Glass Cleaning Tips
Cleaning glass or plexiglass for photographic art is a different task than cleaning a window.
There's two areas of note. The first is to use a product made specifically for glass. The second is to use the right technique.
When picking out a cleaner avoid ammonia. This is so important it's worth paying more to avoid it as ammonia is caustic. In laymans terms this means it destroys anything it comes in contact with, such as your artwork. No matter how well one cleans a piece of glass surface some chemicals will remain on it. Most ammonia-free cleaners advertise they are ammonia free. If a specific cleaner does not say either way then be safe and avoid using it.
Avoid multi-purpose cleaners as well. Don't use a cleaner meant for the bathroom on a piece of glass. Use glass cleaner. If your art is not framed with glass, if it's a form of plastic such as plexiglass, make sure it's a cleaner for the specific type of plastic, not glass, metal, wood, tile, or any other surface. If the appropriate plastic-specific cleaner is not available use a small amount of dish detergent mixed with hot water, such as a teaspoon or two for an average spray bottle.
Once you have the glass removed take this chance to lightly wipe off the inside of the frame. Remove any loose splinters or pieces of dirt you find. This helps keep the glass clean when you return the glass to the frame.
When it comes to the actual cleaning the easiest method is a two-step process. For glass, First clean the surface with any normal paper towel and your cleaner to be clean and dry and free of as much dust and oil as possible. Work at this step as long as it takes. Be aware that some high quality anti-glare glass can appear slightly foggy, as if it's dirty, when looking through it. After the surface is dry take a clean cloth and buff the glass to remove any steaks or fibers left behind by the paper. You can use the same cloth to return the glass to the frame. A high thread count cloth, such as a microfiber cloth, is best for this step. With plexiglass Never clean plexiglass or acrylic with a dry cloth as the surface can be softer than glass and the dirt may be rubbed into the surface. Make sure it is clean before buffing.
The final step is important to maintain the cleanliness. Professionally framed art is often sealed with paper on the back. A thick piece of paper the size of the back of the frame, glued around the edges keeps dust from coming back in through the edges. Use a non-runny glue, such as avoid rubber cement, to avoid dripping glue onto the artwork or mat.