Glass curtains are cleaned with warm water and neutral soap or an ammonia-free glass cleaner, and on the coast it pays to rinse off salt every 4-6 weeks. Twenty minutes a month keeps them spotless for decades.
The trick is rotating the panels: as they swing inwards, you clean both faces of the glass from your own terrace, without risk or ladders.
The 4-step routine
- Rotate the panels inwards to reach both faces.
- Apply warm water with neutral soap or ammonia-free glass cleaner.
- Squeegee from top to bottom.
- Dry frames and hardware with a microfibre cloth.
Salt: the only real enemy
Salt mist leaves a film that, if left for months, bonds to the glass and dulls the shine. On the seafront, rinse with fresh water every 4-6 weeks even without a full clean. If salt has already bonded, use white vinegar diluted 1:4 and rinse well; avoid strong acids.
What never to use
- Metal or abrasive scourers: they scratch toughened glass.
- Pure ammonia, acid cleaners or solvents: they damage gaskets and anodising.
- Pressure washers on the tracks: they force water into the rollers.
- Cleaning in full sun: it leaves drying marks.
Yearly hardware care
Once a year, vacuum the bottom tracks, remove grit and apply a drop of dry lubricant (silicone or PTFE) to rollers and locks. If a panel starts to roll stiffly, that is the sign this routine is due.
Panels rolling badly or glass gone dull?
We offer inspection and tune-up of glass curtains, including systems we did not install.
See glass curtainsFrequently asked questions
How often should I clean on the seafront?+
A quick fresh-water rinse every 4-6 weeks and a full clean monthly or bimonthly. Away from the sea, quarterly is enough.
Do window-cleaning robots work?+
They work on the flat faces, but they do not replace cleaning tracks and hardware, which is what keeps the system sliding well.
Does toughened glass scratch easily?+
No more than normal glass, but an abrasive scourer will scratch it all the same. Microfibre and a squeegee are enough.