How do you keep the front glass from being smeary?

[houstonhobby]

Noobiest of all noobie questions...how do I keep the front glass from being all smeary? This does not happen with fresh water tanks but my salt water tank always seems to have a sheen of salt across the front on the outside.

I fight it with a wet paper towel followed by a dry one but it seems like a loosing battle.

Thanks,
Rod

[Japsican]

I just use Windex. I don't spray it near my tank though, I always spray it onto a paper towel in another room first.

[Misled]

You can also use a vinegar and water solution.

[James77]

I sometimes give a final wipe with a microfiber cloth after any residue dried. But just use windex and dry thoroughly;

[davidfrances]

+1 on final wipe with a microfiber towel

[EllieSuz]

Those microfiber towels are great for this. I use one dry to remove those little white salt spots that always happen from wet hands or whatever.

[houstonhobby]

Thank you, couple of good answers here. I use those microfiber towels all the time for cleaning up spills. Windex I don't have but ammonia I could come up with.

[thegrun]

RO/DI water and a splash of vinegar on a paper towel, polish it with a Sham Wow (they really do work great)!

[Sk8r]

Microfiber cloth. Dry.

[Joe0813]

i have glass cleaner for my car... I spray on a microfiber cloth on the other side of the room and then wipe down the front of the glass... then take another microfiber cloth and wipe completely dry

[Sn8kbyt]

Dry microfiber on dry glass polishes it right up!

[E36328i]

Brillianize (awesome product for acrylic and glass-I work in aquarium maintenance and this stuff is gold) and microfiber towels. Followed by a sweep with a dry paper towel or if you have it, newsprint works to get rid of smears.

[Joe0813]

Newspaper???

[snulma1]

Yes, Newspaper and/or a coffee filter works well for cleaning, and it doesn't leave lint or fibers.

But I only use that as a follow up to cleaning with vinegar on a microfiber cloth

[browning_boy20]

you can also use a vinegar and water solution.

+++++1

[Joe0813]

Wow never knew that about the newspaper

[cidbozek]

I would start with correcting the problem of getting a sheen of salt across the outside of the tank, or do you mean drips from when working in the tank?

[Shaummy]

I use a spray bottle of RODI water, spray the glass, then use a squeegee to clean the glass. Sometimes I need to use a damp paper towel if it's really bad but still squeegee off after that.

[houstonhobby]

My problem is just drips from getting my elbows in the water. I have never been able to work in a tank wirhout getting water all over the floor. My tanks are in a room where women hold no sway. When I lived up north they had this invention called a "basement". That was great but we don't have such things in Houston TX.

[igot2gats]

tap water and paper towel

[cerebrous]

Wow never knew that about the newspaper

Old trick learnt from grandma

[Crusinjimbo]

I keep vinegar in a spray bottle for general cleaning of skimmer/pump/everything else associated with the reef. Quick spray on a paper towel, wipe and polish with a microfiber cloth (our shirt).