Have you ever been in a facility, like a school, doctor’s office, or hotel, and seen odd stains on the windows? The stains look like cloudy droplets have splattered all over the glass, obscuring the outside view. These are hard water stains, and they’re an unappealing sight on any property’s widows. Here’s what you need to know about hard water stains and how to get rid of them to beautify your building.
What Causes Hard Water Stains?
Hard water stains – also called limescale or hard water deposits – are caused by a buildup of the minerals commonly found in hard water. Hard water itself is defined by the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. These dissolved minerals are left behind on the glass when the water evaporates, creating the stains.
Are Hard Water Stains Permanent?
Hard water stains aren’t permanent, but they can be difficult to clean off of your windows. The calcium and magnesium, which are the primary minerals found in hard water, chemically react with glass. Corrosion will occur and they can start to permeate the surface of the window.
This is bad enough, but it gets worse. If left alone for too long, hard water stains can cause window etching. The top layer of glass erodes, with the minerals creating pits and small scratches on the surface. This is what makes your windows appear milky and cloudy. Removing these mineral deposits from etched glass is very difficult. In fact, really bad cases may require the glass to be replaced.
Do I Need to Hire Window Cleaners for Hard Water Stains?
Don’t get us wrong – there are DIY solutions to clean the hard water stains off of your building’s windows yourself. However, it is better to hire professional window cleaning services than do it yourself.
Why? Because the wrong tools and cleaning solutions can actually make the issue worse. A caustic cleaner can actually harm the surface of the glass, which makes it easier for the stains to penetrate the surface. Unless your business is window cleaning, it’s better left to the professional window cleaners. Otherwise, you could end up paying far more money for replacement windows.
On top of that, cleaning your own windows can be an unnecessary risk. Unless your building is a single level, doing it yourself or having an employee climb a ladder while cleaning materials could be a fall risk. Taller buildings could even require scaffolding and safety harnesses. Plus, it’s doubtful that climbing ladders to clean the windows is in your employees’ job descriptions.
When you hire professional window cleaning services, you ensure that the hard water stains are properly removed from your windows by people who have the training and equipment to do it safely. Your employees will be happy to not risk injury or property damage, and productivity won’t be lost. Everyone wins as you enjoy a lovely view and plenty of natural light coming through your windows. Contact us today to schedule our professional window cleaning services for your property!