Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: spudd on August 10, 2011, 06:38:27 pm

Title: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: spudd on August 10, 2011, 06:38:27 pm: guys, anybody used any of the chemicals for sale on the market to remove built up limescale/brick acid off windows to any success??

had a bad one today looked liked a good few years of constant splach back, said id try and sort it for them??

Is the crystal clear 550 glass restorer any good??

cheers guys :)
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: lee_dewing on August 10, 2011, 08:29:57 pm: Yes top draw.

Follow instructions
http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=186&SectionID=40

this stuff was recomended also for limescale not so harsh haven't got yet
http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=231&SectionID=40
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: charlie2 on August 10, 2011, 08:37:50 pm: yes brillant ... wear rubber gloves it drys your hands out.
regards chris
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: spudd on August 10, 2011, 09:46:02 pm: Cheers guys, what sort of mixtures do dilute at??
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: sunshine windows on August 10, 2011, 10:39:09 pm: Don't dilute for heavily stained windows. Just pour some into a bucket/tray that you can dip an applicator into (preferably on a long pole) and scrub the window at arms length. Once done just pour what you don't use back into the bottle.

I used some last year on heavily stained country house with minging leaded windows and they came up spotless.

As for the post referring to wearing gloves I'm surprised he's got any hands left.
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: Dave Willis on August 11, 2011, 09:05:48 am: I have had a bottle in the back of my van for about two years - ruined two panes of old glass with it and it turns modern glass hydrophobic, I can still see the wipe marks when I rinse now. Overated overpriced cack in my opinion.
I normally use a £3.50 bottle of Viakal for limescale these days. MDR maybe better for other stains like brick salt.
I have a bottle of killrock in the van that cost me about two quid - I might give that a go when I remember.
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: Spruce on August 11, 2011, 11:17:06 am: Hi

I don't want to throw a curved ball in here, but has anyone tried Harpic Power Plus toilet cleaner to remove limescale.

I put some around the basin taps the other day where there is always a buildup of limescale, left it for a few minutes and wiped it off. I've always scrapped it off before.

Is see it contains Hydrochloric acid and needs to be treated with caution and handled correctly.

The Americans recommend Muriatic acid for cleaning windows which is the same stuff but warn against uncontrolled use as it will kill plants nearby or animals if they ingest it. So I won't consider using it if there was a fish pond in the vicinity.

I have just tested some on the corner of our kitchen window. Put it on with a paper towel on the glass, rubber and upvc, left it for a few minutes and hosed it off whilst in my bare feet. No effect yet recorded and window components seem fine.

As take no responsibility for the recomendation or use of this product at all. Used entirely at your own risk.

Spruce
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: Londoner on August 11, 2011, 11:31:41 am: Ordinary Cillit Bang for Lime and Grime has done me for years. My friend who is a car valet uses it to clean car wheels coincidentally. Saw some in his van and asked him what he uses it for.

If that lime or concrete residue has been on the glass a while it may well have etched it so make sure the customer is aware of that before you start. Part of the advantage of using a supermarket shower cleaner is you can't really be accused of using "chemicals" on the glass. I just say its shower cleaner,trying to make out you have some magic potion can backfire on you.
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: Spruce on August 11, 2011, 01:26:34 pm: Quote from: Vince Green on August 11, 2011, 11:31:41 am
Ordinary Cillit Bang for Lime and Grime has done me for years. My friend who is a car valet uses it to clean car wheels coincidentally. Saw some in his van and asked him what he uses it for.

If that lime or concrete residue has been on the glass a while it may well have etched it so make sure the customer is aware of that before you start. Part of the advantage of using a supermarket shower cleaner is you can't really be accused of using "chemicals" on the glass. I just say its shower cleaner,trying to make out you have some magic potion can backfire on you.

Hi Vin
.... and this is the reason why I try to only use household products available off the shelf - no cosh documents etc to carry around in the van.
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: aztec on August 11, 2011, 06:30:43 pm: we use 0000 grade wire wool
Title: Re: best stuff to remove limescale residue??
Post by: J. Domingos on August 14, 2011, 10:27:03 pm: Try VIACAL on Spray, from Tesco. It's really good stuff.