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Okay. So, I had a window right by my desk and anybody walking past could see straight in. I was trying to figure out what I was going to do and I thought a light panel hung across the glass would be perfect for that. No drilling into a window frame, obviously. So I went with Command medium clear hooks and filmed the whole thing as I did it, because it was the first time I’d done it on glass.
Quick Verdict
I put the first hook on crooked and too low, and boy, that sure went on there good. Then it came right off the glass with no fight and no mess, and the second one landed exactly where I wanted it. That one test sold me on these more than anything on the package.
Buy if you:
- want a bit of privacy at a desk that faces a window
- rent and can’t put a single hole in a wall
- are hanging something light, 2 lbs or under
- like knowing you can pull it off and redo it if you misjudge the height
Skip if you:
- expect to get it straight first try, because I didn’t, twice in a row on the same hook
- don’t have isopropyl alcohol on hand, since regular window cleaner is apparently not what you want here
- need to hang something heavier, the 5 lb size is a separate purchase
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| Quantity | 7 hooks, 12 adhesive strips |
|---|---|
| Weight capacity | Up to 2 lbs per hook |
| Material / color | Plastic, clear |
| Mounting | Adhesive wall mount, no drill |
| Returns | 30-day free return policy |
I Just Wanted People Not To Look Through My Window
Short version: it worked really, really well. The longer version involves me putting the first one on crooked, too low, and then peeling it back off to start over. Which turned out to be the most useful part of the test.
Clean With Isopropyl, Not Window Cleaner
Use isopropyl alcohol to wipe the glass, not regular window cleaner, film from household sprays kills the adhesive bond. That’s the one instruction I’d tell somebody not to skip. Regular sprays leave a film behind, and film is the enemy of adhesive.
I wiped just the patch of glass where I thought the hook was going. Took maybe fifteen seconds. Then the strip goes on in a specific order, and the order matters: black side first, that’s the part that goes on the wall or the window. Press it on. Then take the plastic hook piece, remove the blue strip, and put that right on top of the black backing.
Two liners, two steps, one at a time. I mean, that’s the whole install.
The Pack Gives You Room To Get It Wrong
Seven hooks and twelve strips gives you five bonus attempts to get placement right, mine cost zero extra. Each hook is rated up to 2 lbs, and clear plastic so it disappears against glass. That’s the whole spec sheet, and for this job it’s all I needed.
I did also buy a 5 lb one, a single, which is bigger. When I got it home I thought, I don’t think I need one quite that big. For a lightweight privacy panel on a window, the 2 lb was the right call and the bigger hook would’ve just been a chunkier thing sitting on the glass.
It Stuck To Glass Hard, Then Let Go Clean
The grab on glass was immediate and stronger than I expected. I pressed the strip on, realized I’d put it slightly crooked, nudged it, and it was already committed. Boy, that sure went on there good. That’s the read on the adhesive: you get essentially one placement, so the pressing moment is the moment.
Then the second problem showed up. I’d placed it way too low. I wanted it higher, near the top of the pane, so the panel would actually cover the sightline from the sidewalk. Standing there looking at a hook that was both crooked and in the wrong spot, I figured that’s how it goes, and decided to find out how the removal works.
Let’s just see how easy it is to remove now, because I hadn’t done that before. It came off. No scraping, no residue smear on the glass, no lifting paint because glass doesn’t have paint to lift. That was the test I cared about most, and it’s the reason I’d use these again.
Second attempt went the way you’d want. Cleaned the new spot, peeled the black side, set it way higher this time, took a second to line it up straight, pulled the blue film, pressed the hook on top. That looks better. Amazing. When you do it the second time it’s easy, because you already know the sequence and you already know where it needs to sit. The panel went on and it was exactly where I wanted it.
Sitting back at the desk afterward, I couldn’t see the hooks at all, just the panel hanging where I wanted it, blocking the sightline from the street. That’s the whole goal, and two minutes of work plus one do-over got me there.
Getting It Straight Is Harder Than It Looks
Placement is harder than adhesion: no alignment guide, no level notch, and glass gives you nothing to eyeball against. I went crooked on the first try and I was watching myself do it. There’s no guide line on the strip, no level notch, nothing to square it against, and on a clear pane of glass you don’t even get a paint edge to eyeball.
And because the adhesive grabs the instant it touches, you can’t slide it a quarter inch to fix things. You commit, then you evaluate. I’d tell anybody doing this on glass to mark the spot with a bit of tape first and hold the hook up against your actual item before you peel anything. I didn’t, and that’s why I used two hooks to hang one panel.
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Command Medium Clear Hooks
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Desks By Windows, Rentals, Dorms
If a street-level window is your problem, this is a two-minute fix, one minute of that spent correcting my own mistake. Every other use case I can think of (keys by the door, a light frame on a rental wall) is easier than what I tested, which was glass with a do-over mid-install.
Renters and students, same thing. The package sells damage-free hanging, and on glass I can confirm the removal side of that claim because I tested it on purpose. Seven hooks in a pack also means you can do a window, a couple of keys by the door, and still have spares in the drawer.
Where it isn’t the answer: anything with real weight. Two pounds is two pounds. If you’re hanging something substantial you’re either buying the 5 lb size or using several hooks, and at that point you want to think about it before you start peeling liners.
2 lb vs the 5 lb Single I Also Bought
The 5 lb one sat unused, and that’s my answer on which to get. I bought it as a single, brought it home, and thought I don’t think I need one quite that big. It’s a physically larger hook, which matters on a clear window where the whole point is that you don’t notice the hardware.
Where the bigger one wins: anything with actual heft. The 2 lb clear hook is not going to carry a heavy frame, and buying the multi-pack because it’s better value doesn’t help you if the thing you’re hanging is too heavy for it. Match the hook to the object, not to the pack size.
What I’d Do Differently Next Time
Hold your item up to the window first and mark the height before you open anything. That single step would have saved me a hook.
Keep the two liners straight in your head. Black side goes on the glass first. Blue film comes off the hook piece second, and only once the base is where you want it. Doing it out of order is how people end up with a hook stuck to their fingers.
And don’t rush the isopropyl wipe. That’s the step people skip because the glass looks clean already, and it’s the one that decides whether the thing is still up in six months. You can grab the Command medium clear hooks and check current pricing at the link if this is the problem you’re trying to solve.
Pros
- Grabbed glass immediately and held, it worked really, really well on the first press
- Came off clean when I pulled the misplaced hook, with no residue left behind
- Seven hooks and twelve strips means a do-over costs you nothing
- Clear plastic basically disappears against a window pane
- Whole install is two steps once you know the liner order
Cons
- No alignment guide, so I put the first one on crooked while looking right at it
- Adhesive commits instantly, you can’t nudge it after contact
- Needs isopropyl alcohol, regular window cleaner is apparently not acceptable prep
- 2 lb limit means a bigger job needs the separate 5 lb hook
What we’d improve
Two small things that would have saved me a hook:
- No alignment reference on the strip, a faint printed horizontal line on the black backing would let you square it against a window frame before you press.
- The liner order isn’t obvious in the moment, numbering the black side “1” and the blue film “2” right on the plastic would remove the only confusing part of the install.
Frequently Asked Questions
What surfaces do these hooks work on besides glass?
Painted walls, wood, glass, metal, tile and concrete. I only tested glass myself, and that surface took it well. Textured or unpainted surfaces aren’t on that list for a reason.
Can I reuse the hook after taking it down?
The hook, yes. The strip, no. You use a fresh adhesive strip each time, which is why the pack ships 12 strips for 7 hooks, so you’ve got spares built in for exactly this situation.
Will they hold in a bathroom or kitchen with steam?
These are the standard indoor hooks, not the water-resistant bathroom line Command sells separately. For a steamy shower wall I’d buy the bathroom version instead. A kitchen window away from the stove is closer to what I tested.
Can I use these instead of nails for a picture frame?
Only if the frame is under 2 lbs. That’s the hard limit per hook. A heavy frame with glass will be over it, and that’s what the 5 lb hooks exist for.
Is there a return window if they don’t hold?
30 days for a free return or refund. That’s enough time to load the hook, stress-test it, and still return the pack if it fails on your surface.
How long should I wait before hanging something on the hook?
The adhesive needs time to fully bond, so don’t load it the second you press it. I hung a very light panel and left it at that. For anything nearer the 2 lb limit, give it an hour before you put weight on it.
Do the clear hooks show against a coloured wall?
They’re designed to disappear on light and glossy surfaces, which is exactly why they work so well on a window pane. On a dark painted wall you’ll see the outline of clear plastic. Not a dealbreaker, just don’t expect invisible.
Are replacement strips easy to find on their own?
Yes, Command sells refill strip packs separately in the same sizes. So if you keep the hooks and run out of the 12 strips in the pack, you’re not rebuying the whole set.
Can I use nail polish remover instead of isopropyl to clean the surface?
Stick with isopropyl alcohol. Acetone-based removers can damage finishes on painted surfaces and some plastics, and the instruction is specifically isopropyl for a reason. Normal household cleaners leave a residue that stops the adhesive gripping.
Learn more
Command Medium Clear Hooks
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