[Dave Willis]

I've picked up a big contract - several blocks of flats. Hundreds of windows However, all the lower windows are really badly stained from the render stuff above. I've tried Kill Rock, Vaniscale, Winsol 500 or whatever that crap is called. Nothing touches it, not even bronze wool.

Any ideas? It needs to be something that can be sprayed on, it has to be quick. It looks just like hard water droplets staining the glass maybe it's even etched it. Only it can't be hard water.

[timglaze]

Hypo??

[Smudger]

Hypo??

Are the stains on the outside ? Not just blown units ??

I doubt you'll have anything that's going to be as easy as X-ray on/WFP off. If you've tried the usual cillet bang, bar keepers whatsit and physically bronzed wool'ed the glass then you may only have the option of a hydrochloric acid wash, - very tricky path to go down to get it right so it removes stains but doesn't bugger up the rest of the glass

Best leave as is unless they are paying you loads extra to remove these stains

Darran

[Smurf]

Winsol 550 is an acid based product so to be honest if that don't shift it then probably nothing will.
As smudger has already said if the staining is defo on the outside of the glass unless they are paying you for so say glass restoration work then best avoid messing about with them.

[Dave Willis]

deffo on the outside. Bottom five inches of the glass, every pane in every block of flats.

[Smudger]

I didn't find winsol to be very good myself

Darran

[Dave Willis]

I think over the years it's washed out of the material and splashed the glass.

[Dave Willis]

Last window cleaner was crap apparently. New window cleaner is also crap, which is a shame 'cos I'm spending a lot of effort getting the place up to scratch. Just have to tell them there's nothing I can do. Winsol was the best of the chems I tried but it would take gallons of the stuff and weeks of effort. I know it's not much cop 'cos I've now had the same bottle for at least five years, Obviously hasn't worked on anything yet.

[Smurf]

Going by the pic I would have thought it's not the render organic matter dripping down and splashing the glass but the lead flashing above that has caused the staining over the years.  Either that someone has used a strong chem in the past to clean the render/sills which has etched the glass.

[Smurf]

Shame we can get this over here in the uk as might have been worth a try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcnQovquAYo

[Tosh]

Hmmm, I have a similar job in Reading they'd like looked at. This isn't on the glass, its that black crud underneath the windows.

[Smudger]

That's easy


A good dollop of yehaaaa, for quats but if you like to throw money away then algo clear, all will remove that

Darran

[Smurf]

I would probably choose yehaa method on that first myself as algoclear is not that great at removing black staining quickly. Then once all the wall has been cleaned with hypo and washed down maybe treat the render with algoclear for a long lasting residule effect.

[Dave Willis]

Going by the pic I would have thought it's not the render organic matter dripping down and splashing the glass but the lead flashing above that has caused the staining over the years.  Either that someone has used a strong chem in the past to clean the render/sills which has etched the glass.

I think you're right it's lead staining. The run off must splatter the cill and back up the glass. I've not found anything yet that shifts lead stains.

[Smudger]

Apparently Chris snott has on the general cleaning forum, even posted a piccy, but it's a 'trade secret' so I doubt he will pass on any information

Darran

[Dave Willis]

I have heard WD40 does it. Don't know if it gets it off or just masks it.

[Smurf]

Have you tried cillit bang as might be worth a shot on lead staining on glass http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=258281697&gclid=CNuF2cGercwCFRDhGwodNv4HOA&gclsrc=aw.ds

Let us know if it works or not as I know of someone that says it does.

[dazmond]

Hmmm, I have a similar job in Reading they'd like looked at. This isn't on the glass, its that black crud underneath the windows.

how did you clean them top windows as they open inwards without getting water inside?

[Tosh]

I dont. If they don't close them they don't get cleaned. They've been told I'll be there.

[jk999]

What you trying to clean glass or walls