To clean old windows that have a cloudy film, use Easy Off oven cleaner or any other that has LYE in it. Wet the window pane with wet cloth and spray oven cleaner over area. Leave set a minute or so and wipe off. If the film is not entirely off then repeat or leave on a little longer. I got this tip from a professional window washer. He also stated that a fine steel wool and straight ammonia will also remove the cloudiness from window panes if it isn't inside a double insulated window.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a small, old glass bowl that was my mother's. I would like to know how to clean the whitish film from it. I have tried using vinegar and hot water with no success and wonder if anyone can help me. Perhaps a baking soda mixture may do the trick? Thanks for any help you may be able to give to me.
By Elizabeth
I use to work with flowers. When we reused vases that had water film on them we would drop pieces of denture cleaning tablets in them with water and let sit for a while. The film would wipe right off. Maybe it will work for you. Good luck :)
I do know that the denture tablets trick will work--it may not get all off, but will make a big difference. Just don't try anything that will ruin it---better to have a stained family item, than none!
Could be etching on the glass from a dishwasher. This can happen to all glass items. this would be permanent.
I'm not sure what the product is, but many car window repair places say they can make small cracks disappear. I have also seen the same thing offered for eye glasses. If you could find out what they use, maybe it would remove these etchings from the dishwasher.
Try a magic eraser. If that doesn't work then try scratch free comet. I clean houses for a living and these 2 things usually work on everything.
Use LemiShine from Walmart. Works in dishwasher. Great stuff. Got the film off all of my dishes/glasses so now I use it all the time. Look for it with the dishwasher detergents.
Use barkeepers friend let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes before cleaning it off best kept secret
Magic Eraser! I inherited a curio cabinet with glass doors and tried "everything" and the film inside just seemed to get worse. I saw the suggestion for Magic Eraser and it worked fabulously! Thank you!
I got a really great deal on a 40 gallon aqaurium setup. I have noticed the tank glass is cloudy, and need some solutions to properly clean the glass.
I have tried vinegar and warm water without success. I would really appreciate any help.I always use table salt to scrub with. Sometimes I use a Brillo pad too. I know it's not recommended but if your rinse it well it will be fine.
You might try CLR. It's supposed to be environmentally friendly and it's available at lots of places, Walgreen's, etc.
I have worked and made aquariums for yrs. The thing is, is it plexi-glass or glass?. If it's plexi glass, do not use anything but the softest suff for teflon pans. It scratches really easily. Fill it & let the water sit on it for a few days, then use something really gentle. If you use any cleaning products on it, the plexi-glass will absorb it, then you might have many fish or whatever, die.
The aquarium that I got from my sister had the cloudy look and rings in it and I took just plain baking soda and scrubbed the glass real good and it cleaned right up and rinsed real good to be sure I got all of the baking soda out.
I bought some clear bowls from the thrift store. They are really nice, however they have this film on them like they have been sitting in the cupboard for years. I have washed them in the dishwasher, used CLR on them, soaked them in hot vinegar and I still have a film although it seems to be getting better. Does anyone have another suggestion? I really like these bowls, but I guess I always have the alternative of throwing them away. Help!
By AnnMarie G.
I checked the thrifty fun archives, and found a post that recommended using Easy Off or a similar oven cleaner to remove the film. The post also said you could use fine steel wool and straight ammonia. Hope this helps.
I have used denture cleaning tablets to clean up glass vases/glasses and such. If the bowls are glass, try this. If they are etched, maybe a glass polishing and good washing would improve them.
You may have small scratches that cannot be removed. You can still use them, but they are not going to be crystal clear.
Our new clear glass table top, has a cloudy stain on it after we had dinner on it one day. The problem is this stain is unremovable, I've tried a razor, lighter fluid, nailpolish remover and nothing has budged it. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before, or do you have any solutions?
Try CLR, it is unbelievable stuff, just do the whole glass then rinse well.
What is CLR? I saw in one of the comments that I can buy it at Walgreen's-but I'm not sure what to ask for.
CLR is the actual name of the product. Stands for Calcium, Lime, and Rust remover. You can find it at most grocery and building stores like lowes and Home Depot
My glass top coffee table always cleaned cloudy. I tried everything from Magic Eraser to vinegar, alcohol, Easy Off. Petroleum Jelly (quite messy), you name it. Nothing worked. One day I just scrubbed both sides of the glass with an old wet pillow case and some Dawn dishwashing soap.
I have tried soaking clear glass dishes and tumblers with vinegar and water, and that took off a little, but there is still more on them. Any ideas?
By Judith
Baking soda
