Bulletproof Glass Care and Cleaning

Cleaning and sanitizing your bulletproof glass barriers protects your investments and keeps them well-maintained. However, our bulletproof glass products can be made up of many different materials, some of which are sensitive to commercial cleaning products. Unknowing employees may assume they can clean bullet-resistant barriers like any other glass, but these surfaces require different cleaning solutions. 

To keep them from being damaged, make sure your team knows how to clean bulletproof glass with the best products and process. In this article, we’ll outline how to safely clean bulletproof glass. 

Safe Cleaning Products for Bulletproof Glass

Common household and commercial cleaning products like Windex and Clorox are not safe to use on bulletproof glass that’s made of thermoplastics like monolithic acrylic or laminated polycarbonate. All acrylic and polycarbonate materials have microscopic fractures in them, but they are not visible to the naked eye and don’t affect the overall structure. When products like ammonia or bleach come in contact with these fractures, the surface begins to craze, and small cracks can spread across the surface.

To prevent crazing, avoid any strong solvents such as acetone, lacquer thinner, carbon tetrachloride, MEK, chlorinated solvents, or other scouring compounds. Warm water with mild soap works best to clean the glass surface. To disinfect, use diluted hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol.

Additionally, paper towels, scrub brushes, or brooms could all leave scratches that mar the surface of your bulletproof glass. Soft, lint-free cloth, chamois, or microfiber cloths are safe to clean and sanitize the surfaces.

How to Clean Bulletproof Glass

We recommend downloading our cleaning and sanitizing guidelines, and informing your cleaning crew of proper bulletproof glass care. It’s an important process to include in orientations and onboarding for new team members to ensure bulletproof glass care isn’t overlooked if there are staffing turnovers.  
To properly clean and care for bulletproof glass, follow these steps:

1. Gently dust with a soft lint-free cloth.
2. Wash with a solution of warm water and mild soap or detergent using a soft cloth or natural sponge. Keep the sponge sopping wet while you wash. 
3. Blot dry with clean soft cloth.

• If you need to remove grease, use hexane, kerosene, or naphtha, not aromatic compounds like benzene.
• Surface scratches can be buffed out of acrylic by hand.
• Polish acrylic or polycarbonate with quality commercial wax. This will fill minor scratches, safely restoring the original smooth surface.

• Windex or Clorox
• Paper towels, scrub brushes, or brooms
• Scouring compounds or abrasive cloth

The Ballistic Experts at Total Security Solutions are Here to Help