I’m reglazing all the windows in my house. Some of the glass is “historic” and I’d like to retain it. But many of the panes have some kind of deposit that has resisted attempts at cleaning.
I’ve tried a calcium/lime remover, and various window cleaners, but the spotty greyish haze remains.
Opinions or ideas about what this might be or how to remove it?
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Replies
Oven cleaner or paint stripper will work.
Thanks -- I'll try that tonight.
You can sometimes clean the glass with 0000 steel wool. It won't scratch glass.
oven cleaner - but do this BEFORE you reglaze and finish painting
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............what is it taking off?
I always thought the glass was just old, no way to get it clear again.
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mark has a good one, especially combined with white vinegar too.over time, the wind can etch the glass surface with driven particles. I had a windshield go bad in one single dust storm out west. The pits in the glass surface can be almost microscopic, but they harbour dust and mineral. More visible here on the coast where salt spray can hit it. Like scum on the bathtub it can harden over time in those miniscule recesses. so the trick to cleaning is to boil them out, and release the ion bond that might be holding them in place. So vinegar, soda, oven cleaner, sometimes peroxolates like oxyclean stuff, depending on what exactly IS In those pores.Think of it like blackheads - a goo ddiet and regular washing will help resist the acne.
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Try Zep...... The best cleaner I have ever used. Also, you can use "rainX" after it is clean...... will keep it from happening again....
Good Luck. You can but Zep at Home Depot or on line
Glass can weather and etch over time, especially old glass that was not as stable a formulation as modern glass. If your glass is etched, it can't be cleaned.
You could try an email to the Corning Museum of Glass. I don't know if they have a large enough staff to answer if they get many emails, but it is worth a try. The web site is http://www.cmog.org.
Etched glass can be polished out. Kits are available at http://www.Eastwood.com for automotive use, should work for old glass. I love to see the old window glass, it's got some character.