Very annoying windows question

[Deja Q]

I've some screen windows, 3' x 5'. I haven't cleaned them in 7 years.

I took one down and cleaned it with Windex. The top layer of dirt came off but there's this white residue that can be seen in the mornings.

I even tried Armor All window cleaner and rubbing into it really hard to clean it. The discolored streaks remain on the glass.

:cry:

What can I do?

Thanks!

[Kali]

1. don't look untill the light changes

(I'm almost serious) try vinigar or some other weak acid. I have a window that was exposed to a mister and it left a white residue ai have never been able to completly get rid of. Currently I have vines growing over it. Also try scrapping with razor blade tool.

[liberalpress]

2. The IT department standard...

reboot and try again

[Fovea]

3. Try vinegar/water

and see if that cuts through it... sounds like minerals on the glass.
But do not try vinegar and bleach together. Or bleach and ammonia together for that matter.

[amber dog democrat]

4. This is why I use Macs

almost exclusivly. Friends don't let friends use Microsoft

[HFishbine]

5. Let me guess

they are double-pane windows. Yes or no?

[Deja Q]

9. Single pane... single pain too. :-) And a thanks to ALL...

I'll try the vinegar solution.

The area I live in has hard well water (doesn't help with cleaning much) and I'm sure the acidic level of the water is high... :-(

[lazarus]

10. when you do the vinegar solution

put in a tablespoon of dishwashing soap. Works miracles.

[HFishbine]

11. Oh

There goes my theory.

Anyway, here's my advice. If your water is acidic, don't use vinegar. Stick with windex, but use news paper to scrub. I know, it sounds weird, but I worked as a professional window restorer once and newspaper was the way to go. Spray on the windex, wipe with newspaper, discard, and buff with a clean ball of newspaper -- the buffing was always the key final step to a perfectly clean window.

[KC]

6. I've

heard white vinegar works good. 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 gallon of water (or 2 tablespoons per quart)
Also, if you are cleaning them on a hot sunny day, it can cause the cleaning stuff to dry before you're done and leave it streaked. Try cleaning them early in the morning or on a cloudy day.
Maybe that will help.

KC

[LTR]

7. Did you try defragmenting your windows?

Spyware may have contributed to the thick film on your windows as well. Try Ad-Aware with vinegar.

[trof]

8. Windows can "etch".

Especially if you live in an area that gets acid rain.
If it's etched I don't think there's anything that can be done.

[Don_G]

12. Does Your Building Have

Aluminum siding or are the frames painted aluminum? Do you live near the ocean?

It could be that you have a layer of old paint thats flaked off and built up on your windows from the rain run off or maybe it's salt/calcium that's on the surface.

Find out what the solvent is for the paint and use it for an initial cleaning (like paint thinner, acetone or MEK) or if it's salt/calcium, try CLR with water.

The only other thing to do is to take the windows to a hardware store to have the glass replaced if it bothers you that much. That solution may be the way to go for a lot less hassle with chemicals.