Remove Unsightly Scratches on Your Home's Windowpanes
Scratched windowpanes can diminish the beauty of the windows in your home. Learn how to remove these marks with the following tips. Once the glass is damage free and clean, carefully maintain the windowpanes so that they do not become scratched in the future.
Materials
- mild detergent
- water
- sponge
- ammonia
- lint-free cloths
- rubber gloves
- face mask
- cerium oxide (jeweler's polish)
- buffing pad
Remove Dirty Residue
Apply a small amount of soapy water to a damp sponge. Wipe each window pane with the sponge to remove dirty residue. The residue may be covering some of the scratches, so removing it will make it easier for you to spot all of the damage on each windowpane. Rinse the sponge out with plain water and move it over the same spots. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and a face mask to protect your skin from chemicals and prevent breathing in the ammonia.
Add equal amounts of ammonia and warm water to a spray bottle. Shake the contents. Spray the surface of each windowpane with the cleaning solution. Wipe each windowpane off with a lint-free cloth. The ammonia will eliminate any fine particles that remain on the glass panes. Dry each pane off with another lint-free cloth.
Treat Each Scratch
Pour a few drops of cerium oxide onto a buffing pad. Cerium oxide is a type of polish that is often used to clean jewelry. Place the pad directly over one of the scratches. Press down on the back of the pad as you move it around with small, circular motions. Add a few more drops of cerium oxide as needed. The scratch will fade as you polish it.
Remove the remaining scratches in the same manner. Spray the window panes, once again, with the ammonia and water solution. Eliminate residue that the cerium oxide left behind with a lint-free cloth. Dry each pane well with another cloth. The windowpanes will be damage-free.
Protect the Glass
Protect the glass from becoming scratched in the future by always using soft cloths and nonabrasive cleaning supplies. Remove dirty residue from the glass as soon as it becomes apparent to prevent it from drying on the glass and damaging its surface. When you open or close a window in your home, grasp the frame that surrounds the glass rather than pushing up or down on the pane. These simple steps will protect the windowpanes so that they continue to look great for years to come.
If you have cracks or holes in your windows, contact a company like Action Glass to repair them for you.
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