As an enticing asset for any home, leadlight glass benefits from rich colours and pretty designs. Whether you have an olden-day leadlight door with historic value or you want to treat something newer, you need to know how to clean it. Before you do so, it's worth understanding the techniques you need to use and how to avoid causing damage.

Use pH-neutral soaps

Traditional cleaning soaps and sprays are likely to cause damage to your leadlight glass. Because of this, you need a mild soap with a neutral pH. Many modern-day cleaners feature a lot of ammonia, which causes the colours on leadlight glass to fade. In contrast, pH-neutral soap will break apart grease and lift away dirt without destroying the design. 

Try cotton buds

Over time, deposits of dirt and limescale may gather around the lead portion of your glass. This is more likely to happen in areas of high rainfall, as the rain running down the glass causes deposits to pool and solidify. If you clean your glass regularly, you should find that the deposits aren't too tough to tackle. To dislodge them, dampen a cotton bud and run it around the lead. 

Grab a soft rag

Contrary to popular belief, diamonds aren't the only substance that can damage glass. If you use wire wool, a brush or anything else that's tough, you may introduce small scratches to the surface. Those scratches won't be immediately visible, but over time, they can cause corrosion, Because of this, it's advisable to use a soft rag whenever you're cleaning leadlight glass. If you're cleaning large areas, make sure you use a fresh rag every so often to avoid dragging particles of debris along the glass's surface.

If in doubt, don't clean

When you're unsure as to whether it's okay for you to clean your leadlight doors or windows, call on a team of experts. Although it's safe to tackle most panes of leadlight glass yourself, older installations may require expert treatment. If you do call on a professional, you can always ask them for some glass cleaning tips that you can use in the future.

Finally, if your glass looks damaged as a result of years without cleaning, you may need a leadlight door restoration service. Using specialist techniques and materials, those who perform leadlight glass repairs can restore your panels to their former glory. After they're finished, don't forget to ask for some maintenance tips to make the work last.