Care Information for your Stained Glass Piece

* Always handle your stained glass gently with care. It is fragile! *

*Always wash hands after handling as stained glass is made using lead solder and other lead materials. *

HANGING:

Do NOT use a suction cup or adhesive command strips to hang your stained glass!
Instead, secure hooks into a wall or stud using appropriate hangers.
These suncatchers are made for indoor use only because they are crafted using the “Tiffany Method” or “Tiffany Technique”. This method of constructing stained glass pieces involve wrapping each piece of glass in a copper foil tape, and then soldering them together. Copper foil is not made to withstand direct elements.

CLEANING:

Do NOT use harsh chemicals or Windex to clean your piece, they may damage the solder and patina.
Use a furniture spray polish (Pledge) or carnauba wax to re-seal your piece twice a year, or as necessary. Apply the polish to a rag first, then apply to solder lines and glass as need. Followed by a clean, soft rag to buff it.
Even with the heavy amounts of cleaning and sealing of each piece, sometimes a mold-like white residue will appear on your piece. This is an oxidation reaction and can be gently wiped away using a brush or non-abrasive scrub, then re-polished.
DAWN dish-soap and distilled water are safe for use on your stained-glass piece. Using distilled water is recommended as minerals from tap and drinking water can alter the patina color.
If your piece has patina (black or copper solder lines), be careful not to use abrasive brushes as this will also remove the patina.