Some people may think that this article contains only a motivational message, but no… this article is a call to action. And a lot of it. Also defined as “Mass Action”. I certainly don’t want to scare anyone with the word “massive,” but sometimes it’s necessary to provide a reality check. If you think you’re going to have success cleaning up by placing a yellow page ad in the phone book looking for a good company, good luck with that.
Cleaning windows well and removing hard water spots or stains requires a special product that you won’t find every day at your local hardware or grocery store. The glass restoration products I use can be ordered online at a variety of supply stores. In this article, I will list some reputable places where you can order hard water stain removal products and give you an overview of how to remove hard water stains with a hard water stain removal mini tutorial.
Water Stain Removal Project
Just a quick tip before you get started on your water spot removal project. In most cases, hard water spots form due to poorly adjusted sprinklers. So before you start, make sure all the sprinklers are set correctly so they don’t spray the windows. The first thing you will need is a quality hard water stain remover. I am NOT talking about Limeaway or CLR.
These products just don’t work. You can find a list of high quality water stain remover products here water stain remover. Now it can take a couple of days to receive your stain removal product, but it’s well worth the wait. Also, all supplies and services have been tested and used by me on actual jobs, so I know they work and I trust the sources to buy them from. My favorite hard water stain remover is Bio-Clean, so be sure to look for it when shopping for a product for hard water stains. Once you have your hard water stain remover in hand, you’ll need a specific white scouring pad WHITE, not green! I a cloth towel or rag to apply the solution.
The idea here is not to scratch the glass while you remove the hard water stain. Next, make sure you have a window-washing wand or sponge and a glass-cleaning squeegee. To properly clean the window, use a bucket and apply a quick squirt of Dawn Dishwashing Detergent to approx. 2-3 gallons of water. When you start cleaning hard water spots, dip your wand into the cleaning solution and apply it to the glass where the water spots are.
The next step is to apply the stain remover to your rag or scrubber (a fifty-cent sized amount is sufficient at first). Apply this to the glass by rubbing in a circular motion until it starts to feel smoother to the touch. The next step is to apply the soap and water solution back to the window. After soaping the window, use the squeegee to remove the soap and water. It may take a couple of tries to completely remove the stain. Simply repeat the process until the hard water stain is completely removed.
Products and necessary tools
Now that you know which solution to use to clean your windows streak-free, you’ll need a few tools to get the job done right. You can order equipment at a very fair price from a store that uses professional window cleaners and I have provided that site here.
That’s one way to order tools online and have them delivered in about a week. You can also get basic supplies at a hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes. Here’s a list of some basics you’ll want to make your work go smoother and faster for the best results. If used correctly, you should be able to clean your glass without leaving streaks.
Squeegee
Typically, a 6- to 12-inch is best for the home window and an 18- to 22-inch is best for storefront and commercial laundering. It is best to take a couple of different sizes to be sure.
Magic wand
You can buy a wand at a hardware store. Get a comparable size with your squeegee. This will make soaping the crystals and cleaning the screens much faster.
Towels
The best towels for drying window sills are called “huck towels” or “surgical towels.” They are 100% cotton, absorbent and lint free. You can order them at J Racenstein or get them at your local cleaning supply store. These are also commonly used by the maid. Don’t worry if you can’t find this type of towel. A regular tightly woven cotton rag will work just fine, but keep some on hand so you can always use a dry window wash towel.
window wash bucket
This is any 2 to 5 gallon container or bucket. Just about anything that you can easily carry and move will work just fine.
Stepladder
It’s self-explanatory – it can be found at any hardware store depending on the size needed. For a 1-story home and most window-shop work, a 6-foot stepladder will suffice. They are typically used in homes to help clean outside windows, which tend to be a bit higher on the outside, and are also used to clean front door windows.
screwdriver
Just keep a flat head and sometimes a Phillips head screwdriver handy to remove screens and get any excess material out of the corners of window tracks and sills.
Professional window cleaners
Finding a professional window cleaner to clean your windows at home or in the office is a simple task. You’ll get a list of local businesses simply by typing in the name of your city or town and then adding “window cleaning service.” If you are using Google, it will likely bring up a map with listings in your local area.
You can also scroll down and look for reviews on particular window cleaners on Yahoo reviews and city search information. Angies List is also a great place to find information on reputable companies and customer testimonials. Don’t hesitate to ask your neighbors either. You will be surprised how many people use the services and word of mouth is always the best reference.
washing prices
If you’re trying to determine how much it will cost to have your windows professionally cleaned, this information should come in handy. Most window washing companies count windows to determine their estimate price. Here are some very basic guidelines you can use to make sure the price is fair and to help determine whether it’s cost effective to use a professional cleaning service or do it yourself. A quick note: If your house is over 1 story, it is highly recommended to use a professional.
Count the windows by the frame. Each frame is considered a window (upper and lower glass)
True average cost per window in the southern US. Rates may fluctuate based on location and weather. Most cleaners will include screen washing in the offer. If not, be sure to ask for it. A professional window cleaner will always be able to provide you with a streak-free clean.
1 story
Standard windows: $7.00 entry/exit $4.00 exterior only—Colonial style windows: $9.00 entry/exit $5.00 exterior only—Jalousy windows: $9.00 entry/exit
second story glass
Standard windows: $9.00 entry/exit $6.00 exterior only–Colonial style windows: $11.00 entry/exit $8.00 exterior only—Jalousy windows $12.00
Tips for cleaning windows at home
If you plan on washing your own glass at your residence, please use this as a rough guide on the procedure.
Take your bucket and fill it with water, then spray in the dishwashing liquid. Lay it next to the outdoor hose on concrete or a towel to avoid leaving any mess behind when you bring the bucket inside.
Remove all the screens first with the screwdriver if necessary. Put all the screens in order outside and wash them down with a hose and soap from your bucket. You can dip your wand into the bucket and gently apply to the screen, this should only take about ten seconds, then rinse.
When you are done cleaning the screens, wipe the bottom of your bucket and move it inside to a central position and place it on a towel. Pick a corner to start washing windows and move in order through your home to avoid confusion and possibly missing a window.
Once you’ve chosen your starting position, dip your wand into the solution and use your hand to squeeze any excess water out of the wand to prevent dripping. Apply the Window Wash Wand to the glass and gently rub back and forth for about 5-10 seconds. Put the wand back in the bucket and take the squeegee. Have your towel or towels handy in a pocket and then start by running the squeegee up and down against the edge and corner of the window. Move the squeegee blade directly across the glass without stopping until you reach the other side.
Take your towel and dry both ends of the squeegee. Now place the squeegee in the same position as before but where the glass has not yet been cleaned and repeat. Once the window is finished, place the squeegee in the bucket and take your towel, with one or two fingers apply pressure to all edges of the glass to dry the window. Do not use a towel to clean the center of the glass window unless necessary. This will help you have streak-free windows that look good rain or shine.
You may want to keep a rag just to remove tracks and frames. Use a screwdriver with a towel on it to get into tight corners and such.
Once you’ve finished washing all the windows in your home, it’s time to put the screens back in place. That’s why it was important when you started to make sure and keep them in order.
At this point, your window cleaning job should be done and you can be proud to do it yourself and save some money. You will also find a list of online stores where you can buy these products and all the information you need for any cleaning project.