You will still need to clean your glass panels once in a while but it will make the time in between your cleanings a little longer.

Check brackets and support

It is very important that you check the brackets and support structures on your glass balustrades once a month. The brackets are usually made out of aluminum which is why they usually can’t rust unless they are made out of a different material. But brackets can loosen over time which is why you should sometimes gently wiggle them to make sure they safe and tight. If you have a glass railing with a wooden frame you should definitely examine the wood for rot or mold.  However, to clean and maintain glass balustrades is really easy and doesn’t take much time or effort.