[gazz28]

Just come back home from a job today where I had to clean the inside of some georgian windows. They looked like they hadn't been cleaned for years. Anyway, I've spent half the day moving dirt from one part of glass to another. I just couldn't get most of the dirt off. I was using a strong solution of GG4 in a spray bottle and some new Unger microfibres, so nothing wrong with the tools. I usually do a good job ( so I'm told), but today I wasn't happy with my work.

I explained to the customer that the windows were in a bad state and rthat afew smudges might have been left. I think she'll be ok with it as I cleaned her consewrvatory on saturday and she was well pleased. Anybody else come across windows that just don't seem to get that clean no matter how hard they try? Any advice would be great.

[JM123]

sometimes with old, poorly maintained glass, the glass becomes rough and the surface is dulled and doesn't give off its usual mirror finish.  You can't really do much more with windows like this.

[simon knight]

I get the same problem. It's not dirt so much as dust that has collected on the lower part of the frame. If you wet it it becomes like a paste and smears the glass.

Believe it or not I have a 2" paint brush that I use to brush off the lower part of each frame (starting at the top of course), then a dry microfibre to polish the glass.

Any stubborn bits get a licked finger treatment then the microcloth.

[s.hughes]

I hate doing windows like that when the sun is on them, in fact I hate doing any windows inside when the suns on them

[Pat Purcell]

How come you didnt use a squeegee , I find that if you use too strong a solution of GG3 then it makes the water stickier but thats with a squeegee, Is it possible it was nicotene or was the heating system forced hot air as that can leave a mess on the windows if the filters not changed

[rosskesava]

With windows that are filthy, I use wire wool after wetting the glass.

It works wonders.

Cheers

[Ian_Giles]

on glass like this you have to go to town.

Dust off what you can and if they are georgian panes, either get a sponge or take the sleeve off the applicator and use that.
Nice soapy water...you will do as well with fairy as with anything else at this point...wash all of the frames and glass, if it's a smokers house you will have to be really thorough.
Bucket by the window and use your washer sleeve to wash everything down.

Use your wet scrim and mop down the frames and glass, keep rinsing out the scrim in the bucket.

Sounds longwinded, but it isn't.

Use a small squeegee and do the glass.

Dry off the frames with your REALLY WELL RUNG OUT wet scrim.

The glass and frames should at least be reasonable by now.

I'd personally recommend using a proprietry glass cleaner in a sprayer now, mist the glass and use a clean micro or scrim to just clean the glass.

If the panes are big enough then use clean water and equipment and use your applicator and squeegee (minimal water!!)

Maybe do a few windows with the first stage before you go back to them with the second stage.

The method you described would probably make even good windows appear smeary.
If you are using a microfibre or scrim to buff clean, and a strong solution in the water then you are going to leave smears.

The less you have in the water, the less there is to leave on the glass.


Ian

[cybersye]

Ross is right, think he may have suggested that to me before,
I've a customer whos had an overflow dripping down her georgian back door for best part of a year, each month I've sprayed a solution of ammonia and fairy onto one of the pains and scraped it with a clean blade, all the limescale shifted no worries, just another suggestion.
Simon