Is Cleaning Your Outdoor Glass Furniture Different From Your Indoor Glass Furniture?

Despite its possible breakability, glass-topped outdoor furniture is a low-headache material. There's no need to paint it or coat it in waterproofing or other sealants. Besides covering it up during the off-season, the only thing you need to do to outdoor glass furniture is clean it. Good old glass cleaner and a paper towel or microfiber glass cleaning cloth should tackle dirty tabletops, both indoors and out.

Many of the same types of glass are used for both indoor and outdoor furniture, and there are lots of commonalities when it comes to how to clean them. The trouble is, outdoor furniture is exposed to a different level of dirt than what indoor-dwelling glass furniture would. There definitely are special tricks for how to clean outdoor furniture, but a lot of the basics for glass furniture remain the same.

As long as you clean outdoor furniture frequently, the products and techniques for treating indoor and outdoor glass furniture are essentially the same. However, what "frequently" means for you might depend on where you've placed your furniture and what kind of environment you live in. If your area experiences lots of dusty wind, extreme sun, or regular precipitation, "frequently" could be every two or three days. And the need might change throughout the season, as well. Because of these variables, you might get away with biweekly wipe downs, or you could need to tighten the routine up to once or twice a week.

As long as the grime isn't set in, a good dose of window cleaner and a wipe with a paper towel or microfiber rag should suffice for glass touch ups. Commercial window cleaners are great, but even better is a 1-1 ratio of white vinegar to water. DIY vinegar cleaning solutions mixed up in reusable containers save money and resources, and usually contain fewer disconcerting ingredients.

But let's be honest with ourselves: Summer is an extremely busy time, and outdoor furniture maintenance might not be among our top priorities. By the time your evening BBQ get together arrives, the grime level is likely to be beyond the powers of spray and wipe. When a thick layer of grossness accumulates, it's time to bring in a bit more power. But it needs to be gentle power. First, be really generous with the glass cleaner, and let it soak on the surface for a minute or two. This high concentration of solution should get the cleaning process going before you have to move up to the next level of intensity.

The temptation to scrub the living heck out of the tabletop is hard to ignore. Yet, using abrasive materials on your glass is an outdoor furniture cleaning mistake to avoid at all costs. Stick with soft cloths or sponges without scrubbing pads, and mix up a concoction of hot water and just enough mild dish soap to work up some suds. Gently wash all of the furniture's surfaces — even the parts that aren't glass — with these materials, rinse it thoroughly, and let it dry in the sun.