To remove cloudy windows from your home, follow these four steps:
- Clean windows on a cloudy day to prevent the drying of soap and cleaning solutions, which can leave streaks or spots on the glass.
- Drill two small holes on the outside of a double-paned window to repair foggy windows. As the sun rises, moisture trapped inside the window evaporates, and a thin layer of glue is applied to the holes.
- Clean interior and exterior glass with a mixture of white vinegar, distilled water, and concentrated dish soap. Spray the solution onto the cloudy glass surface and let it sit for a few minutes to loosen deposits. Wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth in circular motions.
- Spray vinegar onto the inside glass surfaces and spray alcohol to rinse them and accelerate drying. Wait for it to dry.
- Mix equal parts white vinegar, water, and concentrated dish soap in a spray bottle and mist the solution over the surface of the windows.
- Spray down windows with a hose, soak a sponge or brush in soapy water, and scrub windows.
- Create a cleaning solution by mixing equal parts water and vinegar. Top recommendations include Bar Keepers Friend, melamine foam, Murphy’s Oil Soap, and a soft towel or microfiber cloth.
- For hazy or cloudy windows, mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of warm water and wring it out.
In summary, cleaning windows outside can be a simple process that can improve the appearance of your home and air quality. By following these steps, you can effectively remove cloudy windows and enhance your outdoor view.
📹 Cleaning a Foggy/Hazy Window Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) from the Inside, Without Replacing the Glass
This is a DIY method I used to clean my hazy windows with failed seals. The total cost is small (under $100 in tools and supplies) …
Why are my windows cloudy on the outside?
Windows can become cloudy due to various factors such as rain, snow, dust, dirt, and grime. Regular glass cleaners may not be effective in removing these gunk layers, which can build up on the glass. In Utah, hard water with calcium carbonate levels between 181-250 milligrams per liter can react with soap, creating a soap scum. This residue can be seen on glass shower doors or drinking glasses. To remove cloudy film, use a homemade cleaning recipe instead of standard glass cleaner. It’s best to wash windows on a cloudy day to avoid the cleaning solution evaporating too quickly, leaving streaks behind. This homemade solution can effectively remove the cloudy film from windows.
How to fix cloudy double pane windows?
Double-pane windows may need to be replaced if they show signs of age. If replacement isn’t within your budget, you can try drilling holes or not drilling holes. Drilling small holes at the top and bottom of the window and pouring isopropyl alcohol into them can help remove fog or condensation. However, this is a high-risk fix and could lead to window destruction.
To remove moisture, use a dehumidifier near the window to prevent mold growth. Lay a moisture absorber along the bottom edges of the window or use a water snake, which is an all-natural solution that draws out moisture. However, improperly done, you may have to replace the windows.
How do you restore cloudy glass windows?
To clean foggy windows, mix water and dish soap or create a solution of equal parts water and vinegar. Spray the solution onto the windows and use a microfiber cloth to rub and clean. Polish the window after cleaning and drying to remove scuffs or scratches. To prevent fogging, keep the glass dry and moisture-free, using a dehumidifier whenever possible. Purchase energy-saving windows to reduce heat loss and gain, which contribute to up to 30% of total energy use. These windows can help save on monthly energy costs and reduce the risk of foggy glass.
How do I get the haze off my outside windows?
To clean cloudy glass windows, create a paste by mixing baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the cloudy areas of the glass, scrub it with a soft sponge or cloth, rinse it thoroughly with clean water, and dry it with a microfiber cloth to prevent streaks. Common causes of cloudy-looking windows include dust, dirt, and debris. Restoring the clarity of your windows can be achieved with the right techniques and professional help. Some common causes include a lack of proper ventilation, a cloudy view, or a hazy filter.
How do you make cloudy plastic windows clear again?
To remove haze and scratches from a convertible window, use No. 2 One Step Polish. The paint surface polish is designed to treat the haze effectively, as the abrasives in the polish are the right size and density for the surface. To begin, clean the window by removing dust and debris with a damp cotton terry towel, ensuring the surface is cool to the touch. Then, follow the directions on the bottle label of One Step Polish by pouring a small amount onto a clean, 100 cotton terry towel and polishing until most of the polish dries to a haze. Buff off residue with a clean towel or microfiber towel, and repeat this process until the haze is removed.
How do you get rid of cloudy haze on windows?
To clean cloudy glass windows, mix equal parts white vinegar and distilled water in a spray bottle, spray the solution onto the cloudy glass surface, let it sit for a few minutes to loosen deposits, and then wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth in circular motions. Common causes of cloudy-looking windows include dust, dirt, and debris, which can interfere with the clarity of the view. To restore the clarity of your windows, follow these effective cleaning techniques and seek professional help if needed.
How do you restore cloudy glass?
To clean cloudy glass, apply distilled white vinegar and rub a small area with a microfiber cloth. If the area is clear when dry, the glass can be cleaned. If the cloudiness remains, the glass is permanently etched. If the glass surface feels pitted and remains cloudy after scraping, the glass is permanently etched. Soak the cloudy glasses in distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar, rotating them during the soaking process if needed.
Soak all sides for at least 15 minutes. If the glass is not soaked, spray undiluted distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and let it remain on the surface for 15 minutes before wiping it away and cleaning the glass surface as usual.
Can cloudy double-glazed windows be repaired?
Specialist companies can assist in the remediation of condensation within double-glazed window units through the creation of apertures in the glass pane or spacer bar unit, through which a specialized desiccant or drying agent can be injected to expel the condensation or dry out the air. The four principal causes of condensation between double-glazed windows are air leaks, moisture accumulation, and inadequate ventilation.
How to get foggy windows clear?
To remove fog from windows, one should first activate the defroster, then deactivate the air conditioning, open the windows, remove any condensation with a cloth or paper towel, and finally, open a window slightly when exiting a vehicle.
Why are my windows still cloudy after cleaning?
Hard water stains, also known as limescale or hard water deposits, are a common issue with windows that persist even after thorough cleaning. These stains are caused by the buildup of minerals found in hard water, and are difficult to remove, especially if the windows haven’t been cleaned in over a year. The cause of hard water stains is the buildup of minerals in hard water, which can cause a cloudy appearance with chalky white residue.
Does vinegar remove cloudiness from glass?
To clean cloudy glass, apply distilled white vinegar and rub a small area with a microfiber cloth. If the area is clear when dry, the glass can be cleaned. If the cloudiness remains, the glass is permanently etched. If the glass surface feels pitted and remains cloudy after scraping, the glass is permanently etched. Soak the cloudy glasses in distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar, rotating them during the soaking process if needed.
Soak all sides for at least 15 minutes. If the glass is not soaked, spray undiluted distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and let it remain on the surface for 15 minutes before wiping it away and cleaning the glass surface as usual.
📹 How to remove hard water stains from windows.
Equipment needed. 1. #0000 steel wool. Anything rated as more abrasive will scratch your glass. 2. The works toilet bowl cleaner.
Skipped the toilet cleaner, used dish soap, water and them #0000 steel wool on a window that hasn’t been cleaned in 10 years. The medium level of hard water deposit fogging came off after cleaning the surface 8-12 times. There are still some light deposits, but most are gone and the window looks dang near new. I’ve been waiting 20 years for this hack (I guess my Google skills are lacking… )! Now to tackle my shower door!
I found 00 steel wool at the paint area at lowes as well as the squeegee and the special applicator. The works toliet cleaner at dollar store. The 00 steel wool did great. Thank you so much. My windows look great. I would suggest soaking the stuff that needs to be washed…to soak in some baking soda water then the washing machine
….and wash off the siding as well! Ha ha ha ha! Been struggling with this. Have YEARS of hard water buildup on windows from watering the lawn. I used Soft Scrub but I ended up using an electric Finishing Sander with a ScotchBrite scrub pad & it still didn’t take it off. So I’m definitely going to try this! Thx!
Had some glass i had accidentally stained with oxalic acid (wood bleach). I tried this, and also, “one restore” and every glass cleaner. Nothing worked and almost had to replace a lot of windows. The savior was Meguires synthetic clay pad works amazing! Saved me big time, and the glass was crystal clear!
you need to use a garden hose to totally rinse off the window casing and the siding below the window where a lot of the strong cleaner ran to… Even tho you sprayed about a teaspoon of water to rinse it, that is not nearly enough to dilute the chemical… Over time, that window casing and siding will start breaking down.. The back of that bottle even tells you to RINSE WELL after use.
You can do this at home with disposable everything. Even a cloth to wipe it on with. Squeegees and cleaner tools that need to be rinsed off in the yard or sink is a no go. Don’t even let it run down into the window casing. That chemical is bad for plastic as well as the ground below if rinsed out. It should not touch that many places. Cleaning the windows is not the only objective for the homeowner who cares for their property. Do it without hurting other things.
Thank you SO much for posting this!!! We have an irrigation system in our yard and add that with the wind that is often present, hard water stains have been a part of my window cleaning frustration for 10 years now. I’ve tried numerous things, all with LOTS of scrubbing, but none have ever removed all of the stains. This was SO easy!! I followed your directions and without much scrubbing all of the hard water stains are completely gone for the first time ever!! I can’t thank you enough!!
Is this some extra concentrated version of this product? The one I bought at HD is normal toilet bowl cleaner (9.5% HCl). Same as the Lysol cleaner I use on my toilets. I tried this technique on my shower glass and it had no effect — even with three attempts. Our municipal water has moderate levels of calcium and magnesium. I don’t understand how so many people had success with this method.
That stuff is just expensive HCl. 9.5% according to the MSDS. Just buy a gallon of muriatic acid from lowes and delude it to 9.5%, and you don’t have to deal with the colorful impurities. Thats by mass, not volume. Also, keep a bucket of sodium carbinate solution (baking soda). You can then clean your tools in it, and neutralize the acid.
We were doing a major remodel and I decided I was finally going to tackle my hard water-stained windows. (It was really bad). Walmart was out of The Works, so I used Lysol Bowl cleaner instead. It works just as well! You can literally see the deposits sizzle while as it is dissolving. Thank you again!
So what do all those chemicals do to the soil in the raised beds? In my experience the people I hire to do things to my house are only concerned about the house, never the plants or soil around the house. And if you ask them to protect them, they get annoyed. I cleaned my mineral build-up on my windows with smooth-top stove cleaner. It’s much less toxic but requires a bit more elbow grease.
I have storm door windows with hard water stains along the edges where the windowless the metal frame. Just painted them before realizing the stains. Will i have issues with using the works on this? Have to do 2. Also I need applicator suggestions. I don’t have anything as nice as what you are using. Can i put on with heavy paper towels???
❤️❤️😁😁😁👍 CORRECTION PEOPLE!!! NO STEEL WOOL ( WILL NOT SCRATCH YOUR GLASS WHATSOEVER!!!!!!) It does not matter WHAT STEEL WOOL U USE!!! It’s IMPOSSIBLE TO SCRATCH WINDOWS WITH STEEL WOOL!!!! Other than that – This Works AMAZING!!!! My Brother has worked for window Company for 35yrs and ONCE HE Heard and seen people stating STEEL WOOL can scratch GLASS He started LAUGHING 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 NO!! Impossible it can’t scratch GLASS!!!! Maybe 🤔 if IT HAD DIAMONDS 💎 ATTACHED TO THE WOOL??? Haha haha 😂
Whoa that’s quite the amount of chemicals and wastage, but those results! For the company I work for, we remove calcium from showers using a labour intensive method where we use a sort of angle grinder with a scower pad on, then use some secret anti calcium paste that is great for the fact it isn’t super messy. The buffing takes a long long time and a lot a lota pressure and effort. Perhaps the future to cleaning is learning to safely use acids!
Tried the 1:1 Dawn/vinegar, which worked okay. Then I came across this and gave it a try…hands down the BEST solution I’ve found for removing hard water spots on our windows. Number of applications depends on how many/long you’ve had the hard water spots. I used an old sponge to apply it liberally, let it sit while I applied it to another window, then came back with 0000 steel wool. Shared this it with a friend, his words not mine – “That shit is legit. Thanks for the heads up”!