[Dave Willis]

I picked up a brochure  in my local stockists - the range is huge.

I'm curious about a poolside cleaner they do called Breaker. Supposed to be a descaler containing phosphoric acid. Anyone have any knowledge of it?

My flats have windows that are very badly stained with mineral deposits. Just looking around for anything that might improve the marks with minimum effort.

[Don Kee]

You picked up some flats dave?

[Dave Willis]

I did, seven blocks.

Thinking of ordering this in too. Fair bit cheaper than Viakal.

https://www.clickcleaning.co.uk/products/acid-wash-80-acidic-descaler-1457

[Spruce]

I picked up a brochure  in my local stockists - the range is huge.

I'm curious about a poolside cleaner they do called Breaker. Supposed to be a descaler containing phosphoric acid. Anyone have any knowledge of it?

My flats have windows that are very badly stained with mineral deposits. Just looking around for anything that might improve the marks with minimum effort.

I would contact Clover and get their recommendations.  Applications they suggest are 'contained' such as toilet bowls, urinals and sinks. Applying it to outside windows at height is another matter.  I'm not sure how they deal with body oils in swimming pools as the scum line is at water level.

Phosphoric acid isn't the best chemical to work with so needs user protection.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/phosphoric.html

Granted, its probably diluted anyway as a concentrate so diluting it further will make it less hazardous. It only reacts with glass above 200 degrees but what about rubber weather seals? UPVC plastics should be ok as the product is delivered in a plastic container, but that might also be a question to ask.

What about the surrounding environment? How does it react to vehicle paintwork incase there are any vehicles parked downwind? What will it do to the surrounding vegetation?

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[Dave Willis]

I'm not planning on using it too often. Just trying to find a quick way of removing mineral deposits.

I'm amazed on a window cleaning forum of thousands of members I seem to be the only one with this problem  Same goes for lead staining, there seems little interest and even less cures.

I have come across cleaners who carry a bottle of Harpic in the van. Not sure what they use it for.

[Arnold Palmer]

I have come across cleaners who carry a bottle of Harpic in the van. Not sure what they use it for.

Choosing a harp?

[Spruce]

I'm not planning on using it too often. Just trying to find a quick way of removing mineral deposits.

I'm amazed on a window cleaning forum of thousands of members I seem to be the only one with this problem  Same goes for lead staining, there seems little interest and even less cures.

I have come across cleaners who carry a bottle of Harpic in the van. Not sure what they use it for.

I've tried Harpic on glass from cement stains after some bricks walls had been re-grouted. Didn't touch it. We don't have hard water in our area so very really come across limescale on windows. If we did then Harpic may help on those, but I don't know.

I also had a glass conservatory roof to clean once that was stained with lead stains from the lead flashing above it. Spent ages trying various chemicals which made no visible difference.  Customer wasn't impressed with my efforts and ended up losing money on that clean. (6 years on the roof is still stained with lead deposits.)

Now I don't bother. Yes, I would love to make every customer be in awe with the results of every clean, but I know now there are some things I can't clean satisfactorily.  In fact one conservatory cleaning company advised that the solution to the lead staining/deposits on the conservatory roof was to replace the flashing and the glass.

If you didn't do that block of flats, would it impact on your income? As an established window cleaner, I would doubt it.  I have too much work atm so if I come across an issue like this I tell the owners right away that this is beyond my scope of expertise.

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[andyM]

I'm not planning on using it too often. Just trying to find a quick way of removing mineral deposits.

I'm amazed on a window cleaning forum of thousands of members I seem to be the only one with this problem  Same goes for lead staining, there seems little interest and even less cures.

I have come across cleaners who carry a bottle of Harpic in the van. Not sure what they use it for.

Sniffing? 

[DaveG]

I have come across cleaners who carry a bottle of Harpic in the van. Not sure what they use it for.

Disinfecting hoses after they've been dragged through dogsh!t I expect

[ChumBucket]

My line with customers as far as lead and mineral staining goes is that they are permanent unless they are prepared to spend a LOT of money having them removed via a labour intensive and chemical process- seems to do the trick.

[Smurf]

They probably would think no better of you if you got the staining out Dave . But sure as eggs are eggs if you should damage anything in the proccess trying would leave yourself wide open for them to claim against you methinks.

[Ian Lancaster]

I think the problem with lead staining is that the lead salts etch into the surface of the glass, so even if you can remove them there is still the pitting in the surface which shows as a mark.  The same may be true of old and heavy mineral staining.

[johnwillan]

Cillit Bang was suggested elsewhere on the forum as a "lead stain" remover, tried it yesterday and achieved a perfect result, I was surprised/impressed.

Usually I do not offer to remove them or lime scale but was curious to see if it worked.

[Smurf]

I think you will find that was me that suggested cilit bang to try as someone else mentioned it worked to me.
Glad to hear it worked for you too. 

[rosskesava]

If the lead staining hasn't been there for very long it'll come off with almost any acid based liquid. If it's been there for too long it forms a compound called lead carbonate and nothing that can be bought over the counter will remove it.

As for how long lead staining takes to react to become lead carbonate - I havn't a clue.

For water marks/calcium deposits, 99% of the time I find patio cleaner removes it but use it carefully (i.e. wet the bricks or plaster underneath first, etc ).