Window Cleaning 101: How to Clean Your Windows Effectively
While windows often play second fiddle to other structural features in your property, their significance is unquestionable. Besides making a good first impression; clean windows are a source of fresh air, natural light, and hygiene. Especially if your windows are double glazed, then you should be looking for a fresh and crisp look.
Unfortunately, the prospect of cleaning your windows isn’t a straightforward one. Without a general understanding of how the process works, you may end up doing more damage than good.
Here are simple strategies that will guide you on how to clean your windows effectively, without leaving any streaks, or breaking any glass in the process.
Contents
Tools of the Trade
To successfully clean your windows, you require specific washing equipment like:
- Lint-free cloths/rags
- Squeegee
- Bucket
- Liquid soap
- Vinegar
Once you have every item on the checklist, proceed with the step below.
Use Water and liquid Soap on the Exterior
Water mixed with dish soap is a powerful combination that gets the dirt off your windows fast. To realize the true potential of this technique, stick to the following sequence:
Mix the Homemade Solution
Pour two gallons of water into a bucket, and add a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to go along. Stir the solution till it forms a complete mixture.
Scrub the Glass
Dip the squeegee into the soap solution and use it to scrub parts of the window. Using both vertical and horizontal movements ensure you scrub every inch of the glass.
Separate a Clean Strip
Cut a thin strip using your squeegee, along either far end of the glass and make sure it’s narrow enough to start the horizontal cuts.
Begin the Rinsing Process
While the rinsing process is among the last stages, it demands more concentration than the rest.
Using the squeegee start rinsing your window in a horizontal pattern, making sure each overlap precedes the last one. Ensure that the blade is firmly on the window and wipe it after every squeegee, using a clean cloth.
Work your way down the window, all the while, maintaining this consistent pattern.
Wipe off the Eater
Small water droplets or soap left on the window for a few minutes can easily become streaks. Therefore, take a lint-free piece of cloth and manually wipe off the remaining suds on your window.
Proceed to clear the excess water at the bottom of your window and rinse it out, before working on the inside. Do this for the entire exterior crop of windows in your property and you won’t have to worry about dirt for a while.
Apply Homemade Solution on the Interior
Although the outer window has more exposure than the interior, it is just as dirty.
Vinegar, a natural cleaning agent, breaks down the toughest window stains and clears the dirt and slime on your windows fast. White vinegar is the best for cleaning as it contains moderate acidic properties that are suitable for cleaning.
If you want to get a positive result from this exercise, follow these steps
Mix the Cleaner
Put one part of vinegar inside a spray bottle and mix it with ten parts of warm water to neutralize the acid. Warm water is essential in breaking down stuck-on-glass materials.
Secure the Window
Using one of your clean rags, wipe down the window to clear any dust or lose particles before going any further. Place some towels or rags at the lower edge of the window, to prevent spilling inside your home
Spray the Cleaner
Once the window is clear, spray the cleaner on a portion of the glass first, and progressively transition to the entire window. Let the solution sit on the surface for a few minutes to work its way and break the dirt particles that accumulate over time.
This shouldn’t be a one-time deal; you can spray as many times as possible to get the hardest stains out. However, if the window is extremely dirty, do a pre-wash using soap and water, before moving to apply vinegar.
Squeegee
Using a clean blade squeegee from the top to bottom of the glass in patterned motions, making sure you get the edges and frames too. Remember to wipe off the solution on your blade once you overlap, to prevent dirt transition.
Dry
Once the easy parts are over, comes the hardest task – drying the window without leaving any streaks. Although the water and vinegar mixture combines well to break down dirt on your windows, it may leave streaks behind.
If this is the case, take a microfiber towel, poke your finger on a dry spot and wipe around the perimeter containing streaks. Dip the finger end of your cloth in a fresh water and vinegar mixture, if the residues prove difficult to come off the first time.
Conclusion
Window cleaning isn’t a hard a task as people sell it out to be. While it can be challenging initially, you will seamlessly grasp the entire process with more practice.
Nevertheless, finding time to clean your windows is the toughest part. Besides having work duties other responsibilities demand your attention. In such a case, always contract professional help to ease the load.
