After 25 years of cleaning glass professionally, I can tell you that not all glass is the same. The way it is made, what coatings are applied, and how it is treated during manufacturing all affect how it looks, how it performs, and how you should clean it.

Here is a practical guide to the types of glass you are most likely to encounter in homes and commercial buildings, and what each one means for care and maintenance.

Float Glass: Where It All Starts

Float glass is the foundation. It is produced by floating molten glass on a bed of molten tin, which creates a flat, clear, distortion-free surface. Most other glass types start as float glass and are then modified.

You will find float glass in standard windows, glass shelving, tabletops, and picture frames. It is the baseline: affordable, versatile, and straightforward to clean with standard techniques.

One thing to know: float glass is not safety rated. If it breaks, it shatters into large, sharp shards. For that reason, building codes restrict where it can be used, and in most structural applications it has been replaced by tempered or laminated alternatives.

Laminated Glass: Safety That Holds Together

Laminated glass is two or more layers of glass bonded together with a plastic interlayer, usually polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). When it breaks, the interlayer holds the fragments in place instead of scattering shards.

This is the glass you find in car windshields, skylights, storefront windows, and overhead glazing. Anywhere that broken glass falling would be dangerous.

From a cleaning perspective, laminated glass behaves like standard glass on the surface. The main thing to watch for is delamination around the edges, where moisture can work its way between the layers over time. If you see clouding or bubbles at the edges, that is a sign the seal is failing, and no amount of cleaning will fix it.

Tempered Glass: Strength Through Heat

Tempered glass is made by heating float glass to around 620 degrees Celsius and then rapidly cooling it. This process creates internal tension that makes the glass four to five times stronger than standard float glass.

The key feature: when tempered glass breaks, it shatters into small, rounded fragments instead of dangerous shards. That is why you find it in shower enclosures, glass doors, glass railings, and any application where impact resistance and safety matter.

Cleaning tempered glass is straightforward. It is tough and scratch-resistant under normal conditions. The one thing I tell my clients: avoid abrasive pads or harsh chemicals on tempered glass. The surface may be strong, but the edges (where the glass was cut before tempering) are more vulnerable.

Low-E Glass: The Energy Saver

Low-emissivity glass has a thin metallic coating that reflects heat. In winter, it keeps warmth inside. In summer, it blocks solar heat from entering. It is standard in modern windows and facades across Vienna, where energy efficiency requirements are strict.

Here is what matters for cleaning: the Low-E coating is usually on the inside surface of a double-pane unit (surface 2 or 3), where you cannot touch it. But some single-pane applications or retrofit films put the coating on an exposed surface.

If the coating is exposed, avoid ammonia-based cleaners and abrasive tools. They can damage the metallic layer. A soft microfiber cloth with a mild cleaning solution is the safe approach. When in doubt, check with the manufacturer.

Tinted Glass: Built-In Sun Control

Tinted glass gets its color during manufacturing by adding metal oxides to the glass mix. Common tints include bronze, gray, green, and blue. Each reduces solar heat gain and glare to different degrees.

You see tinted glass in commercial buildings, sunrooms, and anywhere that excessive sunlight is a problem. It filters light without needing blinds or external shading.

Cleaning tinted glass follows the same principles as clear glass. The tint is not a surface coating, it is part of the glass itself, so you cannot scratch it off or damage it with standard cleaning products. The main consideration is that tinted glass can absorb more heat than clear glass, which means cleaning in direct sunlight can cause the solution to evaporate too quickly and leave streaks. Clean tinted glass when it is in shade.

Patterned and Textured Glass: Privacy With Light

Patterned glass has a design or texture pressed into one or both surfaces during manufacturing. It lets light through while obscuring the view, making it popular for bathroom windows, room dividers, and decorative panels.

Cleaning textured glass is where technique matters most. The texture traps dirt in its grooves, and a standard squeegee pass will not reach into those recesses. I use a soft-bristled brush with cleaning solution to work into the pattern, then follow with a microfiber cloth rather than a squeegee.

The deeper the pattern, the more attention it needs. Some heavily textured glass collects grime that only comes out with soaking and gentle scrubbing.

Wired Glass: The Fire-Rated Classic

Wired glass has a wire mesh embedded inside it during manufacturing. When it breaks, the wire holds the fragments together, maintaining a barrier even after impact. It was traditionally used in fire-rated doors, windows, and partitions.

Wired glass is being phased out in many applications in favour of modern fire-rated alternatives, but you still find it in older buildings across Vienna. The wire mesh can make cleaning slightly more challenging: the texture around the wire catches dirt, and you need to pay attention to the edges where the wire meets the glass surface.

A soft scrubber and gentle technique work best. Avoid high-pressure cleaning, which can force water into the edge seals.

Knowing Your Glass Matters

Every type of glass has its own properties, its own vulnerabilities, and its own cleaning requirements. Using the wrong product or technique on coated glass can cause real damage. Using the right approach keeps it performing and looking its best for decades.

If you are not sure what type of glass you have in your home or building, I am happy to take a look. Get in touch and I can identify it and recommend the right care approach.