Removable coatings for protecting glass sheets and, in particular, for protecting LCD glass sheets during cutting, grinding, shipping, and / or storage are provided. The coatings comprise one or more polysaccharides, with the preferred polysaccharides being starches composed of a mixture of amylose and amylopectin molecules. The coatings can be removed from the glass sheets using water solutions, e.g., a mild detergent solution, in combination with, for example, ultrasonic cleaning and / or brush cleaning. After removal, the glass sheets have substantially the same surface characteristics and chemistry as untreated sheets and also have particle / contamination levels equivalent to those of control sheets held in a clean environment.