Finding Better Glass For Your Home

If you have any furniture, appliance parts, or things such as cutting boards made out of tempered glass, you might think that you have indestructable materials in your home. However, tempered glass, despite its reputation for safety, has a quirk: It can explode spontaneously. This is a rare phenomenon -- you're not at constant risk of all the tempered glass around you exploding daily, or anything like that -- but it is a real risk. Here are three things you can do to reduce the chances of the tempered glass in your home suddenly changing shape.

Dust Before Cleaning -- and Clean Gently

One of the main reasons behind a tempered glass explosion is a minor defect. A tiny problem during manufacturing or a small scratch on the surface can lead to a loss of structural integrity. One of the ways tempered glass can become scratched is if you drag debris across it while cleaning it. Always gently dust off tempered glass first with a soft antistatic cloth, and then clean it gently with mild dish soap and water. Note that not all scratches are going to lead to glass exploding (your car windows end up with quite a few scratches, for example), but it's best not to add to the problem.

Avoid Large Temperature Swings

Try not to expose the glass to large temperature swings. If you have a glass tabletop, for example, and it's cold in your house, don't set a hot mug of coffee directly on the glass. Use coasters or mats to help insulate the mug instead. Don't take cold cutting boards and dunk them in boiling water, for example. These sound extreme but happen in more homes than you'd think, so be careful about the temperatures you expose the glass to. As for your car, try to park it in the shade in summer and in a heated garage in winter, and don't take it into a cold carwash in the middle of a hot day, for example.

Treat Gently

Tempered glass pots and pans, as well as other cooking items, are known for being particularly tough and chip-resistant. This can prove tempting, though. Children might try to test the glass out by dropping the item, and you might become more careless about placing it on a counter rather heavily instead of gently. While the glass might survive this treatment at first, internal stress can build up and form defects inside the glass. Those can lead to spontaneous explosions. Treat all glass gently. Don't drop glass mixing bowls on the counter, and be careful putting items away.

For more information, contact Rochester Auto Glass & Mirror Co or a similar company.