Windows attract all sorts of dirt and gunk. Whether you clean them yourself or you have them professionally cleaned, you’ll be shocked once you clean them because your home will be so bright! Here are some tips to get your windows sparkling.
1. Prep Your Windows
First things first, you need to prep your windows before you start cleaning. This helps protect your blinds, curtains, and windowsills from potential damage.
- First, place a clean, dry towel across the sill to collect any dirt and debris and prevent water from accumulating on the wood.
- Close blind slats and dust them thoroughly. Then pull them up to the top of the window.
- If you have fabric window treatments, remove them so they don’t get splashed. You can either shake them as you remove them, or put machine-safe ones in the dryer for a short tumble on the air-dry setting. This removes the dust and prevents it from being redeposited on clean windows.
- If you have them, remove the screens (remember to label each one, so you know which window each belongs to) and set aside in a safe place.
- Use a small brush to sweep away cobwebs and loose dirt from frames, hinges, and tracks. One unlikely tool that is great for this is an umpire brush. The same brush that’s used to sweep home plate at a baseball stadium. It’s a good size to get into those tiny crevices. Taking time to dry sweep ahead of cleaning ensures you don’t create an icky mess once the cleaning solution mixes with the dirt.
2. Clean the Windows from the Inside
Once your windows are prepped, it’s time to start cleaning!
- First, use a damp cloth to gently wipe the windowpane to wet the glass and remove any loose dirt.
- Use a glass cleaner to spray toward the middle of the glass. Try to avoid spraying the window’s edges or non-glass surfaces because they can be damaged by over-spraying.
- Wipe the solution around on the glass using a dry, lint-free cloth or microfiber cloth to remove all of the dirt. Paper towels can leave lint behind.
- Now it’s time to dry them. Work from the top down to prevent drips, and dry the glass with a squeegee or a new clean, dry, lint-free towel.
- Remove any streaks by going over the area in a circular motion with a fresh, lint-free cloth.
3. Avoid Streaks
Streaky windows are an eyesore. They occur during the drying process, so pay close attention to how you’re drying the glass. Like drying, stop from the top down so that the trickles don’t leave streaks behind. Here are some additional hits to avoid streaks:
- Don’t spray down the windows all at one. Instead, spray as you go.
- Keep the towel or squeegee blade in contact with the glass and not lifting it. Lifting it or skipping causes drips.
- Use a swivel method to squeegee or towel dry instead of wiping in straight lines. You’ll cover more surface area quickly so the glass won’t dry and leave streaks. Start at the top and imagine you’re writing the letter S on the glass.
4. How to clean windows on the outside
Cleaning the outside of your windows is not as intimidating as it might seem. You can use a garden hose instead of wiping each pane of glass. Start by spraying the glass with a garden hose (on gentle pressure) to remove the initial layer of dirt. Then place a high-pressure spray nozzle and solution-dispensing cylinder on your hose. Pour some liquid dish soap in the container to help you remove any remaining dirt. Use clean water to remove the solution from the windows and either dry or squeegee the windows if you can.
5. How to clean window screens
If your windows have screens, they’ll need cleaning too. If you don’t clean them, more dust, dirt and pollen will work its way into your home when the windows are open.
Here are some steps to help:
- Remove the screens, and lightly dust the screens with a soft-bristled brush.
- Use a garden hose and set the spray nozzle on a gentle stream to wet the screen. You don’t want to damage the screen.
- Next, gently wash the screen with a soapy sponge and rinse them thoroughly using a garden hose on a gentle stream.
- Allow the screen to air-dry completely. Even a damp screen can introduce moisture to the window frame and cause issues. Once your screens are completely dry, return them to the correct window.
Ready to Clean Your Windows?
Hopefully this post will help you get your windows gleaming and let tons of light into your home. If you’d like help with your windows, we’d be happy to take care of them while we clean your home. We’re only a phone call or a click away!