If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’re in the warm summer months, that time of the year where you get the most time and enjoyment out of your pool. However, instead of relaxing with a cool drink, unfortunately you’re dealing with glass streaks.

Caused by pool splashes, sun screen marks, chemical deposits, pollen, or even animal poo, these stains can be a scourge on what should otherwise be pristine glass pool fencing.

Relax, take a breath—we’re here to help. Here are some tips and tricks on how to clean your pool fence.

What Do I Need to Clean a Glass Fence?

Cleaning pool glass is very simple and doesn’t require any fancy or expensive chemical cleaners. In fact, most of what you need is already in your home. 

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

• Sponge/mop/or soft-brushed broom
• Bucket
• General cleaner/dishwashing liquid
• Garden hose
• A squeegee 
• (Optional) Microfibre cloth,  a non-scratching cleaning pad, or some newspaper
• (Optional) Spray bottle with a mixture that’s 50% water and 50% vinegar

Sometimes, the best way to clean something is also the simplest way.

Best Way to Clean Glass Pool Fence

Before you read our guide, here are some basic tips to know.

Firstly, make sure when you’re following these steps you do them on both sides of the glass to make sure you get an even clean.

Secondly, and most importantly, the best time for cleaning pool glass is during the morning, sunset, or during a cool, overcast day. This is because if it’s too hot or there’s too much direct sunlight, the cleaning solution will dry out before you have a chance to rinse it off, leaving you with more streaks than when you started. Plus, cleaning when it’s cooler means you won’t overheat while you clean.

Here is our guide for cleaning your glass pool fence:

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and add a gentle general cleaner or dishwashing detergent. Mix until you have a nice soapy mixture. Set aside nearby. 
2. Spray the glass with your garden hose. This will loosen any large dust and dirt particles. If you have a spray nozzle attached to your hose, the shower setting can be helpful for wetting the glass quickly, but CAUTION—don’t use any high pressure settings, as this can scratch the glass.
3. Wipe down the glass with the warm soapy mixture in your bucket. You can use a sponge or microfibre cloth to apply it, but you can also use a mop or a soft-brushed broom. These last two are effective as the long handle means you’ll have an easier time sudsing a large area without having to crouch down and getting to hard-to-reach areas where plant pots or chairs might be blocking your access. (Don’t forget to wipe the sides of the glass and the metal ground spigots/frame holding up the grass.)
4. Rinse off the soap with your hose. Most, if not all, of the stains and streaks should be removed from your glass at this point.
5. If there are any stubborn spots, you can give them some close attention by spraying them with a half-water-half-vineger mix, and then wiping them down with a microfibre cloth, non scratching cleaning pad, or newspaper—then rinse.
6. If you live in an area with soft water you can allow the glass to air dry. However, if you’re in a location that has hard water, or you’re concerned about water stains, you can use a squeegee to thoroughly wipe the water off the glass.
7. You’re done! Now just sit back, make yourself a well-earned cold drink, and marvel at your sparkly clean pool glass.

How to Clean the Rails in Glass Pool Fencing

Unless you have a frameless glass pool fence, you likely have aluminum/marine-grade steel posts or frames rods holding your glass together. These can accumulate grime and marks as well, but not to worry, they’re very simple to clean. You can either use warm water and soap, or the water-vinegar mixture mentioned above, and wipe with a sponge or non-scratching cleaning pad. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water afterwards.

What Causes Streaks on Pool Glass?

If you have a salt-water pool or live close to the ocean, your glass panes will likely build up regular grime through salt stains. Regularly rinsing off the glass fence with a garden hose is the most effective way to rinse off any particles and prevent them from building up. Unless you want to move house or change the type of water in your pool, you’ll just have to accept that you’ll need to maintain your glass panes a bit more regularly, but that’s okay. The shining glass is well worth it. 

Best Way to Maintain Pool Glass

Now that you know how to keep your glass clean, here are some tips on how to keep it from getting dirty in the first place.

Regular Spraying: After your family, friends, or yourself have had a jump in the pool, get in the habit of spraying down your glass fence with your garden hose. You don’t have to use any soap or squeegies, just good old fashioned running water. This will wash all the splash stains and chlorine marks off the glass.

Remove Animal Dung: While it’s lovely seeing birds perch in our garden, it’s less lovely when they poo on our glass. Make sure to wash off any animal droppings from your glass as soon as you see it, as they can corrode the glass if left for too long.

Protective Coatings: There are protective coatings you can buy that keep glass clean for longer. A popular product is Enduroshield. It’s an invisible film that creates a hydrophobic layer that repels water from the glass. It minimises all kinds of chemical and grime buildups,and basically cuts down on any heavy duty cleaning you need to do with soap as all you need to do is hose it down with water. 

Conclusion

The biggest reason glass panes get dirty is because they’re installed too close to the edge of the pool and get splashed whenever someone jumps in. If you’re ever in need of pool installers, we’re your team, as we have years of experience installing glass fencing for all kinds of pools. Give us a call and let’s talk.