How to Clean Your Glass Table Tops

When you saw the glass table tops in the store or catalog, they were so beautifully clean and streak-free that you had to make a purchase. But then you brought the table home and after a few days accepted the fact that keeping glass tops clean is not as easy as you thought. Or is it?

Many people turn to glass table tops for many reasons -- their classy look, their capability of lightening up a room by reflecting light and offering an alternative to dark wood, and their protective durability. While some glass tables just consist of a glass surface, other designs involve glass tops that protect a wood table that lies beneath. Wood is highly susceptible to damage from scratches and dents from common, everyday items -- from plates and silverware in the kitchen to paperclips and wire-bound notebooks in the office. For that reason, many homeowners and businesspersons alike turn to glass to protect their investment. A conference table glass top can defend large executive desks against sustaining damage. However, if you're a busy executive with not a lot of cleaning experience or simply someone who's never owned a glass table before, here is all you need to know about keeping your table tops clean.

Cleaners For Glass Table Tops

Windex or other brands of glass cleaners are probably the first idea for cleaning glass that comes to mind. Many of these glass cleaners use ammonia to cut through dirt. However, some sprays marketed as "multi-surface" (including glass) contain vinegar, a natural cleanser. In fact, many people swear by a simple household recipe to clean glass tops -- water, rubbing alcohol, and white distilled vinegar. Since you may have all of these ingredients around your house, you can mix your own by combining 1-cup of water, 1-cup of alcohol, and 1-tablespoon of vinegar in an empty spray bottle. You may never buy glass cleaner again!

Of course the first step to clean the glass is to remove all food particles with a dry, soft cloth or sponge. Then, with a glass cleaner or a mixture of water, vinegar and alcohol, generously spray the surface. While paper towels, as the simplest solution seems to be to clean the surface, this may strip. Instead, try using a cloth, microfiber cloth, or even wadded up newspaper. This method should provide more than one anti-surface track and make your>conference table glass top give off the streamlined, professional image your company is known for.

Consider Going Green When You Clean

If you love the idea of cleaning your glass, but want to do it with minimal impact on the environment, consider any of the newer natural, "green" cleansers on the market. Many of these glass and surface cleaners use plant-derived natural cleansers like corn-based ethanol (alcohol) or coconut-based cleansers. Many of them also contain vinegar.

If you want to be sure you're cleaning with earth-friendly materials, spring for one of these natural solutions for the plant and mineral-based, biodegradable ingredients. But if you're looking to get clean glass table tops with minimal effort, look no further than your medicine cabinet and pantry for rubbing alcohol and vinegar. They'll have your glass coffee table or conference table glass top smudge-free and shining in no time!