Window cleaning can be an exhausting chore, especially if you opt for traditional cleaning products to remove those tough stains from the interior and exterior of your windows. Similarly, paper towels leave behind tiny fibres that can cause your window glass to become foggy.
Here are some simple window cleaning tips to help you do this chore more efficiently:
Clean your windows when the sky is overcast
If you work in direct sunlight, your cleaner will evaporate much faster due to the intense heat of the windows. Plus, it will lead to streaks that won’t be easy for you to buff out.
So, what you need to do is work on a cloudy day. Since overcast sky helps reduce glare, identifying and cleaning the streaks will be a piece of cake.
Start with the frame
The window frame and tracks may hide a lot of grime. When this grime gets mixed up with your window cleaner, it can produce unsightly sludge. So, you can use an old toothbrush and a little bit of vinegar and baking soda to scrub the frame and wipe away the residue using a wet rag.
Prepare a DIY soapy cleaner
You don’t have to buy a window cleaning product from the store when you can make your own. An easy way of preparing a solution is to mix dish soap and water, and this mix can help cut through the grime on your dirty windows without residue.
As an alternative, you can use vinegar as one of the most effective cleaners you can make.
Don’t use newspaper
Newspaper and paper towels are commonly used to scrub and dry glass. According to experts, they are not designed for this purpose, so they leave behind tons of tiny threads. Instead of a newspaper, you may want to use a microfiber piece of cloth to do this job.
Run a squeegee all over the glass
If you want to enjoy a streak-free shine, we suggest that you remove every bit of soap and water from the glass. A straightforward approach is to run a rubber-bladed squeegee all over the glass.
Use a mop to clean the top areas
You can access the high exterior windows using a sponge mop. Afterwards, you can use a hose to rinse the windows and then dry the glass using a dry mop.
Use a rain repellant
If you live in an area with a lot of rain, we suggest applying a rain-repellant solution to the window glass. Generally, these products are used on windshields of vehicles to make water roll off the glass. As a result, the rainwater won’t leave a lot of stains on the window glass.
Use a lint roller to de-fuzz the screen
We suggest that you de-fuzz your screen using a lint roller for routine maintenance, and the idea is to remove dust and dirt before wiping it down. You may rinse with soapy water at least once per month for deep window cleaning.
Use an eraser pad
Although it’s better to remove the screen for a thorough cleaning, an occasional wipe-down may also help keep on top of grime. You can try out an eraser pad to scrub the screen a few weeks after deep cleaning.
Get additional supplies
Ideally, you may want to have a separate set of tools for the interior and exterior of the glass windows. The outside of the glass will be dirtier because of bird droppings and pollen.
We suggest that you don’t use the same cleaning cloth again. Instead, you may want to have additional supplies. Using the same cleaning rag on the inside and outside of the glass will make the cleaning chore difficult as the cloth will be already dirty.
Clean in different directions
It’s better to change directions when cleaning the glass. For instance, you can start with a circular motion and finish the cleaning with a few vertical and horizontal swipes.
Use a chalkboard eraser to remove the streaks
You may have to deal with a couple of streaks even after you have followed the steps above. In this case, you don’t need to worry at all. You can use a chalkboard eraser and run it over the glass to remove the streaks.
Actually, the chalk eraser will buff away the marks and give your glass a clean finish.
Use tongs to clean the blinds
While cleaning the windows, don’t forget to clean the blinds and tongs. Just like the curtains, the blinds and tongs attract tons of dust, dirt, pet hair, and pollen.
If you want to clean blinds, you can use a pair of tongs from your kitchen, get microfiber cloths, wrap them around both sides, and then use rubber bands to keep them in place. With this approach, you can efficiently clean every blind.
Vacuum the curtains
Get your vacuum cleaner, attach the slip nozzle and clean your curtains. This powerful machine can suck up the dust and grime in a few minutes. So, it’s better to vacuum the curtains before you put them back. After all, you don’t want the curtains to make your glass dirty.
Clean at least once every six months
Ideally, you should wash your windows’ interior and exterior parts at least once every six months. For instance, you can do it in the autumn and spring to have no build-up of touch minerals on the window glass.
The stains will set deeper if you don’t clean the glass at least twice in 12 months. As a result, you will have to apply harsh chemicals to cut through tough stains.
The takeaway
So, if you follow these window cleaning tips, you can clean your windows without trouble.
Window cleaning requires a lot of time and effort. If you don’t have the time or required tools to get your windows cleaned, we suggest hiring the services of a cleaning company, such as FastKlean. As one of the best cleaning services around, FastKlean can help you clean your house or office windows in an eco-friendly manner.
You can also check out other blogs such as, “Why Should Cleaning Your House be a Priority?
Seminar:
Recommended books for further reading:
- The Organically Clean Home: 150 Everyday Organic Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself–The Natural, Chemical-Free Way
- Minimal: How to simplify your life and live sustainably
- Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean, and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day.
- Baking Soda Power! Frugal, Natural, and Health Secrets of Baking
- Sustainable Home: Practical projects, tips, and advice for maintaining a more eco-friendly