Stained Glass Care Guide

Stained glass is meant to last for centuries, and when cared for and treated right, it will! Here is exactly how to keep your piece looking amazing and, more importantly, how to keep it from falling off the wall and breaking into a million sharp pieces.

Hanging Your Glass

Do not use suction cups on windows! I promise you, they will eventually fail, and your art will hit the floor. Use a secure nail, screw, or a sturdy hook anchored into the window frame or wall. I want your art to stay exactly where you put it.

Use of Lead

At this time, all the art in this studio is made using the traditional copper foil method. This means I wrap every tiny piece of glass in copper tape and melt metal solder over the seams to hold it all together. The solder I use contains a small amount of lead. Lead is perfectly safe to have hanging in your house as long as you do not eat it or lick the window. The biggest risk with lead is breathing the dust when I am building the piece in the studio, but I wear protection, and your finished art is totally safe. Just wash your hands with warm water and soap after you touch the metal lines or move the piece!

Cleaning

Do not use harsh chemicals or ammonia window cleaners. Just use a soft microfiber cloth to gently wipe off dust. If it needs a little more help, a tiny bit of mild soap and water on a soft rag works perfectly.

Oxidation

I use a mix of metals for the solder lines, and over time they naturally react to the air. It might look a little dull or cloudy, or start growing a white crust after a few years. That is totally normal. You can gently buff it with carnauba wax or Pledge applied to a microfiber cloth to bring back the shine and protect the metal.

Handling

Always carry your glass by the edges with two hands. Never hold it by a single piece of glass or pull on any of the decorative wire elements!

Polishing

If the metal looks dull, follow the instructions above to clean, dry the piece completely, and lay the piece flat on a folded towel. Take a tiny bit of carnauba car wax or Pledge, and gently rub it over the glass and the metal lines. Let the wax sit for fifteen minutes until it looks hazy and weird, then gently buff it off with a soft cloth. Wash your hands afterward, and your art will look stunning and brand new again.