# How to clean and look after glass curtains

> How to clean the glass, tracks and seals of your glass curtains: what to use, how often, what scratches the glass and when to call in a fitter.

## How do you clean glass curtains without scratching them?

To clean glass curtains you need only water with neutral soap, a soft cloth and a rubber squeegee, out of direct sun. The bottom track matters most: vacuum it before you wet anything. Never use blades, scourers or abrasives. For the profiles, Reynaers recommends care twice a year in rural areas and four times on the coast or in cities.

[Glass curtains](https://luneks.es/en/glass-curtains/) have one real advantage when it comes to cleaning: the panels turn as they stack, so you can reach both faces from the terrace itself without leaning out. Toughened glass is strong, but it scratches like any other pane if you rub it with sand on the surface or attack it with a metal tool, and a scratch in the middle of a panel catches your eye every day.

Over the years, almost all the wear in a glass curtain system happens in the tracks and the seals rather than the panes. A good routine therefore spends as much time on the bottom track as on the panes. A few minutes a month and one service a year are usually enough to keep the panels gliding and the seals closing tightly against wind and rain.

## What should you clean the panes with?

The insulating glass manufacturer Cardinal sums up the industry guidance in its [technical bulletin on cleaning glass](https://www.cardinalcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IG12-ES_08-2023.pdf): soak the surface with clean water and soap, remove the solution with a rubber squeegee or a cloth, and dry off any cleaner that runs onto seals and frames. It also advises testing on a small area first to make sure the product does no harm before you do a whole panel.

In practice, a bucket of warm water with a few drops of neutral soap, a sponge or microfibre applicator and a rubber squeegee leave the panes streak free. Work from top to bottom and finish the edges with a dry cloth. If your water is hard and leaves rings as it dries, a final rinse with demineralised water, the kind sold for steam irons, stops the white marks.

## What should you never use on glass curtains?

The Cardinal bulletin warns that scraping a pane with razor blades or other metal scrapers carries a high risk of irreparable damage, and states that its warranty does not cover those scratches. It also advises against cleaning tinted or coated glass in direct sunlight, letting water or cleaning solution dry on the surface, and using abrasive cleaners. Here is what to keep well away from your curtains:

If building dust, paint or cement will not come off with soap and water, do not reach for a blade. Soak the mark, give the water a few minutes to work and lift it off with a cloth or a plastic scraper. If it is still there, ask the fitter for help rather than risk a scratch across the middle of the panel, because a deep scratch has no simple fix.

- Razor blades, metal scrapers and spatulas
- Green scourers, steel wool and stiff brushes
- Scouring powders and abrasive creams
- Strong solvents on the seals or the aluminium coating
- A pressure washer aimed at seals and rollers
- Rubbing a dry pane that has dust or sand on it

## How do you clean glass curtain tracks?

The bottom track works harder than any other part and collects the most dirt: dust, leaves, pet hair and, near the sea, sand and salt. That dirt makes the rollers stumble, the panels drag and the seals wear out early. Keeping the track clean is the cheapest way to make sure the system keeps running smoothly for years and to put off replacing the rollers.

Vacuum first with a narrow nozzle, then run a damp cloth or a small brush along the bottom and through the drainage holes, and dry it off. Do not pour in cooking oil or smear on thick grease: both trap dust and turn into a paste that slows the rollers. If the system maker specifies a lubricant, use a little of it and only where it says. (to be confirmed)

## When should the seals and rollers be checked?

The seals and brushes between panels keep out air and water, and the rollers carry the weight of each panel. They are wearing parts that can be replaced without touching the glass. There are three clear signs it is time to check them: the panels squeak or stick, air or water gets in between them, or the rubber has gone hard, flattened or cracked.

A yearly service at the change of season lets a fitter adjust the panels and replace worn parts before they damage anything else. Our [seals and spare parts](https://luneks.es/en/seals-and-spare-parts/) page explains which parts are consumables and how they are swapped, and what is covered is set out on the [LUNEKS warranty](https://luneks.es/en/warranty/) page. (to be confirmed)

## How often should glass curtains be cleaned?

It depends on where you live. The aluminium systems maker Reynaers recommends using its care product on profiles and glass twice a year in rural settings and four times a year in aggressive environments such as the coast, industrial areas and city centres, as [Interempresas reported when its care manual came out](https://www.interempresas.net/Cerramientos_y_ventanas/312171-Reynaers-Aluminium-lanza-su-nuevo-manual-de-uso-cuidado-y-mantenimiento.html). For the panes, Cardinal's rule is simple: do not leave dirt sitting on them for long.

A sensible routine for a home in Alicante: the panes every month or two, the bottom track every time you do the panes, a rinse of the profiles with water every quarter if you live near the sea, and a fitter's check once a year. If your terrace is on the seafront, read our guide to [glass curtains by the sea](https://luneks.es/en/blog/glass-curtains-by-the-sea/) as well, which covers wind and salt.

## What gets cleaned, how often and with what?

A rough guide based on the [Cardinal bulletin](https://www.cardinalcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IG12-ES_08-2023.pdf) for the panes and the Reynaers recommendations for the profiles. On the seafront, shorten the intervals.

| Part | How often | With what | What to avoid |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panes | Every month or two | Water, neutral soap, rubber squeegee | Blades, abrasives, direct sun |
| Bottom track | Every time you clean the panes | Vacuum, damp cloth, small brush | Oil and thick grease |
| Aluminium profiles | Twice a year, four times on the coast | Water, neutral soap, soft cloth | Strong solvents, scourers |
| Seals and brushes | When you clean the track | Damp cloth | Pulling at them, pressure jets |
| Rollers and adjustment | Once a year | A fitter's service | Forcing a panel that sticks |

## How do you clean glass curtains in six steps?

1. **Pick your moment.** Clean early in the morning or at dusk, with no sun on the panes, so the water does not dry and leave marks.
2. **Vacuum the track.** Lift dust and sand out of the bottom track and drainage holes before you wet anything.
3. **Stack the panels.** Open the curtain and turn the panels, so you can reach both faces from the terrace.
4. **Wet and wash.** Warm water with a few drops of neutral soap and a sponge or soft applicator, working from the top down.
5. **Clear the water.** Draw the squeegee down in strips and dry the edges, seals and profiles with a microfibre cloth.
6. **Check the run.** Close the curtain and slide each panel. If one rubs or squeaks, make a note of it for the service.

> The mistake I see most is people cleaning the glass and forgetting the track. The panels sparkle, but the sand is still down there and every week they get a little harder to move. I always start with the track and the vacuum, and only then wet the panes.
>
> Mikhail, founder of LUNEKS

## What else do people ask about cleaning glass curtains?

### How do you clean glass curtains?

With warm water, a few drops of neutral soap, a soft sponge and a rubber squeegee, out of direct sun. Start by vacuuming the bottom track so you do not drag sand across the panes, stack the panels to reach both faces, and finish by drying the edges and seals with a microfibre cloth.

### Can I use an ordinary glass cleaner?

A mild, non abrasive glass cleaner is fine on the panes, but test it on a corner first and do not let it run onto the seals and profiles: wipe off anything that lands there straight away. Avoid products with abrasives and do not spray anything into the track, where it mixes with dust.

### How do I remove limescale or water marks from the panes?

Wet the area with warm soapy water, leave it for a few minutes and draw it off with the squeegee. For hard water rings, a final rinse with demineralised water helps. Do not rub it dry or use a scourer, because limescale dragged across the surface can scratch it. (to be confirmed)

### Should the tracks be greased?

Not with cooking oil or thick grease, because both trap dust and turn into a paste that slows the rollers. What matters most is a clean, dry track. If the system maker specifies a lubricant, apply a small amount and only at the points it names. (to be confirmed)

### Why have my panels become hard to move?

Nearly always because of dirt in the track or worn rollers and seals. Vacuum and clean the track; if the panels are still stiff or squeak afterwards, the bearings and adjustment need checking. Do not force them, as you could knock a panel out of line. Worn parts are replaced without removing any panes.

### How often should a fitter service the curtains?

Once a year is a sensible rhythm, and on the seafront it may be worth doing more often. The fitter adjusts the panels, checks rollers, seals and locks, and replaces worn parts before they damage the rest of the system. (to be confirmed)

## What should you read after this cleaning guide?

- [Glass curtains by the sea: wind, salt and maintenance](https://luneks.es/en/blog/glass-curtains-by-the-sea/): What changes on the seafront: wind pressure, salt in the tracks and the aluminium finish.
- [Glass curtains or insulated curtains: which keeps the heat in](https://luneks.es/en/blog/glass-curtains-vs-insulated/): How much heat single glass loses compared with double glazing, and when the upgrade pays off.
- [Enclosing a penthouse without building work](https://luneks.es/en/blog/enclose-penthouse-without-building-work/): How a penthouse is enclosed with curtains and roofs without major works, and what to check first.

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https://luneks.es/en/blog/clean-maintain-glass-curtains/