R.A., South Yarmouth

A. That white is powdering paint coming off the frame, and just rubs off on your sponge, and the sponge transfers it to the glass. You can wipe the frame and dry if off before you wash the glass, and this will reduce and possibly eliminate the rubbing off. Or, as the Handyman does in a similar situation, keep the sponge off the frame when you wash. It is a problem, admittedly, but it is the nature of that enameled aluminum to rub off, and the only cure is to have the manufacturers use a paint that does not do that.

Q. I installed insulated glass sliders on an old porch that has a concrete floor and flat roof. I have had to replace the sliders three times in 15 years because of fogging of the glass. There are four large panels and six small ones, so replacement is not inexpensive. How can I keep them from fogging up? I know single-glazed doors will solve the problem, but I would rather stay with the double-glazed (insulated) doors.

E.C., Newton Centre

A. It sounds as if the concrete floor is on a proper foundation, therefore it is stable and does not move in winter. So, the only reason for the repeated fogging is the quality of the sliders. Invest in a better quality slider; you have to replace the glass anyway.

If the concrete floor is not on a proper foundation, it is likely to move in winter, and there is enough movement to break the seal in the sliders, causing the fogging. Any future double-glazed installation will follow the fate of the others because of that movement. Therefore, unless a foundation is built under the slab, the only success you might have is with single-glazed doors.

Q. My old house has, quite naturally, old glass, and some of it is cloudy. I think it is dirt that has dried and stayed on despite many efforts. I tried paint thinner and scraping with a razor blade, and some did come off. But not all. I'd really like to get it clear.

J.D., Hingham

A. Presumably it is on the outside, and if it is dirt, you may have to keep the cleaning material on the glass for several minutes so it will soften and dissolve the dirt. A strong solution of ammonia and water will do this. Keep applying it and don't scrub or scrape for several minutes.

Other mixes to try: Wash with mix of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts warm water. Or, one level tablespoon dry mustard powder to a quart of water.

If it has been etched by weather, try rubbing with Bon Ami and a damp sponge. Or, try Lime-Away. A last resort is Never Dull Magic Wadding, sold in hardware stores; it is not designed for glass, but will work on glass.

These mixes and rubbing should not scratch or etch the glass; the only things that will scratch glass are too-gungho use of steel wool or soap pads or the point of a scraper. It's hard enough to scratch glass with a real glass cutter.

Here's some more information on etched glassware, or that cloudy look on glassware that is washed in a dishwasher. There are many ways to clear up that cloudiness, which the Handyman has suggested on numerous occasions.

However, Anita White of Charlotte, N.C., wrote with this information: ``The problem might surface because one is using too much detergent. Dishwasher instructions and instructions with the dishwasher detergent direct us to ``fill'' both cups. This is unnecessary and causes etching on glassware and dulls flatware.

``I've been using just a scant teaspoon full for years -- in each cup -- and the results are fine!''

Q. A window washer scratched 60 percent of my windows when he tried to scrape off labels, then paint. Can those scratches be worked out?

J.R., Natick

A. Yes, but: The fellow who did the scratching should do it. It is very tedious and time-consuming. Buy cerium oxide (jeweler's rouge), apply this to a buffing bonnet on a power drill and buff on the scratch. This technique will not work with tempered glass; it is likely to cause tempered glass to disintegrate. If the scratches cannot be buffed out, the washer should replace the damaged sash.

Q. My big picture window of Thermopane has fogged up between the two panes of glass. Is there any way I can get rid of that fogging?

RICHARD WHITE, Needham

A. Not really. It's better to replace the glass, which is the standard way of fixing fogged double glazing.

Q. My old glass pitcher is hopelessly fogged up. How can I get it clear?

M.C., Lynn

A. Not hopelessly, because there is something you can do. Try one of these homemade tricks; all three can work.

1. Rub pitcher, in and out, with Never Dull Magic Wadding, sold in hardware stores in a nice blue can with red and white trim.

2. Soak the pitcher in a bucket of water in which one or more denture-cleaning tablets have been dissolved.

3. Wash the pitcher with a mix of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Let the pitcher air dry.

Q. A lot of my good glasses are heavily fogged from having been through the dishwasher so many times. How can I make them look like new again?

SALLY KALLSTROM, Lexington

A. There are several things you can try; one or all may work: 1. Rub the glasses with Never Dull Magic Wadding, sold in hardware stores. 2. Soak the glasses in a large pan in which several denture-cleaning tablets have been dissolved. 3. Wash the glasses with a mix of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Let them air dry.

Q. How can I get the soap scum off my glass shower door? I tried Dow Bubbles and Glass Plus without success.

M.O., Derry, N.H.

A. Try Soft Scrub, paint thinner or kerosene. Or apply baking soda with a damp cloth.

Q. My 4-by-4-foot double-glazed window is fogging up, after having sprung a leak, after 30 years. Would it be possible to cut out one of the layers of glass so I can keep it clean?

L.C., Peabody

A. If it started fogging up after 30 years, I'd say it certainly has served you well, although a single-glazed window can last indefinitely; 30 years is nothing to such a window. But before you cut out a whole glass area, try this: Drill a hole in the outside glass, one in each bottom corner a few inches away from the edge. This might allow air to circulate and clear the glass. Just for the heck of it, you can drill holes at the top corners, as well. Glass is not easy to drill holes in, so practice first on a scrap piece.

Before you try this, make darned sure the glass is not tempered glass; if it is, it will explode if you try to drill into it or cut it. Tempered glass is used mostly in sliders and French doors, storm doors, sidelights and other places where the glass goes from ceiling to floor, or nearly so, with a danger that it could be walked into.

If you break the glass trying to drill a hole through it, you can always cut out the whole pane, making the windows a single-glazed one.

Q. A bad wiper scratched the windshield on my car. Can scratches be buffed out or fixed in any way?

L.F., Framingham

A. Minor scratches can be buffed out, but it is a long, tedious process. My friend John White, the Globe's auto writer, said that there are some companies who can buff out or fill scratches with a special compound, and that the Registry of Motor Vehicles OKs this, so when you have your car inspected, it will pass muster.

Q. You mentioned in a column about drilling small holes in double-glazed glass to end fogging. Would that work with a single-glazed window and an inside storm? I propose drilling small holes in the wood frame rather than the glass of the main window, which is outside, while the storm is inside. The obvious reason I'd like to try this is the fogging between the windows.

R.P., Wellesley

A. For starters, you could try tightening up those interior storms, making sure they are air tight, because fogging between windows means that moist house air is getting around the storm and condensing in the cavity between the two windows.

Short of that, drilling holes in the frame of the outside window just might work, releasing water vapor before it condenses into fog. Drill a small hole in each bottom corner of the frame; you might have to insert a very thin metal tube to keep the holes open. A vent nail, sold in hardware and building supply stores, would be good for this purpose. Then sit back and see what happens. If the fogging ebbs, you know you are on the right track.