Things You Should Never Clean With Windex
I’m going to admit upfront that I’m a big Windex girl. It’s cheap, it’s always available, and it’s easy to spray everything from mirrors (okay!) to countertops (not ok!) for a quick wipe down. It turns out, however, that you really shouldn’t use a specialty glass cleaner for everything, as it can cause serious damage to certain surfaces. Here’s what you really should avoid spraying.
plexiglass
It’s amazing, but you can’t use Windex on plexiglass, so if you have any piece of art framed with some kind of decoration made from it, put a bottle on it. According to Reader’s Digest , some Windex products contain ammonia, which will degrade the material. You can use the ammonia-free version, but you need to make sure you have it. Buy it here for about $4 .
Flimsy shower doors
Reader’s Digest also warns against using Windex on shower doors that are full of suds. Windex just doesn’t beat it well. The good news is that you can just use regular old dish soap or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove scale . Completely prevent scale build-up by keeping a dishwashing sponge filled with dish soap in the shower and using it to clean the interior every time you rinse the tub yourself. Once your shower doors are clear of dirt, you can use Windex, but you probably won’t even have to.
TV screens
Windex is not suitable for cleaning the TV screen (and the screen of any technical device). According to CNET , this can easily damage the screen because modern TVs have a special coating and they will be worn down by something too strong. Dilute dish soap in water and use a microfiber cloth. Here’s our complete guide to safe TV cleaning that doesn’t include Windex , unless you have an old TV with a plain glass screen.
Granite countertops
Porous countertop materials such as granite and marble should not be cleaned with Windex or other harsh products. They are fragile, although they seem so strong . Harsh chemicals can seep into the pores and stain or even destroy the top coat of the sealant. Again, you should use dish soap diluted in water, or even a paste of baking soda and water if you need to remove large stains. If your sealant has already broken (whether due to Windex or not), you can repair it, which you should do every four years or so.
Unsealed wood
According to Apartment Therapy , Windex works well in small doses on hardwood surfaces, but they must have thick finishes and sealants. If you have a regular unvarnished shelf or table, Windex can actually stain it, which is counterproductive. Stick with soap and water.
Automotive glass
According to Glass Doctor , don’t risk your car glass with Windex. Ammonia is too likely to get in, and it’s not good for your paint, which it can destroy. It’s also harder to get a streak-free clean with a regular glass cleaner than with a specialty car cleaner, but it’s not worth the risk either way.