Stains on glass from sprinklers, showers and run-off look just horrible on glass and they don’t just clean off. We always include a disclaimer in our proposals that states we are bidding a regular window cleaning and that removal of hard water staining is NOT included. We do this because when the windows are dirty, we usually can’t see if there are hard water stains and because removing of those stains does not happen when using traditional cleaning methods. The stains are not actually sitting on the surface just waiting to be wiped or scrubbed off, or even scraped off. They are actually chemically bonded to the glass and have changed the molecular structure of the surface of the glass. You can read more about the technical issues here.

These white hard water stains on the window and frame from the sprinkler system were easy to see when we quoted this cleaning.

We do our best to identify the staining when giving a proposal, but sometimes people are still surprised and disappointed when we have cleaned their windows, but they still have spots. People will ask, “Why didn’t you just use vinegar, I hear that works?” or, “Can’t you just rub some lemon juice or CLR on it?” In our experience, these methods typically don’t work and some methods can actually cause damage to the glass or to the surround framework or weatherproofing.

Restoration of glass and frames is also very time consuming and therefore, much more expensive than window cleaning. As the saying goes, “Time is Money!” We have found that stains can have different compositions and sometimes need a different approach to restore, so our “Go To” solution does not always work and is not always the quickest, but it may help you, if you want to do it yourself. Some of the quicker methods involve using acids that “can” damage other surrounding surfaces and be a health hazard.

We use Bar Keepers Friend – Cleanser and Polish. We have not had much success with Bar Keepers Friend – Soft Cleanser. Use a cotton rag, get it damp, but not soaked, and sprinkle some Bar Keepers Friend on the damp part of the rag. Use it to vigorously scrub the affected area. Rinse and repeat if necessary. It is not a fun process and depending on the severity of the stain can take a lot of time. Once you try it yourself, you will understand why we don’t include restoration in a regular cleaning price and why we may charge a significant amount for restoration. Hopefully you will get results similar to this “after” picture:

This is the same window as the “before” picture above.

Give it a try, or give us a call: 512-926-7000