What are these stains from and how to remove ?

Caroline
by Caroline

can anyone possibly identify these stains ? They are on my front porch window . I’ve tried just about every cleaning product including bleach but haven’t had any luck removing them

Can anyone possibly identify these stains? They are on my front porch window. I’ve tried several cleaning products including straight up bleach but haven’t had much luck please help

  8 answers
  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Oct 03, 2018

    How to Remove Unknown Stains: Tips and Guidelines | HowStuffWorks

    1. https://home.howstuffworks.com › Home & Garden › Stain Removal

    These stain removal tips will help you conquer your fear of the unknown. ... Acrylic Plastic, Aluminum, Bamboo, Cane, Ceramic Glass/Tile, Chromium, Copper,


    Caroline,

    It almost looks like some type of grease or oil product. Hope the above idea helps


  • Pat Rios Pat Rios on Oct 03, 2018

    You may consider repainting it white.

    • Sand it with a 120 then a 220 grit sand paper,
    • Clean it well with water and vinegar or TSP
    • Roll or brush a coat of oil-based primer
    • Roll or brush two coats of paint
    • Apply 2 or 3 coats of sealer

    Good luck!

  • Weslie Hintz Weslie Hintz on Oct 03, 2018

    Maybe you could use a degreaser?

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Oct 03, 2018

    Try either Purple Power or Green Miracle.

  • Oberlinmom Oberlinmom on Oct 03, 2018

    My guess is that it is coming from the wood. Try using a stain blocking paint like zinzer brand. Some woods, even after a long time, will seep sap or if oils are present. Mystery stains many times come from in the wood. Even if the stains are not from the wood the stain blocking paint will cover and hopefully seal the stains on the paint. It may take several coats (we had water stains that took 3 coats to cover. Most sealing paints these days can be tinted to you choice of color as well.


  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Oct 04, 2018

    I'm guessing Patricia above has the right idea - although you may have PVC instead of wood - I can't really tell in the photo. It actually looks to me like evidence of insects. As they say, "everybody poops" and that includes bugs and lizards that may be crawling on the outside of your house. The end result is a stain. Stains really can't always be removed on non porous surfaces by cleaning. Sometimes they have to be physically lifted off. Hence the sanding and priming and repainting. If this is happening mostly in one spot, check for lights or things that will attract critters at night. That's my best guess.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Oct 05, 2018

    I agree it’s coming from the wood or has stained the paint and the only thing to do it to prime w/ Kilz or Zinser stain blocking Exterior Primer and then paint.