Glass tabletops have been a stylish design choice for decades. Glass tabletops are both functional and decorative, and they add elegance and brightness to any room. A glass tabletop shows dust and fingerprints if not cleaned often, but the time it takes to polish the surface each day will not add much effort to the average cleaning routine.

If you have considered adding glass tabletops to your home, read this blog to learn more about how to choose and care for your glass tabletops.

In small dining rooms, glass tabletops make it possible to have adequate dining space without visually taking over the room. A solid wood table blocks light, but a glass tabletop allows light to flow through and does not block the view of the room. Glass also allows people to see a beautiful floor or a colorful area rug.

Glass tabletops also work wonderfully as protective layers for the surface of a wood table. The use of glass enables people to appreciate the beauty, glow, and grain of the wood without the worry of scratches or stains. Families who forget to use coasters or who spill often can preserve their expensive tables without hiding them under a tablecloth.

If you choose to use a glass tabletop over a wood table, be sure to use plastic bumpers between the glass and wood to prevent scratches. The bumpers also help to keep the sheet of glass in place.

When you clean the tables, you need to prevent streaks and avoid scratches. Any commercial glass cleaning product that works successfully on windows will work equally well for this purpose. Use only distilled water, rather than tap water, with homemade cleaning solutions because tap water can cause streaks.

Brush off the surface gently to remove any solid matter that could scratch if wiped across the glass. Dampen any dried food or other items stuck to the surface before washing. Allow the water or cleaning fluid to soak in and soften the material, so it is easy to remove. Aggressive cleaning or using an abrasive scrubber could leave marks.

Wash with a soft cloth that does not shed lint rather than paper towels that could cause streaks. Microfiber cloths work well, but a soft cotton or linen towel is also acceptable. Do not use anything with an embroidered design or rough texture that could leave scratches.

Check the bottom of the glass to see if any spots remain. The underside of tables can have handprints, nose prints from dogs, and dust that prevent a flawless finish.

Only use glass made for tabletops because it is thicker than the glass made for most windows or mirrors. Manufacturers design these surfaces to withstand the weight of what people normally place on a table. The glass should have polished edges, as well as beveled or rounded edges to prevent any chance of injury.

Some tables have tempered glass for extra security. Tempered glass usually looks the same as traditional glass but has undergone a process that uses heat or chemicals to compress the outer surfaces for more durability. It is possible to break tempered glass, but rather than shards the glass breaks into less dangerous pebbles.

A glass tabletop can rejuvenate an old table base or make a room look more modern. Anyone that wants elegance in their home or prefers clean and streamlined interior decor should consider accenting with glass tabletops. At Monterey Glass Specialists Inc. , we can create the ideal surface for any table in your home. Contact us to learn more about the options available.