Stained window cleaning

[Tkosinski2]

Hey guys and gals I was just wondering if you could give me some info on how to get really bad stains off the exterior of windows? There so bad it almost looks like an oil slick on the window, brown and blue trails

[shane@detailedreflections]

You can try the various window cleaners. For stubborn things, I'll try the steamer. It usually loosens up quite about.

 

The new aerosol glass cleaner is a bit stronger than the spray.

[Nathan]

I would clay the class then use all purpose cleaner to try to remove it.

[SumBeach35]

Pictures of the issue?

 

I'd personally flip the order of what is posted above me. I would use APC, then clay with glass cleaner as lube.

 

If that doesn't touch it, I'd get some 0000 steel wool and gently clean the windows. Spray the window and into the steel wool with the glass cleaner.

 

If that doesn't work either I would do decontamination with wheel cleaner. starting with 1:1 dilution then moving to full strength if necessary.

Edited February 28, 2017 by SumBeach35

[PacificNWBuckeye]

I would start with a de-greaser like Kevin noted above, an oily film could be any number of things, but you need to get that gone first and for-most.

[Tkosinski2]

Here is the picture of the window stain

[PacificNWBuckeye]

That has the look of a bird dropping...

[falcaineer]

Big bird. Or big lunch.

[SumBeach35]

Another thought it could be is rusty water dripping on the window that attached to already accumulated deposits.

 

Have you tried any of the suggestions yet?

[Tkosinski2]

Sumbeach35 bingo! Rust has been dropping from the roof rack for a long time. I coated it once back in the day and it's didn't clear up. I will try the all purpose idea soon. Getting some new Adams pads in soon so I'm going to polish her up and throw a nice coat of wax on her

[Tkosinski2]

Is there anyway to maybe polish glass?

[SumBeach35]

Is there anyway to maybe polish glass?

I would stick with least aggressive first. Try to clay the window using glass cleaner as a lube. If that doesn't work and now knowing that it's rust, I would likely do a spot test of some diluted wheel cleaner. Protect the paint for getting any contact unless you just want to Devon the whole door since it is likely running down the window and into the paint. After it dwells, clean and assess the progress. If it worked, do the whole window and door if you feel it's needed. If it is still present move to full strength wheel cleaner. Same process. Protect paint to reduce area needing reapplication of protection in whatever form you use on the vehicle.

 

If the wheel cleaner doesn't work I would try 0000 steel wool and glass cleaner. I would imagine this will work.

 

If you really want to polish the glass clean then I would use finishing polish first and a clean Orange pad, and use correcting polish only if needed. I would apply VRT to the trim or tape the trim off wherever possible before polishing. I wouldn't use that pad on paint again thoug so this would be a last option for me.

 

Hope this makes sense and helps you out. I've tried to stick with the least aggressive method first. Let us know your progress. Don't forget to protect the paint after you get this taken care of if any cleaning method comes into contact with the paint.

[astro-jason]

0000 steel wool and glass cleaner should work, if not you can try a wad of neverdull with some wd-40 sprayed on it, sounds crazy but it works.

 

The neverdull and wd-40 can polish faded headlights too. 

 

-Jason

[Tkosinski2]

Used clay and no effect. Going to try the diluted wheel cleaner and clay next

[pirahnah3]

If the clay didnt work, I would personally just jump to the #0000 steel wool, had some of the same issues with some stuff on my front glass and this was the only way to get it clean, once clean now its sealed and cleaned regularly and I have no issues.