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Silicon oil removal

Pjj

Premium Member
Messages
13,422
Location
Cornwall
Does anyone have a suggestion for  the removal of silicon oil from a conservatory window frames and glass in the picture below , I have tried , washing up liquid, virosol so far but  it won’t touch it  don’t really want to have to use solvent cleaner .  The conservatory company changed the roof and have smothered it with this stuff over the top of algae and it’s like sealed the algae into the surface . 

2304F938-FD5D-4943-982B-E02E86CB3C97.jpeg

7486FBD8-45B4-4D55-BB4B-D392CE48B91A.jpeg

 
Surely that's for the fitters to remove. They put it on there. Apart from that they should have the experience and the equipment/cleaning products to remove it.
The problem is they charged the customer to do it when they replaced the roof and guttering cost a small fortune , they said it would seal and protect the plastic , but now it’s run onto the glass and just looks a smeary mess , the firm are saying it’s normal !,,,,,, we have just started cleaning all the houses in this little hamlet and the owner wants it removing so want to get him on side and happy , he’s jumping that the conservatory firm won’t do anything about it he spent many thousands with them having roof and guttering replaced it’s all aluminium I dread to think what it all cost , so I want him to be happy with what we do but so far cannot get rid of it I have scrubbed it with neat virosol , and washing up liquid and near boiling water but it’s not removed any of it , if you rub your hands over it you cannot grip anything it’s that slippery I have come across this before and just walked away but need to sort this for them as  they want loads of work doing and he has accepted the price so cannot walk away ????

 
The problem is they charged the customer to do it when they replaced the roof and guttering cost a small fortune , they said it would seal and protect the plastic , but now it’s run onto the glass and just looks a smeary mess , the firm are saying it’s normal !,,,,,, we have just started cleaning all the houses in this little hamlet and the owner wants it removing so want to get him on side and happy , he’s jumping that the conservatory firm won’t do anything about it he spent many thousands with them having roof and guttering replaced it’s all aluminium I dread to think what it all cost , so I want him to be happy with what we do but so far cannot get rid of it I have scrubbed it with neat virosol , and washing up liquid and near boiling water but it’s not removed any of it , if you rub your hands over it you cannot grip anything it’s that slippery I have come across this before and just walked away but need to sort this for them as  they want loads of work doing and he has accepted the price so cannot walk away ????
That’s a difficult one. I still wouldn't do it though.
I'd tell them you're more than happy to keep it up together long term with maintenance cleans but even with the years you've been in business this problem is out of your personal experience, don't know how to solve it and you're afraid you may possibly cause further problems.

They should not accept that the fitting company don't want to know. I would be telling them I want it removed or I'll have no alternative but to contact Trading standards and warn other people of their poor standards and customer service. It can't be normal or acceptable to contaminate the glass and leave it on there surely?

 
Hey @Pjjyou can try this stuff it has worked good for in the past to remove silicone grease off glass...

De-Solv-It Contractors' Solvent

 
That’s a difficult one. I still wouldn't do it though.
I'd tell them you're more than happy to keep it up together long term with maintenance cleans but even with the years you've been in business this problem is out of your personal experience, don't know how to solve it and you're afraid you may possibly cause further problems.

They should not accept that the fitting company don't want to know. I would be telling them I want it removed or I'll have no alternative but to contact Trading standards and warn other people of their poor standards and customer service. It can't be normal or acceptable to contaminate the glass and leave it on there surely?
I agree with what you are saying but as a company we specialise or try to in doing things others cannot ??? so want to sort it for them they have booked other work with us to the tune of 2k so I have no choice but to find a solution , ???

Can't say if it will work but you could try Oil-Flo 141.
No never used it , it’s unger isn’t it ??

 
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Hey @Pjjyou can try this stuff it has worked good for in the past to remove silicone grease off glass...

De-Solv-It Contractors' Solvent
Ok thanks sounds like solvent cleaner ? We carry that but was hoping for an easier spray on scrub off but might have to try that type of thing , it’s a large conservatory and doing all that and around the closers will take ages ???

 
I agree with what you are saying but as a company we specialise or try to in doing things others cannot ??? so want to sort it for them they have booked other work with us to the tune of 2k so I have no choice but to find a solution , ???

No never used it , it’s unger isn’t it ??
I understand. Good luck. ?

 
Hope you find something that works, it's nightmare stuff I have a job where it was applied to a new door dark rosewood effect door like the frames in your pic it has naturally worn off I am guessing but the door and frame looks completely dull and a mess not how a 1k door should look after 18 months of fitting 

 
Ok thanks sounds like solvent cleaner ? We carry that but was hoping for an easier spray on scrub off but might have to try that type of thing , it’s a large conservatory and doing all that and around the closers will take ages ???
I cant think of anything else that would work without damaging or fading out the frames or removing to much of the silicone,  if your understanding me.

Sometimes you got to put in some manual labor!??

 
You can't use a magic sponge on those type of frames it will damage the finish it will completely dull the finish by taking a top layer off.
I thought it was just on the glass?

Just reread first post and you are right frames and glass. Cheers for correction.

 
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I assume you have tried isopropyl alcohol and a Magic Eraser? 
No I haven’t do you think that would  it remove it ???  

You can't use a magic sponge on those type of frames it will damage the finish it will completely dull the finish by taking a top layer off.
They are brown Wood grain effect like a plastic film , it’s also all over the glass the top openers are leaded as well 

 
No I haven’t do you think that would  it remove it ???  

They are brown Wood grain effect like a plastic film , it’s also all over the glass the top openers are leaded as well 
Isopropyl alcohol is great as a degreaser but not sure if it will work via a pole. I have only ever used it as a degreaser on small stuff in my hands with a cloth. It is good neat for removing sticky marks, soap, oil etc. Using it on roof might be a tad difficult.

Magic erasers are good on a surprising amount of things but again it probably needs to be hands on, maybe on a gardiner scraper? They are cheap so might be worth a go on the glass, no ideas on the frames.

One thing that might be worth a try is see if you can find out who makes the upvc (not the window company but their frame raw components) then ask them what can be used to clean the oil off. Sometimes the manufacturers print their name on the edges of the frames, so open a door and loot at the edges. Might get lucky?

 
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