Whether they’re in an office or at home, cloudy windows can drive anyone crazy. They’re a real eyesore and make the interiors of any building look dull, uninviting, and even dirty.
But don’t worry— achieving crystal-clear windows and removing those stubborn hard water stains is much easier than you think. We’ll cover simple, yet effective methods to make your windows spotless than ever before.
Vinegar has been a staple in cleaning hacks, thanks to its acidic properties mild enough to achieve an effective clean without damaging surfaces. It’s extremely effective for hard water stains, as the acid allows it to break down mineral deposits and build-ups usually made from calcium carbonate.
Here’s how to make your water-vinegar solution:
- Mix equal amounts of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution on the stained areas,ensuringe they’re evenly coated.
- Leave it to sit for 5-10 minutes, and allow the vinegar to turn those hard water stains into salt.
- Gently scrub with a clean microfiber cloth in circular, passing motions.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water and then make sure to dry with another clean microfiber cloth.
Lemon Juice: A Fresh Alternative To Vinegar
If the pungent aroma of vinegar isn’t your cup of tea, lemon wedges offer a delightfully fresh alternative.
The citric acid in lemons works similarly to vinegar, dissolving those stubborn mineral deposits without leaving behind a lingering sour scent.
Here’s how to use lemon wedges to clean hard stains off of windows:
- Buy a lemon or a couple of lemons (duh!)
- Cut it in half and use a juicer to squeeze out the juice into a bowl or container. Use more lemons as needed, depending on the level of staining on the windows.
- Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solution, making sure to squeeze excess liquid.
- Gently do circular, passing motions on the hard water stains.
- Rise with water and dry it off again with a microfiber cloth.
Make A Baking Soda Paste
Unlike vinegar or lemon, baking soda is a base, meaning it’s on the opposite side of the pH scale. Baking measures 9 on this scale and is great at dissolving dirt, grease, and other sticky substances.
Additionally, the fine powder of baking soda makes it non-abrasive— it doesn’t leave scratches behind when it’s used for cleaning.
Follow these instructions to make homemade baking soda paste:
- Get a spoonful of baking soda, and place it into a clean, dry container.
- Then, add a little bit of water. Don’t add too much, since you don’t want the solution to be runny. You want it to be in a thick, paste-like consistency.
- Once you get a paste, directly apply it to the hard stains. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Gently scrub off the paste with a clean microfiber cloth or a soft-bristled brush in circular passing motions (don’t use wire wool or other abrasive brushes to prevent damaging the glass surface).
- Rinse thoroughly with water then dry once more with another clean microfiber cloth.
Commercial Hard Water Stain Removers
If hard water stains prove to be overpowering your home remedies, your next best bet is to opt for hard stain removers.
We recommend the following products:
- Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover: Uses a unique formulation which can remove hard water stains that have built up over the years.
- CLR Calcium, Lime, & Rust Remover: Can be used on most surfaces like glass, toilet bowls, and sinks. This is a great product for removing tough calcium and lime deposits. Plus, it’s also great for a wide variety of kitchen or bathroom-related cleaning tasks.
- Rain-X Shower Door Cleaner: While it’s primarily used to clean shower doors, the manufacturer also recommends using it on glass surfaces. It removes harsh buildups, soap scum, dirt, grime, and other hard water stains.
- Invisible Glass Cleaner: Great for light hard water stains (may not be as effective on heavier buildups, but good for light cleaning otherwise). It’s popularly used in general window cleaning.
NOTE: Always do a spot test first before applying any of these cleaning solutions onto windows and other glass surfaces. By spot testing, we mean applying a small amount in an inconspicuous section of the windows before applying it to the entire surface.
The Best Way To Prevent Hard Water Spots: Proper Squeegeeing, Drying, And Filtered/Distilled Water
The title is pretty self-explanatory. If spending on window cleaning isn’t an attractive possibility, look for a cure to the disease. In this case, it’s proper window cleaning habits.
After washing windows, make sure to not leave behind excess water by using a squeegee. Always, always, and always dry the windows thoroughly after cleaning to avoid leaving behind residue.
Lastly, wherever possible we recommend cleaning with distilled or filtered water. Cleaning with tap water increases the chances of leaving behind mineral deposits (calcium or iron may be left behind due to the flow of water in the pipes, or natural external factors).
Pro Tip: Don’t let window cleaning get to a point where you have to deal with huge chunks of mineral build ups — it’s just not worth the time, effort, and cost.
Key Takeaway
Hopefully, this article’s helped you figure out effective ways to remove hard stains off of windows. If none of them work, or the job is just too much to handle for cleaning solutions, you can always go for professional window cleaning services.
Most window cleaning companies charge per window. So there’s no need to have your entire house or facility cleaned if you’re looking to remove hard water stains only on specific areas (like the bathroom or dining room, maybe).
Plus, window cleaning companies are also helpful in the sense that they can advise you on prevention tips to avoid the heavy buildup of hard water stains in the future.