Salt? stains on windows

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andrewharperyachts

andrewharperyachts

Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2020
Messages
9
Vessel Name
Sea Shadow
Vessel Make
Ocean Alexander 56 Pilothouse
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I'm looking for a product or procedure to get rid of windows stains. Only behind screens ( probably due to infrequent cleaning)
Regular cleaners don't even touch them. Ideas?
 
Could be calcium stains. Try vinegar on a small section. If it works, clean with a diluted version, but don't let it get on any other material. A little exaggerated, but I use vinegar like a natural acetone. Works great for getting epoxy off your hands etc. without the dangerous effects of acetone absorbing into your skin.

PS Let the vinegar stand for a little bit to break down the calcium
 
Have you tried white vinegar? If that doesn't work or is too slow, you can get a more concentrated version of vinegar from homedepot (Harris 128 oz. 30% Vinegar All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate VINE30-128 - The Home Depot). I use it to remove mineral deposits and salt on my awlcraft painted hull. I found that regular vinegar wasn't strong enough and took too long while the 6X strength was too strong and took off the paint if I wasn't really fast to spray if off after wiping. I think standard vinegar is around 5%. I found around 10% worked well for my application. YMMV There is nothing else that I've found that will easily remove the dried on minerals on the paint. I've never tried it on glass, but if what's in the picture doesn't wash off with water and a sponge or if it reappears after it dries off, what you have maybe similar to my glossy paint after many days of running and anchoring without the ability to clean it off until I reach port.
 
If all else fails 3m rubbing compound followed by a coat or carnuba wax. Our Nordic Tug had bad water spots that wouldn’t come off with vinegar. Ran into someone detailing a yacht in Anacortes and he said rubbing compound followed by wax is how he handled the problem.

Tom
 
Glasweld window cleaner. We tried several home-brew concoctions and four different commercial products, and then found this.

Glasweld makes the job easy-peasy.

For boat windows that seem to have salt spray embedded in the glass. Here's the link:

ProClean Water Spot Remover
 
After trying and failing with many other things, I finally found success with a 6" foam buffer pad on a Festool Rotex sander, and polishing compound. It took a long time, and was a big mess, but I finally got my windows looking good as new. Mask around the frames before going nuts.
 
tpbrady said:
If all else fails 3m rubbing compound followed by a coat or carnuba wax. Our Nordic Tug had bad water spots that wouldn’t come off with vinegar. Ran into someone detailing a yacht in Anacortes and he said rubbing compound followed by wax is how he handled the problem.

Tom
Click to expand...
Just to clarify: You did this on your windows?
 
We had the same stubborn stains. We hired a glass guy to polish them out. No cleaner worked.
 
Maybe a bit too early, but once you get the stains off your windows try putting this product on the windows. I use it both on the car and on the boat, works like a charm. After a sea with a decent spray I only need to rinse it off with some sweet water, no need to use a brush or soap.
www.rainx.com

Find My Wiper Blades and Water Repellent Products - Rain-X

www.rainx.com www.rainx.com
 
I have used powdered acetic acid with some success. Add to a small volume of hot water and use a sponge with 3m green scratch pad on one side to abrade the mineral depits.
 
Snapdragon III said:
After trying and failing with many other things, I finally found success with a 6" foam buffer pad on a Festool Rotex sander, and polishing compound. It took a long time, and was a big mess, but I finally got my windows looking good as new. Mask around the frames before going nuts.
Click to expand...
A variable speed polisher is also a good option, start slowly and work the cutting compound in, then pick up speed in a cross hatching pattern.
Most folks don’t understand that this will not damage the glass, a commercial boat I work on has had the same windows polished a couple of times a year for the last 25 years.
Apply the polish with an applicator pad before the mechanical buff, minimal product and minimal splatter, once finished, as Mambo mentioned, a couple of coats of the Rainex original (full strength).
Avoid using soap products over the next few months on the windows, only water and a brush, leave the Rainex on to do its job. I only touch up with another coat of Rainex every few months.
 
Collonite non abrasive cleaner/wax will do the trick.
 
We had our sailboat in the Caribbean for 3 years and got a lot of salt spray on the windows. I used Brillo pads and water to scrub them. It worked really well.
 
andrewharperyachts said:
View attachment 158937
I'm looking for a product or procedure to get rid of windows stains. Only behind screens ( probably due to infrequent cleaning)
Regular cleaners don't even touch them. Ideas?
Click to expand...
I tried a zillion products! None of them worked. When we had the boat waxed the guys used a polishing compound and buffer. He was super careful not to heat up the glass too much with the buffer, took lots of breaks and went slow. The windows came out crystal clear! I don't know the product he used, but a car detailing supply could probably point you in the right direction.
 
We have the same issue. We have screens over our windows. Even using almost exclusively softened water for all wash downs, we developed hard water spots. We ended us using Shurhold's Buff Magic with a copper pad. Worked really well. We then followed up as others have suggested by polishing the glass with same we use on the gelcoat. We tried vinegar, etc. After several unsuccessful attempts, tried the Buff Magic on a small area. Works great. Highly recommend. Key ... my opinion ... when you get "clear" is to "polish" in some manner; i.e., wax (our solution), RainX, etc. We prefer wax as it seems to last longer.

Gary
M/V Unwinding
KKY 58EB
 
If you keep up on them, detailers clay works great for taking those hard water spots off.
 
Use elbow grease and Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser, available at almost any grocery store. It will remove virtually any stain from glass. This stuff is a miracle cleaner...literally magic in a cardboard can.
 
RDJackso said:
Use elbow grease and Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser, available at almost any grocery store. It will remove virtually any stain from glass. This stuff is a miracle cleaner...literally magic in a cardboard can.
Click to expand...
I love that stuff too. But it can be tough to store on board. It can set up like concrete in the cardboard tube.
 
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