So I bought a southern CA coach, windshield is covered by hard water spots everywhere and clouds at the wiper blades and at the window edges. When I drove it eastbound at sunrise it was like snowflakes on the windshield, untill I just pulled over for the sun to climb higher. Used razor blades to get the clouds scraped off. Tried distilled vinegar with not much results. Not real wild about trying muratic acid.. any suggestions?
We've had good results with CLR.
Amazon.com: CLR Complete Cleaning Kit, Calcium Lime and Rust Removal System... (http://smile.amazon.com/CLR-Complete-Cleaning-Professional-Microfiber/dp/B01JVMT4TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500452636&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=clr&psc=1)
The ZEP CLR type product available at big box hardware stores is a commercial grade product compared to std CLR.
Cleaned out a glasd bird bath quickly. White foam instantly on calcium deposits.
CLR barely did anything. The ZEP stuff is the bomb. Test a small area.
I use Soft Scrub or Bar Keepers Friend to remove what you have described from glass surfaces.
Make sure it on the surface and not in the lamination between the glass panels. I have the same thing on my '81 around the edges but it is in the lamination.
Good answers in the responses. Muratic acid is a no-no anywhere around the coach. Bad for the coach, skin, eyes and lungs. Phosphoric is good for the wheels but think CLR-ZEP type product is what you need. Once you get the calcium removed, vinegar is good if your domestic water has a lot of minerals in it.
Pierce
I use #0000 steel wool on mine but if it's in the lamination as craneman mentioned you're screwed. :(
see ya
ken
Edges have some lamination fog, so until something smacks it and insurance replaces it I am ok. Just trying to get rid of the zillions of hard water snowflakes and opaque clouds around wiper blades will try the zep clr, 20-30% vinegar is $$ and hard to find
My favorite go-to for this type of cleaning is Bon Ami original powder, in the red container. It's great on glass, and very mild on other surfaces. I usually start with it for all cleaning tasks, and if that doesn't work I use harsher cleansers. But most of the time if you keep up with the cleaning, nothing stronger is needed.
Especially for glass baking dishes, they clean up to looking like new with Bon Ami, even with charred and baked-on stains. Sure beats soaking and waiting!
It can be tough to find sometimes, but I've always had luck at hardware stores, and it's usually less than $2.00 for the container.
Just a curiosity question: We have a number of people recommending various abrasives. Which ones will scratch the glass and which are "less hard" than glass?
Said another way, what may be just fine for cleaning glass cookware may make glass that one has to look through "up sun" a real mess.
I have no information in this, but am curious.
Thanks.
I've heard some car detailers recommend using #0000 steel wool on glass, but I have never used it.
I have used Bar Keepers Friend with good results and no noticeable scratching. A friend of mine swears by Bon Ami, and has used that on his car windshields for years without any apparent issues.
I clean the windows first with glass gleaner, then vinegar. I am always concerned about grit on the cleaning cloth so use one for application, and fresh one for buffing/drying.
Chris
Barkeeper's Friend won't scratch your windshield, but if you're hesitant to use it here are other suggestions;
Hard Water Spot Causes and Removal (http://www.ewindowwashing.com/window-cleaning-articles/hard-water-spots/)
I saw the #0000 trick on a youtube video about detailing. You do want to first clean the window first. As you scrub with the steel wool you can feel it stick slightly to the window. The more you scrub you can feel the resistance decrease till there is almost no resistance. Once you get to that point the window is clean.
I've done this on my car and the motorhome. Word of advice... Don't do this on the interior. The steel wool drops small threads as you use it. A pain to clean even with a magnet.
I tried many many abrasives trying to get spots off of my coach side windows. Finally figured out that the spots were in the laminate not on the glass. :(
see ya
ken
Although I do not do it very often, I am a fan of #0000 steel wool for windshields and shower stall glass. Just make sure it is completely dry before you start and vacuum up all the steel that falls off the pad in the process. It actually polishes the glass and does not scratch it.
vinegar in a spray bottle. I boat on Lake Travis and after a day on the lake there are water spots everywhere. If you are quick about wiping down the boat you can clean up a good bit. I spray straight vinegar, let sit for a little bit and then wipe off. Spots go away.
Marine stores may carry 0000 bronze wool
Amazon carries 0000 bronze wool.
Update. Tackled the windshield again today with OOOO steel wool, after using a razor blades on the really thick deposit where the wipers park. This is what worked well for me. Rub with steel wool aggressively at first till it starts to get slick. Hit it with a good dose of vinegar. Grab a new steel wool pad and repeat procedure again with vinegar at the end. My windshield was really badly spotted so I ended up doing this 6 times. In two hours one side was close to perfect. Will rain-x it for future.
We use Bar Keepers Friend on our shower glass and frame. Very mild abrasive. Usually Wash Wax All the glass after washing the coach and it keeps the white spots at bay.
I will post some before and after pictures later, polishing with steel wool is truely amazing and well worth the effort. I had no idea oem glass was so dull. Thanks guys x2
Zainobros.com does make a glass polish,have used it,works good.
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White vinegar is what I use. Regular does not work well. CLR and it's like will also work.
Keith