White Andersen Window Frames, Oxidation and its Effects on Detailing

[mephany]

Vinegar is one of the most effective natural cleaners. I’m no chemist, but from experience it neutralizes the chalkiness. Vinegar is a weak acid. It is waaay faster than any other method for chalkiness because there is no cleanup after. The chalkiness disappears. Its the same thing that happens when vinegar is used to neutralize oven cleaner, which is alkaline. (which is an old and highly effective method of removing metal oxidation/screenburn.)
I know a lot of people hate using oven cleaner because of the lye, but there is no method quicker,cheaper, or more effective.
Does a more informed window cleaner want to chime in with the chemistry? That wasn’t my best subject.

[FBUser]

make sure you always detail with dry towels…I get on my helpers if they don’t consistenly switch out there micro towels or surgical towels because if u don’t your going to leave smudges when u detail with a wet dirty towel.

[Garry]

@Randyfthompson

We hit the windows with a soft scrub brush on a pole using siding cleaner. We wash the window until the milky mess stops running. We check by rinsing the brush in clean water then washing again. Once the window frame is cleaned we then switch to a WFP for cleaning the glass and final rinsing. We found that if we don’t do that, the windows run milky again after the next rain. We educate the owner on the extra steps required and double our fee. We haven’t had a single complaint on the fee or the end result. During the cleaning we change out the rinse water often and make sure the brush that is loaded with paint does not cross contaminant the soap solution. Lengthy process but works like a charm.

I’ve been searching for a way to resolve this pesky issue. I will start experimenting with this procedure (charging accordingly) and see what the results are.

[TheWindowCleanse]

People scoffed but i think this is the perfect detail tool for it.

IPC Eagle Hydro Bottle Kit | Window Cleaning | WCR

[Garry]

Yes, but I recently cleaned a set of windows with my pure water and the white residue was running down the glass like milk. Therefore I don’t think it matters too much the TDS of the water used, but washing, rinsing, then applying some sort of siding cleaner may (may I say) prevent it from being so bad. A period of experimentation may ensue.

[anon82274079]

On vinyl frames, I have found so far, just scrubbing the crap out of them until the milk goes away makes short work of the issue. I hardly ever see it even close to it like that again. On aluminum frames painted white, I’ve seen the paint come off, like it melts away. I try to avoid cleaning those unless the homeowner oks it.

But you live in Florida too, not Indiana. I’m sure the UV and heat are quite different than here.

[Garry]

Yes, the white painted aluminum and brown painted aluminum does strip off the frames over time. I do the finger-rub-test before I offer my bid and tell the customer that there is an added issue of residue leaching onto the glass. In the past I have tried to just not touch the frames, but I think I will add extra scrubbing to those leaching frames. If it is minimal problem the next go around then no need to charge extra for it.