This is what the Window looked like after about three attempts. I even took a new, white mr. clean sponge type thing and scrubbed the heck out of the window with it. When I looked at the WHITE sponge afterwards, there was like… zero dirt on it. It still looks (almost) new. So… Why isn’t this stuff coming off?
The Dirtiness appears to be on the outside. I do not think she smokes. She just moved into the house a month ago.
Is this Hard Water? or something else?
Also, when cleaning this house, I felt like… every single window I had to use Steel Wool, or the window wouldn’t get clean. With the window in the picture I even used Steel wool, and it still ended up looking like that.
Do they smoke, or are the windows new? A safe degreaser like simple green might get it. Hard to say, I cant tell if that stuff is on the inside or the outside.
TSP is Trisodium Phosphate it is a powder you can get at most stores or hardware stores. Try simple green or awesome green. It may work. But remember to rinse the simple green off and re clean with you regular window solution. I use Titan green but you would most likely need to order that.
Well you just s**ck at window cleaning. Sorry, couldn’t resist that one.
I think thoughts like that about myself when things don’t clean up as I thought they would.
Did you use a window cleaning razor like the Triumph?
I agree with the tsp idea, or even some all purpose cleaner, or just dish soap might help.
Okay, I will try some of that stuff, I just don’t know what the heck it is!? Why won’t my squeegie off make it clean?
Also, I probably do suck at Window Cleaning. lol. but… I better learn quick. Also, I noticed that I HAVE to use Steel Wool, or the window will not come out clean…
John- What do you mean squeegee off? Did you attempt to do the outside to see the difference? What are you using steel wool for? Do you have a scraper?
(Squeegee Off is basically a light soap made by Ettore, it’s not going to get out any really tough funk.)
I can see the area/clean streaks where you used the steel wool. You aren’t covering every inch, you’re just rubbing around in a scattered fashion.
I’ve seen people wet down the top half of a window, thinking the water will drip and the squeegee will take the rest off.
It doesn’t work like that… scrubbing/agitation cleans the glass- not water & soap.
It looks like you got some of the stuff off in the picture. when you scrub it with the steel wool does it seem gummy like grease or sap or is it more like a paint over spray or maybe a wood stain? Was the same stuff on all the windows? Did any of it come off onto the steel wool?
If it’s only on that window I would look around for clues as to what it could be. Do they have a grill near by? Is there a stained wood structure near by? Sometimes you can figure it out that way. Just a suggestion.
Try and make small circular motions all the way across, then move down and do another overlapping row with the steel wool and lots of soapy solution for lubricant until you do the whole pane of glass.
If Squeegee off is only a light soap, then… what is the best solution to use? Also, yes I did scrub all around in a random like fashion… Is there a certain way to use steel wool? I did scrub more than in just those areas though… I really did scrub the whole window.
I have come across a few windows that I believe are manufactured inside out and had some sort of coating (perhaps a low e coating) on them that are facing out instead of in where they are protected by being sealed. Is this possible?
I could tell by the the swirl marks at the mid-bottom of the window and accentuated by the eye level view being the clearest area.
What you are doing with the steel wool is the equivalent of making a “clean spot” on a white wall… try to think of that IN GENERAL when you clean windows.
You are putting pressure (scrubbing) a tiny area, so it stands out more. When you use a strip washer you are spreading that area, but the pressure will still be concentrated to the center… try using a sponge as an “in the middle” size.
[Sorry, I know I’m terrible at explaining in ‘text.’]
As far as soap, I would try TSP as it DOES seem like a pretty bad funk on the glass.
But it will dry white. Meaning, it’s pretty unforgiving for a new window cleaner… you’ll probably have to wash it again with regular soap & water.
