I’m new to the website and love the information I have seen on he so far. I have been washing windows for about 3 years now and have always heard horror stories about steel wool scratching windows. There is a thread on this website where people are showing off their belts and equipment, and steel wool seems to be a very common item. Is the idea of steel wool scratching glass a myth? In what applications do you guys use the steel wool? I would love to hear what you guys have to say about it. Thanks
[MENTION=37200]matchews44[/MENTION]
Where did you hear these horror stories?
If you get 0000 steel wool it wont scratch.
I use bronze wool, lasts longer and doesn’t rust
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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Steel wool doesn’t scratch but if there is rust in the wool it will. I believe I have seen bronze wool rust too, but it just takes longer.
We have been using steel wool since my father started in 1970. 0000 no scratches. Except for the one time I used in on plexiglass.
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Pompano Services LLC
George Pompano
I’ve used both. They both work great. If you are using the steel wool make sure it’s 0000, the super fine stuff and there’s no rust on it. I used to use it on the old divided glass windows after I had already squegeed it dry. Only using it dry makes it a lot easier to not accidentally use a rusty piece on the window.
I switched over to bronze wool because I was tired of inspecting my wool for rust. New England is so humid that even if you use it on dry glass, it will start to rust sooner or later just from the humidity in the air.
With the bronze wool, you can just toss it in a ziplock bag and not worry about it. Lasts forever.
Don 't use either or Low-e glass.
I’ve never used steel nor bronze either and would also like to know their application. I assume for extremely dirty glass with nasty stuck on debris.
I’ve worked for 2 different window companies. My current company is run by a guy who’s been doing it for 25 years or so. Him and multiple other people have told me it scratches, but I’m willing to bet they’re using the wrong stuff. It sounds like there is a lot of experience here that says it’s fine, which makes me happy. I’ll have to give it a shot. Thanks for the response.
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Thanks to everyone for the info! This community is awesome so far.
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Where do you pick up the wool, steel and bronze. Is it a specialty item or would my local Lowe’s or Home Depot carry it?
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I order my bronze wool from WCR, grab a few packages… I love having it just in case
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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I recently ordered some from Home Depot for a good price. Took a little while for it to ship, though, because they don’t carry it in all their stores. Boating supply stores (i.e. West Marine) always have it in stock but they charge double what HD does. WCR carries it, I think. They are the fastest shippers on the planet. Whenever I order from WCR, I get my stuff in 2 days.
I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me that WCR would have it. Thanks!
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Wow that’s pretty fast. I’ve noticed shipping is more expensive on WCR though? Is there a way to get it cheaper? Do you just make a big order to make it more worth it?
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Although I buy almost everything through WCR, I get my steel wool at a local paint supply store
order big, then you don’t have to contsantly re-stock your supplies. You already will need rubber at a minimum. Rubber costs $3 apiece at HD. If you order it in bulk through WCR you will save $. I like to know all the local places where I can replenish supplies in a pinch, though.
0000 all day everyday!
… Why steel wool? Because it F’n works better than anything else. 0000 steel wool with no rust and no debris stuck in it
will not scratch glass. I use it somwhere almost every day. It’s awesome for touching up dried drips and streaks as well as
getting bugs, silicone and paint and fingerprints off glass. Not the best for stucco though. It is always my first go to item
for hardwater stains before I get out chems.
The guys at a tire store I clean scuff up the front doors with tire rubber. My bronze wool pad takes the scuff marks right off. White scrub pads are useless on the scuff marks.
^your boss is basically wrong. it will scratch glass that has some specialty coatings and it might scratch a window that has tinted film on it, but your basic everyday window is fine to use steel wool on.
home depot and lowes stocks steel wool (at least around here). it’s in the paint department, by the sandpaper. it’s pretty cheap, like $4 for a package of 9 pieces.
you can use 000 or even 00 too, and it wont scratch. i would go with 000 at least, as 0000 is so fine it falls apart really fast.
