We are only about a week away from the official start of winter. It’s cold. We’re all busy. The holidays are crazy. You probably haven’t spared much thought for your dirty windows, have you? Well, maybe you should.
After all, the house will be full of family and friends this time of year. Maybe they won’t notice the exterior glass smeared with all manner of debris and the inside covered in dog nose prints… or, maybe they will. We can practically hear your mother-in-law’s judgment.
Together with our partners at Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning, we’ve put together some quick tips to help you get your windows shining before the guests arrive.
Gather the right supplies.
Two scrubbers are better than one. One for the interior and one for the exterior. Oh, that’s right people, we’re using scrubbers and rubber squeegees. No newspaper or paper towels need to touch these windows. Keep a couple of lint-free, cotton cloths handy to wipe off your squeegee and frames as needed, but you won’t need them to wipe the glass.
Keep the solution simple.
Put down the ammonia. We know, you love your trusty blue glass cleaner, but you won’t need it today. We’ve got the secret glass cleaning recipe from the pros. Are you ready for it? Drumroll please… two-three parts water to one part Dawn dish soap. You’re welcome. The amount of water really depends on how dirty the glass is. The more debris the higher the concentration of Dawn. Lightly soiled glass requires more water with less detergent. Keep in mind that too much detergent can leave hazing or a cloudy film if not completely removed.
Start at the top.
This might seem obvious, but it’s definitely important enough to mention. Clean off the dirt and grime with the scrubber then work your way from top to bottom with the squeegee. You wouldn’t want to start in the middle or at eye level only to realize once you reach the top you’ll have to redo everything. It is also worth noting that you should invest in a quality rubber squeegee to complete the job right the first time.
Clean both sides.
It can be tricky enough to notice spots or streaks depending on the angle or lighting. You don’t want to waste time trying to clear away a smudge that’s actually on the other side. The best way to ensure all glass is looking its best is to clean both the interior and exterior on the same day. That way you can quickly see if anything needs touching up. Plus, who wants to spend more than a single day cleaning windows?
Don’t forget the screens.
This is starting to sound like a daunting job isn’t it. If you’re not ready to throw in the squeegee and call the pros, read on. We’re almost there. You’re actually going to want to knock out the screen cleaning before the glass itself. That way you aren’t transferring dirt from the screens onto your clean windows. Your screens act as a dust catcher, so, don’t just go hosing them down. You’ll end up with a bigger mess. Start with a dry brush to shake off the loose particles, then wipe down any stubborn spots as needed.
Use enough water.
Quite possibly the most important tip we can share is to make sure you use adequate amounts of water to clean your windows. If you don’t, you could end up missing dirt and debris particles that are at risk of being ground into your glass. This could equal permanent scratches in your glass. We’re talking replacing a window type scratches in extreme cases. This is especially true if you live in areas with a lot of trees.
We realize this isn’t the time of year you’re typically thinking, “Hey, I’m going to go outside and wash my windows this weekend.” …. but it can be done! Even if temps get below 32 degrees, there are solutions you can buy to avoid freezing. If you’d rather not bundle up to climb a two-story ladder with a bucket of water we get it. Call our partners at Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning. They can clean your windows in temperatures down to 25 degrees and would be happy to give you a quote and earn your business.
This article was co-authored by F.C. Tucker Home Services and Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning
Northside Window & Gutter Cleaning – (317) 966-0212 – https://windowguttercleaning.com/
