That's because Windex can't tackle water stains. To truly remove these spots, you need a highly acidic cleaner. Household glass cleaners like Windex are gentler on glass surfaces. For hard water spots, you'll need a low pH cleaner (low pH = high acid!) to do the dirty work.
No. Windex is not a good option for removing hard water stains. You need fairly acidic conditions to remove hard water stains and Windex doesn't have a low pH formula. You would be better off using a citric acid solution to remove the hard water stains, rinsing with water and then using Windex.
Stain Remover
Windex makes a great stain remover including laundry stains, grease stains and other tough stains, but make sure you use the clear formula. Does the blue formula disinfect? The blue formula can actually leave stains behind, leaving you with double the work!
Use Distilled White Vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is a mild acid (acetic acid) that will help break the bonds the hard water minerals have formed with the glass surface. You can also substitute fresh lemon or lime juice (citric acid) in the cleaning solution.
Professional window cleaners like Window Genie are trained and experienced in this battle. Window Genie uses a polishing paste specifically designed to fight the minerals that create these stains. The paste is applied to a non-abrasive cleaning pad and the window is lightly scrubbed.
Slice a lemon in half and rub it on the glass with a fair amount of pressure. The natural acidity of the lemon removes hard water stains with ease. Mop up the lemon juice left behind with a soft cloth or paper towel. Finish with a spray of glass cleaner and wipe it away with newspaper for a streak-free shine.
“Windex shouldn't be used on granite or marble kitchen tops. Cleaners like Windex can etch or dull the surfaces of natural stone,” says Rick Glickman, president of Dream Kitchens, a design studio in Highland Park, Illinois.
It dissolves sticker residue and water-based glues like white craft or school glue. Windex also works to help remove cyanoacrylate glues, also known as super glues, by weakening the glue's bonds and making it easier to gently scrape the glue off your glass.
Calcified hard-water stains, or limescale, can be particularly stubborn. To effectively remove them, soak the affected area in white vinegar for 15-20 minutes, then scrub with a brush.
STEP ONE: WET YOUR MAGIC ERASER.
Water activates the tough micro-scrubbers, so they can dig deep and remove hard water stains from glass and the toughest soap scum, making cleaning shower glass easier than ever.
HG limescale remover concentrate is the ideal strong limescale remover for removing stubborn limescale. This heavy duty limescale remover also removes rust and urine stains as well as verdigris.
When hard water evaporates, a mineral residue is left behind, causing a stain. While these stains can require a considerable amount of elbow grease, they're not permanent. In fact, there are several methods for removing them.
Yes! Especially if you're not a fan of white vinegar DIY cleaners. Prominski swears by Windex for cleaning bathroom mirrors and shower glass. “It works really well and doesn't leave streaks,” she says.
Dawn dish soap can help remove hard water stains in your home, but it is not strong enough to do so on its own.
Mix Dish Soap and Hydrogen Peroxide
Add 2 parts hydrogen peroxide (1 cup suggested). Add 1 part dishwashing liquid (1/2 cup suggested).
There are many different formulations of Windex. The ingredients vary between products, but they typically contain surfactants, solvents, and dyes. These chemicals are irritating when swallowed and can cause unwanted signs and symptoms including vomiting and abdominal pain.
For best results, make sure you completely rinse suds. Do not allow product to dry before rinsing, rinse windows from top to bottom and use Windex® Outdoor Sprayer when the temperature is above 55º F. If the product is applied to eaves or siding above windows, it may drip down on windows.
Dish Soap Solution
Believe it or not, one of the most common and effective window cleaning solutions that is used by professionals is a mixture of dish soap and water. Simply mix one gallon of water with two teaspoons of liquid dish soap, and you have a professional window cleaning solution.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a classic method of removing hard water stains from a multitude of surfaces. Simply mix baking soda and water until you have the consistency of a paste, and then apply the paste to the surface with water stains.
Hard water stains won't come off with a basic glass cleaner, but luckily, pantry staples, like white vinegar and baking soda, will effectively remove the unsightly spots.
Specialized Tools and Techniques: To keep shower glass clean, hotels use soft cloths to dry the glass after each cleaning session, preventing water spots. For tougher grime, a mixture of liquid dish soap and baking soda can be applied, especially in the shower door tracks, where buildup is common.