Prep first
Before you start
- Rinse a fresh splash with plenty of plain water.
- Wear goggles and gloves and work in fresh air when handling pool chemicals.
- Keep the glass out of hot or cold swings until it has been rinsed.
A chlorine or pool-water splash on glass is easiest to fix when you rinse it off before it has time to sit. Glass can take water and a cleaner with care, so it pays to test any new product on a small area first. If the mark has been there a while, the set-in section explains what changes.
If you're trying to remove chlorine stains from glass, reach for a hard-water remover and test it on a hidden spot first. Pool water stains on glasses wipe off best with a microfiber cloth and steady pressure. Stubborn marks on windows usually need a second, patient pass rather than harder scrubbing.
Before you start
What glass, windows & mirrors can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Plain waterFor the first rinse and every rinse after a cleaner.
- Mild soapThe wash for glass, used in warm water. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothKeeps the glass from scratching while you wipe. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic or nylon padThe only pad to use if you have to scour. (opens Amazon)
- 50/50 water and isopropyl alcohol mixThe mirror mix from the mirror step, sprayed onto the cloth. (opens Amazon)
- Non-abrasive cleaner for glass or tileFor heavy soil on glass tile and glassware. (opens Amazon)
- GogglesFor any step where you handle a pool chemical. (opens Amazon)
- Gloves (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Rinse the splash with plain water
Rinse a fresh splash with plenty of plain water before you reach for any product. Don't wait, since a splash that dries is harder to lift.
Careful. Never mix pool chemicals with each other or with any other product.
Step 2 of 7
Wash the glass with mild soap
Start with mild soap, warm water and a soft cloth. Wipe the whole pane or piece, not only the spot, then dry it with a clean cloth.
Tip. Wiping the whole surface keeps the cleaned area from looking different from the rest.
Step 3 of 7
Test any new cleaner first
If the soap doesn't lift the mark, pick the cleaner you plan to use and test it on a small, inconspicuous area first. Wipe and rinse the test spot, then check it before you go on.
Step 4 of 7
Use a damp cloth on mirrors
On mirrors, use only a damp cloth. Spray the cloth, not the mirror, and use the 50/50 water and isopropyl alcohol mix, which is recommended.
Careful. Don't use ammonia- or vinegar-based cleaners on mirrors, or spray cleaner directly on the mirror: they can damage the edges and backing.
Step 5 of 73 to 5 minutes
Dwell a cleaner on glass tile
For glass tile, sweep or vacuum loose dirt first. Apply a non-abrasive cleaner recommended for glass or tile, and let heavy soil dwell for 3 to 5 minutes per the product label.
Careful. Don't use scouring pads, steel wool or sandpaper on glass tile.
Step 6 of 7
Scrub glassware only with plastic or nylon
For drinking glasses and glass or ceramic dishware, use a non-abrasive cleanser on a soft cloth. If the mark needs scouring, use only a plastic or nylon pad.
Careful. Don't clean glass or ceramicware with metal or other hard objects.
Step 7 of 7
Rinse out every trace of cleaner
Rinse thoroughly with clean water after any cleaner you used. Bleach and alkaline cleaners may need several rinses, so keep going until no cleaner is left on the surface.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for chlorine on glass, windows & mirrors
Pick a non-abrasive cleaner labeled for glass or tile, and check that it doesn't contain fluorine compounds before you buy it.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on glass, windows & mirrors, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The mark is gone when the glass looks clear from a side angle and matches the rest of the pane. A cloudy patch that stays after a full rinse means cleaner is still on the glass, so rinse once more.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your glass, windows & mirrors
Pool water on glass and glasses
On drinking glasses, skip the mirror mix and use a non-abrasive cleanser on a soft cloth. If a mark is stubborn, scour only with a plastic or nylon pad, never a metal object.
Glassware also can't take sudden temperature changes, so don't pour liquid into a hot glass or set it on a metal surface or countertop while it's still hot.
Windows
Windows take the same first rinse and mild soap wash as the steps above, so start there with a soft cloth. The change is in the follow-up: if the soap doesn't lift the mark, the mirror mix from the mirror step is the next thing to try, sprayed onto the cloth.
Rinse with clean water and dry the pane afterward so no cleaner film is left on the glass.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
A mark that has been on the glass for a while needs more than one pass. Repeat the mild soap wash with a soft cloth, going over the same spot a few times before you rinse.
If the spot has dried, let the cleaner dwell on it before you wipe, and on glass tile give it the 3 to 5 minutes the label asks for. On glassware, wipe with the cleaner rather than soaking the piece for long.
If it's still there after the full set of steps, stop scrubbing, because more force is what scratches glass. Rinse out every trace of cleaner again, since bleach and alkaline cleaners may need several rinses before the film clears.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on chlorine on glass, windows & mirrors?
Most household remedies people reach for on chlorine marks don't belong on glass, and some can make things worse. Mild soap, the mirror mix and non-abrasive cleaners are all glass needs, and most other remedies are better left alone.
Works1Skip5
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Rubbing alcohol
Bleach and rubbing alcohol can form chloroform, which causes dizziness, nausea and loss of consciousness.
If they mix by accident: Stop and add nothing else; leave the area for fresh air, open windows and keep children and pets away; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if anyone has trouble breathing.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix chlorine with acid or ammonia
Never mix chlorine products with acid, and don't try to neutralize a spot by adding ammonia or vinegar to chlorine. Ammonia and chlorine bleach together can give off toxic gas, so keep every stain remover apart.
Don't use metal spoons or containers with bleach
Metal spoons and containers don't belong anywhere near bleach. If you measure out a chlorine product, use plastic or glass instead.
Don't buy a cleaner with fluorine on glass
Cleaners with fluorine compounds damage ceramic, glass and stone. Check the label before you buy a cleaner for this job.
When to call a professional
If the mark still shows after the full set of steps, stop there rather than trying harsher products on the glass. Scratches from scouring won't come out with a cleaner, so a glass professional is the next call to make.
Questions
Can I wait a day before cleaning a chlorine splash on glass?
It's better not to. A fresh splash rinses off easily, while a splash that has dried is harder to lift. Start with the rinse step and work down the list.
Is a blue-green mark on glass from chlorine?
Usually not. Blue-green marks come from dissolved copper, often from corrosive water attacking copper plumbing. Wash the spot with the steps above first, and if it stays, the water is the cause rather than the pool chemical.
How long does the cleaning take?
Most of it is a quick wash and rinse. A heavy mark on glass tile needs the cleaner to dwell for 3 to 5 minutes, as the label directs.
Can I use chlorine bleach on glass?
No, glass doesn't need it. If you use bleach anyway, add it last, after everything has been rinsed out, and rinse several times. If you use bleach anyway, it goes last, after everything has been rinsed out, and then needs several rinses to clear.
Can I run hot glassware under cold water to clean it?
No. Glass can break from a sudden temperature change, so let it cool before you rinse it. Then wash it with the mild soap and a soft cloth.
Can I scrub a window with a scouring pad?
Only a plastic or nylon pad, and only when the mild soap isn't enough. Steel wool and other metal objects can scratch the glass, so leave them out.
Chlorine on other materials
Other stains on glass, windows & mirrors
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.