One chore that is seldom discussed is window cleaning. A house is full of windows and they catch and trap a lot of dirt and dander.
Commercial window cleaners can be expensive and the actual cleaning can be taxing on the arms. If there are ways that this chore can be easier or less costly, I’m sure you’d enjoy knowing.
I’ve gone ahead and put together a list of window cleaning tips that are sure to make you, your environment and your pockets happy.
No Streak with News Paper
Window glass is similar to the mirror glass, as it tends to get impossible streaks. If you include news paper in your window cleaning routine, it will make the streaks disappear in no time.
Just wipe the glass and get off all the dirt and debris. Then crumple a piece of news paper and shine the glass while it’s still damp.
Do this until the glass dries and the streaks disappear. Your glass will be next to invisible once you’re done.
Clothes Pin and Sponge
When cleaning the window, sometimes we ignore the tracks. It’s always filled with dirt that seems to have been there for years.
Needless to say it can be difficult to get into the tracks of the window. A simple and efficient hack will include a clothes pin and sponge.
Cut the sponge into small pieces and lock one piece into the clothes pin, folded. Slide this along the window tracks and it will lift out all the dust and dirt.
This is great for removing pet hair and debris from construction.
Squeegee and Oil Soap
If you’re having a hard time getting your window to dry, take a squeegee to it. This tool will allow you to easily control and remove liquid from a flat surface.
When paired with oil soap it will work to get your window spotless. Just create a mixture of 1 table spoon of oil soap to a liter of water in a spray bottle.
Shake well and give the window a spritz, coating the surface. Then, run the squeegee over the surface starting from the top left and moving up and down until you get to the right.
Dusting and Washing
Cleaning windows can be a bigger task than it needs to be. This comes about when we just jump into washing without removing the excess dust.
If you do this, the liquid will mix with the dust and form mud. The mud will be messy and cause more of a clean up process than you would like.
Be sure to remove the dirt and dust first before washing. Use a clothes pin and sponge to remove the dust from the window tracts and dust down the wider window area. Then go in with your soap solution to wash.
Mess Free Cleaning
Washing the exterior regions of the house can become a soapy, liquid mess. Give yourself a fighting chance at mess free cleaning by catching spills before they hit the floor.
Identify the areas that you would like to clean and the areas that would fall under the drip or spills. Then, place a large towel or cloth to catch any spills.
Spread it over the surface that will be affected and as the cleaning goes on, it will catch the excess moisture.
Dawn Dish Soap and Vinegar
It’s important to pick the safest cleaner for your windows. This doesn’t have to be costly, this tip is right within reach. The best recommendations are liquid detergents.
One solution that is guaranteed to work while being safe is Dawn dish soap and vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish soap to a liter spray bottle.
Fill the bottle half way with water and the rest of the way with vinegar. Shake well and use this to clean all your windows.
Microfiber Cloths
For a safe and environmentally friendly way to clean while saving money, use microfiber cloths. Newspapers or paper towels are great for no streaks but they aren’t reusable.
Using a microfiber cloth will save you some money and protect the environment. Just invest in a couple and use these to clean the windows.
You can choose to use one for dusting and removing dander and the other for washing the window with soap. The microfiber material is gentle on glass and will not leave lint behind.
Sponge for Small Panes
If you’re washing a window with small panes, a squeegee will be awkward and messy to use.
Avoid the guess work of cleaning up large messes after washing small windows, like a patio window. Use a sponge as it is much smaller and more absorbent.
This means that you will be able to have more control over the amount of water. You will also be able to absorb the water before it gets to running down walls and dripping.
Clean Room by Room
If you’re doing a deep clean and plan to clean all the windows around the house, it can be daunting. Make this process easier by breaking down the cleaning and going room by room.
You can choose to start from the front of the house and work your way to the back. This way, if you don’t get to finish, you would have done the more visible areas.
You can also clean the windows over a matter of weeks, doing 1 or 2 sets of windows per week. This method makes a large task seem so much smaller.
Checkered Cleaning Hack
A pro tip, is to create a pattern when wiping windows. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell which side of the window the streaks fall on.
When this happens, you end up just wiping until you don’t see it anymore. This can be hectic as you end up going inside and outside the house frantically, trying the catch a streak.
You may even cause more streaks in the process. It’s good to wipe one side of the windows horizontally and the next vertically so when streaks do form, you’ll know if it’s on the outside or the inside.
Cotton Swabs in Corners
Once you get to washing and begin to focus on the corners, you’ll realize how difficult it can be. Make reaching into the deep corners of the windows and window sills easy.
Use a cotton swab to clean out all the dust that has embedded itself into the window creases. Just dip the cotton swab in soapy water and wipe.
Repeat this for all the corners until they’re completely clean. You may need to use more than 1 cotton swab, depending on the size of the window.
Protect Woodwork
Some cleaners can destroy the wood for your window panes. It’s important to protect this as you clean the panes.
If you have to use a harsh soap, keep a small cloth handy to cover each section of with wood. Then, just rest the cloth over that section as you get there.
This will prevent the wood from absorbing water or soap that may cause stripping. Ensure that the fabric you choose is thick to avoid water soaking through and getting to the wood.
Window Cleaning Tips
This article is about twelve amazing ways to clean and protect your windows.
Instructions
No Streak with News Paper
Clothes Pin and Sponge
Squeegee and Oil Soap
Dusting and Washing
Mess Free Cleaning
Dawn Dish Soap and Vinegar
Microfiber Cloths
Sponge for Small Panes
Clean Room by Room
Checkered Cleaning Hack
Cotton Swabs in Corners
Protect Woodwork
To make your window cleaning process easy and less costly, use protective measures like covering the wood with thick fabric.
Choose gentle cleaners like oil soap or dish soap to incorporate into your window cleaning routine. If you’ve tried any of these tips or have any additional advice, feel free to comment below.
