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About Robert Lamb
Expertise
I'm happy to answer any questions you have regarding the cleaning and restoration of your windows. I can also view your pictures via email and give you advice on what you can do yourself and what needs to be left to the pros. I can also give advise on scratched glass, how to repair it & what caused it.
Pressure washing and gutter cleaning are other areas of expertise.
Experience
Over 20 years in the window cleaning industry, owning and operating two window cleaning companies, Rob's Window Cleaning http://www.robswindowcleaning.com and Window Masters http://www.mywindowmasters.com and http://www.robscleaningservice.com
Organizations
IWCA, window cleaning network, chamber of commerce
Publications
"Window Cleaner" magazine
Education/Credentials
International Window Cleaning (IWCA) training on man lifts, awning cleaning and window cleaning.
Awards and Honors
Voted best window cleaner in Western Kentucky.
Past/Present Clients
Applebee's, Cracker Barrel, CVS Pharmacy, Dairy Queen, Dollar General, Edward Jones, Enterprise Rent A Car, Ethan Allen, Fashion Bug, Fazoli's, FYE Music, GNC, H&R Block, Hardee's, Hot Topic, Kentucky Dam Village, Kroger, Logan's Roadhouse, Market House Museum, O' Charley's, Radio Shack, Rafferty's, Remax, Sirk & Co., Stanley Steamer, State Farm, Steak N Shake, Talbots, The Buckle, The Gap, The Outback, Toys Are Us, Victoria's Secret, and hundreds of others.
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You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Housework > Cleaning Up > paint on windows
Expert: Robert Lamb - 10/29/2009
Question
QUESTION: Hi Robert, some windows around the house have paint splash. Is there anything I can clean them with withouth damaging them.
ANSWER: Elsa,
Paint can be easily removed from most windows bu using a new clean safety razor.
What kind window is it? If there is a glued on tint or these are some kind of special windows, please let me know as there are extra precautions you need to be aware of.
Let me know if these are "special" windows and I will walk you through the process.
Sincerely,
Robert Lamb
Rob's Window Cleaning
www.robswindowcleaning.com
Window Masters
www.mywindowmasters.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: The windows are vynil, dual glaze, tinted, and some have grids on them. I posted a picture of one of the windows but can't really see the paint. It seems like previous owners painted the walls with a paint compressor and did not cover the windows.
Answer
Elsa,
If I understand you correctly, the window frames are vinyl. The windows are double glazed and tinted. The windows that have grids on them look like the grids are between the glass in the photo you posted.
If the tint is applied after leaving the factory, for example a 3M window film adhesive, you have to be very careful that you don't scratch the film. Usually, the film is applied to the inside of the windows. If you chose to remove your window tinting film, I have some tips for that too.
If the paint is on the window tinting, the best solution would be to remove the tinting which would also take the paint with it and then have tinting reapplied.
For the sides of the windows that do not have the tinting on them, please follow the following instructions:
You can use either a new safety razor or steel wool to remove the paint. Steel wool is graded by its abrasive properties. You will be able to tell what kind you have, from grade 1-4, by the zeros on the packaging. Do not use "0" or "00" grade steel wool as they are too coarse. On the other hand, "000" or triple fine and "0000" steel wool will work just fine. Also never use rusty steel wool. The reasoning behind all of this is based on the Mohs scale. Mohs rates the "hardness" of a mineral, in this case silica (the main ingredient in glass) as opposed to iron (steel wool in this case). Look it up if you want to know more about this, or just trust my 20 + years of experience.
Note, most window glass found in homes today is "float glass" and is processed by highly trained individuals in a plant that has high standards. Some glass, though, is tempered glass that comes from temperers that have little regard for the public. Professional window cleaners are constantly finding tempered glass in residential and commercial applications that have fabricating debris baked into the glass. This debris is sometimes microscopic and is only discovered when a window cleaning razor (sometimes used instead of steel wool) is run across the glass. When this happens and fabricating debris is present, the debris will break off, get caught under the glass and then cause micro fine scratches in the glass. Remember, this only happens if the glass has been tempered. Tempered glass is typically used in areas where there is a danger of the glass breaking. For example, it should be in all glass doors, and in large plate glass, like picture windows. If you are unsure if your glass is tempered or not, you can look in one corner of the glass for a small sandblasted logo that is supposed to be applied by the temperer.
The process of removing the paint is simple. Simply mix up some window cleaning solution, described below, and apply to the windows with an applicator, a sponge will do. Then using the safety razor or steel wool, scrape off the paint. The window cleaning solution acts like a lubricant to insure you don't scratch the glass.
About the window cleaning solution, water is a great solvent. If you add a few drops of dish washing detergent in a pail of warm water you have your basic window cleaning solution. If you have a smoker in the house, or if you use gas heat, or if you do a lot of frying when you cook, your windows may have some oil on them that needs to be cut with ammonia. The correct proportions of these ingredients? Less is better! Use about 1/2 teaspoon of dish washing detergent to 5 gallons of hot water. If you use ammonia, you will only need 1/4 cup to 5 gallons of water. Add your detergent to your water, not the other way around or you will have far too many bubbles.
To clean your windows first, make sure you have a window cleaning squeegee. You'll need the kind used by window cleaning professionals, not the kind used to clean automobile glass. You can find a professional window cleaning squeegee at most stores that sell products for home improvement, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Unger and Ettore make the squeegees you are looking for and are the name brand most commonly found. Also, make sure you use a new rubber blade as an old blade is sure to have nicks or cracks in it and will leave streaks on your windows. If you find that you can't change the rubber blade in your squeegee, you don't have the right kind of squeegee.
An inexperienced window cleaner, like yourself, would dip a sponge (or brush) into the 5 gallon bucket of window cleaning solution and "scrub the window with it. (By the way, there is a special tool made for this, a T bar, but you don't really have to have it.) For any hard to remove spots, just use the steel wool.
Finally, holding your professional squeegee vertical, wipe a clean, dry swath across your window, wiping the squeegee dry after each pass. On the following pass and thereafter, overlap your swaths by 1/4 of an inch and finish by detailing with your lint free cloth.
You may find it helpful to pre-detail by using your cloth to wipe around the top and sides of the wet window before you squeegee.
Now do you have more appreciation for a professional window cleaner? Possibly now you CAN BE a professional window cleaner!
Let me know how it turns out.
Sincerely,
Robert Lamb
Window Masters
www.mywindowmasters.com
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