How To Remove Hard Water Spots From Windows | HowStuffWorks

Home » How To Get Hard Water Stains Off Glass » How To Remove Hard Water Spots From Windows | HowStuffWorks

Maybe your like

By: HowStuffWorks.com Contributors
  • Share Content on Facebook
  • Share Content on LinkedIn
  • Share Content on Flipboard
  • Share Content on Reddit
  • Share Content via Email
It's easy for glass to get stained by hard water; however, you can get rid of the residue with a mix of water and vinegar. Busà Photography / Getty Images

Water is not the same everywhere. In some areas the water has a high content of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. This water is called hard water [source: Britannica]. After the water has evaporated from a surface, such as a window, it will leave spots known as calcium deposits or lime scale. At first it's not very noticeable, but after a while the deposits build up and there's a thick whitish glaze. In the early stages, these deposits are easy to get off, but over time as they are baked on by the sun, they become more difficult to remove, giving your windows a rough texture and unpleasant haziness [source: Glass polishing]. Here is a foolproof way to get rid of hard water stains on your windows.

  1. Prepare a mixture of half water and half vinegar.
  2. Soak a towel in the solution.
  3. Press the towel onto the rough spots on the window. Let it sit there for a minute or two. The acidity in the vinegar will soften the mineral deposits making it easier to wipe off. You can also try draping the towel over the window, if it will remain hanging and not fall down.
  4. Wipe and press the towel on the window until the spots disappear. You may have to repeat the process several times until all the spots are gone.
  5. Dry the window with a rag. You may want to shine the window with a window spray.

Another tried and true way to remove hard water spots from your windows is by rubbing them with some white wine [source: BBC].

Advertisement

Cite This!

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Copy HowStuffWorks.com Contributors "How to Remove Hard Water Spots From Windows" 10 June 2011.HowStuffWorks.com. <https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-hints-tips/cleaning-organizing/how-to-remove-hard-water-spots-from-windows.htm> 20 February 2026 Close Citation More Awesome Stuff

Advertisement

Advertisement

Loading...

Tag » How To Get Hard Water Stains Off Glass