WINDOW CLEANING ARTICLES

How to Make Your Windows Sparkle

Especially during summer when the weather is clear and sunny, having windows that sparkle are a joy! However, getting them this way might be a chore you aren’t looking forward to doing. After all, windows do need to be cleaned on both sides (inside and outside) to achieve these results. Since it might not be in your budget to hire a professional window cleaning service, you might want to following these indispensible tips and techniques.

Tip #1
A vacuum cleaner can come in handy for cleaning the edges of your windows. They can be used to remove dust, dirt, and cobwebs that tend to accumulate around the corners. By keeping the edges free of debris, you are less likely to get unwanted residue that could smudge on the glass during wash. You should also vacuum the sills if needed. If you have blinds, you will find a feather duster useful for removing dust before you start cleaning the window pane.

Tip # 2
You can also use a vacuum to clean mesh screens. However, if possible, try to remove the screens and clean them over a sink or in the bathroom. This reduces the chance of making more of a mess than needed.

Tip # 3
Clean the actual panes from the top of the window to the bottom. By working your way down, you can prevent streaks or drips from contaminating the parts you have already cleaned.

Tip # 4
Use a soft cotton cloth when drying. Make sure the cloth doesn’t leave any threads when you wipe. You can purchase many reliable window cleaning solutions from your local supermarket. Even simpler, use warm water and soap with your soft, lint-free cloth!

When cleaning windows, make sure you take your time and you won’t likely make a mistake. You also won’t miss a spot or ruin your effort with streaks. More importantly, patiently set aside enough time for your windows to dry.

How to Remove Stains On Your Windows

Cleaning windows can be a difficult task especially if you don’t clean them on a regular basis. Windows will appear cloudy, streaked or stained and sunlight will not be able to penetrate the glass. This will add up to your electric bill since it will be dark indoors and you need to open several lights. Not cleaning your windows will also give rise to stains that might be difficult to remove if they have accumulated on the glass panes and other parts of the window.

There are different types of glass stains and these include water (caused by rain, sprinkler or condensation), paint, grease/oil, chemicals, or building materials (cement, limestone, brick, etc.).

Before you can remove any stain from your glass windows, do the preliminaries on cleaning windows. First prepare all the cleaning materials you will need: several pieces of cotton cloths such as old shirts or cloth diapers, a step ladder, liquid glass cleaner or a homemade solution of vinegar, 70% alcohol solution, dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water, a sponge and squeegee combination, toothbrush or cotton buds, several newspaper sheets and cleaning products that you need to remove stains.

Remove curtains, rods and window screens. Wash non-glass parts of the window such as the sills and cross pieces first using cloths, liquid detergent and water. Wipe dry using a lint-free cloth.

Remove stains using the following steps:

• Hard water (rain, sprinkler, condensation) – wash the glass using equal parts of water and vinegar and dry with a soft cloth; if stain is difficult to remove, use undiluted vinegar in washing the glass.
• Paint – use a razor scraper to peel off paint from the glass or use the finest stainless steel wool and scrub paint lightly off the glass.
• Grease or oil – use a solution of ½ ammonia or vinegar, 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 gallon of water
• Chemicals or building materials – you need to use specific products to remove these kinds of stains or ask a professional to help you; if it will be very expensive to use products or professionals to remove these stains, it will be better to just replace the glass of the windows.

Proceed to washing the glass window panes with your glass cleaner or homemade preparation using up and down strokes on one side of the window and side to side to the other part. This will help you see if there are streaks on the windows. Use a rubber squeegee to wipe off solution and then wipe dry using cotton cloths. Wipe again with crumpled newspapers to make the windows sparkle.

How to Clean Window Screens
Cleaning window screens should be regularly done just like washing the window itself. The best way to keep window screens clean is to vacuum or brush the mesh and frames. However, if dirt and grime accumulated on the screen, you should remove them from the windows.
Remember to place markers on the windows and screens to help you remember which screen should go to which window before you remove the screens. You may use a number or color code to help you with this. Try to put markers too on the nuts and bolts to make sure that they go with the correct screen and window.
Prepare materials for cleaning such as water hose with a fine spray nozzle, a stiff brush, sponge, detergent suds and dry cloth. It is best to clean the window screens outdoors like in the garage or porch.
Start cleaning the screen mesh by brushing it with your stiff brush and detergent suds. Scrub both sides and wash the frames using your sponge and water with detergent soap. Lean the screen on a wall and hose it down until all suds are removed. Let it drip and then dry with your cloth. Completely dry the screen outside in the breeze but not under direct sunlight.
If you cannot wash the window screens outside, another option would be to clean it inside your bathroom or on the sink. Just do the same process as above if you have enough space in your bathroom. Otherwise, line up sheets of newspapers or plastic on the floor to avoid drips on the floor. Scrub the screen with water and suds then rinse the soap off with clean water using a sponge or a spray hose.
Before placing back the window screen, remember to wash out the window grooves by using a cloth dip in suds and rinsed with another cloth wet with clean water. You may use a narrow stick or screw driver to clean the narrow spaces or slots on the windows. Do this process before or after you have washed your windows. You need to make sure that the window panes and sills are clean before putting back the screens.