Stubborn Window Stains .. How To Remove?

[Howie]

Hiya guys,

I've got baked on window stains all over the rear window... it seems like all my previous imports have had this sorta stuff on their windows.. previously a razor blade and polish was all that was needed to remove it, but this one's a real stubborn bugger.

So how do i get rid of it?

Thanks heaps

Howie

Update ... problem solved

Before

After

Edited August 17, 2006 by Howie

[Craved]

clay bar thats used on paint before polishing might work

it s used to remove surface contaminents off paint

[Howie]

Tried claying it too no go mate.

[Craved]

bugger

[hayden49]

uecalyptus oil? acetone? etc etc all dont work?

tried rubbing it warm water + salt with a soft cloth, thats how i get water stains off my fish tank glass.

[Howie]

worth a shot! I've got some lying around...

[Howie]

That's a negative on eucalyptus oil.

[IMPORTD]

You need to use a descaler. Its hard water stains. You could try vinegar in some water. I would use the real stuff, Apple Cidar Vinegar. The stuff with brown floaty bits

Dilute in water and use on the windows. Don't drip it on paint work.

Edited August 9, 2006 by StageaGirl

[Howie]

Thanks SG. I'm beginning to think it's oxidized onto the windows, i'll need something with a bit of cutting power.... but i'll give vinegar a go.

Might have to get a detailer with an orbital buffer to have a go at it.

[mad082]

it could also be glue from window tint. go and see a window tinter and see what they use. they should be able to suggest a few things that should work.

[Howie]

It's on the outside, rather than the inside so it's unlikely to be glue.

But i'll ask the professionals... i've seen this sort of oxidization on a soarer that we imported, it took a razor blade and several days to remove it completely, but this is far worse that that.

[ShiftyR31]

try something strong like prepsol or brakkeklean by crc. that should work if its surface. if its actually bedded into the glass a cutting polish would be the best way.

[hanyou]

i have this too and itssss annoying lol pls let us know how u took it off wen u do!

[Howie]

Interesting post I found on meguires online forum.

Glass polishing

Dont try this if you are not confident about your skills ... my car windows have acid rain i cant get rid of it... i try white vinegar, kerosene, windex, cigar ashes with no result... so after getting nutz (some may say what i do is crazy) i decide to go hard with this.

I use W-8000 yellow foam pad with Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner on a rotary buffer at medium low speed and it works well. But I was curious so i try something with more bite and use Compound Power Cleaner and it works magic.

Next time try this by hand with a piece of terry cloth or by machine with a W=7006 foam cutting pad.

#4 Heavy Cut Cleaner

It will work so much better than either of the two product you tried because of the type of diminishing abrasive this product uses. Next time you're around a bottle of #4 Heavy Cut Cleaner, shake up the bottle and pour a little into your fingers and then rub your fingers back and forth. You will easily feel the diminishing abrasives, (if you continue to rub your fingers together your will feel the diminishing abrasives breakdown and disappear).

Now, feel any of the products in the 80's series, such as the #84 Compound Power Cleaner in the same way and it will feel like you're rubbing a soft, smooth hand lotion between your fingers.

The difference is the 80's series uses microscopic diminishing abrasives while the traditional Mirror Glaze products use for lack of a better term, macroscopic diminishing abrasives.

It is this larger size diminishing abrasive particle that cuts, or slices through the film that has built up on the surface of your glass and polishes it off.

Liquid glass cleaners don't offer this polishing effect. When ever I detail a customers car, I'll almost always machine polish their glass with this system so that the glass is a glossy and shiny as the paint. When you do this and you've detailed the car correctly, the finished look jumps out at you! because everything on the car is gleaming.

In Oregon and Washington, I ran into a lot of people with horrendous water spots on their glass, as such, I have a lot of experience polishing glass.

Mike

Original Link

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showt...p;threadid=4930

Sounds good! I might give this a go.

You should check out that thread, the forum members decided to use it all over their bathroom and bedroom windows.. the results look great! lol

Edited August 10, 2006 by Howie

[mad082]

have you tried using some steel wool? works ok, but don't go overboard or you will scratch the glass. otherwise 1 of those green scouring pads.

[sloutch]

I had those stains before on my previous car. I use Windex and got rid of it after a while.

[Howie]

Update. Meguires forum was right.

Meguires Heavy Cut Cleaner (or Meguires Diamond Cut Polish) + a terry cloth + lots of elbow work will do the trick. And it also works on faded headlights for the R34 making them really crystal looking.

[hanyou]

ill give this a go today as well!.. polishing cloth will work same thing yeah?

[Howie]

You could also use a rag of some sort, there's probably no need to ruin your polishing cloth over it.

[Howie]

Mad082:

have you tried using some steel wool? works ok, but don't go overboard or you will scratch the glass. otherwise 1 of those green scouring pads.

Btw, the gentleman who distributed meguires suggested you do not try using a scouring pad or steel wool on glass, that is a huge no no. You definately need a Diminishing Abrasive, one that breaks down to a polish after it cuts or you end up with scratches that can't be removed.

Edited August 12, 2006 by Howie