Clean old windows- years of gunk!

[88suburbanoverlan]

Hey guys, I appreciate everyone’s support on my journey restoring my 86 suburban K2500.

My budget is a bit tight so right now I’m focusing on cleaning everything up because there is about a year and a half of dirt on this bad boy and the previous owner was living out of it for a period of time.

That being said, on the outside, I’ve got a lot of Oklahoma clay and desert dust remains after a power wash, and Windex is really not cutting it. I am using blue shop paper towels, but there is still a lot of scum on the windows. I tried hitting everything with a razor blade but that’s not doing it either. Should I go with 90% rubbing alcohol and coat the outside windows?

On the interior it’s a bit of a different story. The previous owner added window tint, and I do not want to do anything to compromise that because I can’t afford to redo it right now. Any suggestions on how to clean old glass that has window tint?

I also must say whoever did the glass did a very nice job. Tinting these old windows from what I understand is pretty challenging and so far I don’t see any discoloration or bubbles so if I can get away with it, I’m just going to tint the front windows and back windows to match it, and call it a day as a finishing touch.

 

[Grit dog]

Looks like just baked on water spots from the pic you posted.
Heck I got cars less than 10 years of that look like that and they get washed regularly!
Try straight vinegar first. Or if that doesn’t work, something like CLR.
If that doesn’t work, a polisher and polishing compound.
That would be my order of OPs.

 

[Ken B]

I used a clay mitt made a huge difference.

 

[75gmck25]

I read recently that a clay bar and lube kit will work. They sell them at the auto parts store, but I always assumed they were only for cleaning up dingy paint.

 

[AZ Highlander]

Steel wool on the glass outside always worked better than anything else for me.

 

[poker man]

clay bar ,then vinager mixed with water in a spay bottel,use a mico soft rag

 

[Snoots]

Bon-Ami

 

[84GMCSierra]

Steel wool on the glass outside always worked better than anything else for me.

I use the 0000 steel wool on mine. I'm needing to try the CLR trick though. The water here is really bad.

 

[AZ Highlander]

I use the 0000 steel wool on mine. I'm needing to try the CLR trick though. The water here is really bad.

Yep, Prescott, AZ water ruins faucets and toilets faster than anywhere else I've lived. Hard water just means more maintenance I guess. CLR can work ok. I've found "Bar Keeper's Friend" cleanser and steel wool gets glass clean faster however.

 

[Scribbles]

Hello, this is what most tinters here in AZ use for window cleaning with or with out tint.
The main thing with tint is to NOT clean it with ammonia.

 

[Long Rider]

I use a wetsponge buffing pad and some polishing compound. It even takes off old water spots and baked on crud.

 

[Bennyt]

Dobie Pad and Barkeepers friend

 

[84GMCSierra]

Hello, this is what most tinters here in AZ use for window cleaning with or with out tint.
The main thing with tint is to NOT clean it with ammonia.

Love Sprayway foam

 

[84GMCSierra]

Yep, Prescott, AZ water ruins faucets and toilets faster than anywhere else I've lived. Hard water just means more maintenance I guess. CLR can work ok. I've found "Bar Keeper's Friend" cleanser and steel wool gets glass clean faster however.

I'm in Cottonwood

 

[Rebus]

Don't use anything abrasive! It will leave the glass with a permanent haze and even dangerous to drive at night. No cleansers, no steel-wool, no scouring pads -- even cheap paper towels will damage glass.
Out of the sun, start with a soft cloth or pad soaked in a mineral dissolving solution. CLR or Lime-away are effective products. Both are acidic with ingredients like sulfamic acid or gluconic acid. One can use vinegar which has some acetic acid content, but the CLR or Lime-away are stronger and therefore work faster.