How to Clean Windows

Posted: 04/5/21 - Category: Windows

After a long winter, windows can get soiled with mineral deposits, dust, dirt, and debris. The interior of windows will also accumulate dust and fingerprints of children or homeowners. What was once a clear pane of glass will begin to look weathered and dirty. Having a clear window to see out of makes a huge difference in the curb appeal of your home.

In order to keep your house looking pristine, you’ll want to begin cleaning windows yearly; or, at the very least, once a year. For perfectly clean windows, you’ll need a variety of window washing tools. This includes:

• Rubber blade or squeegee blade
• Bucket
• Window cleaning solution
• Paper towels
• Microfiber cloth or lint free cloth
• A ladder (for tall picture windows)
• Water

Once you master becoming a DIY window cleaner, it can look like it’s been done by the experts. With six easy steps, you’ll learn to clean windows and avoid streaks.

Ladder Safety

If you’re using a ladder to clean your windows, being extra cautious is an important step. It’s common for people to want to tackle their own window cleaning without hiring experts, but there is a certain risk that comes along with climbing up to heigh heights.

We’ve outlined some tips and tricks when working with ladders to keep yourself safe as you tackle your windows.

• When choosing a ladder, make sure to choose one that offers the right about of height. You’ll want to choose a high-quality ladder to clean your windows to ensure that it is stable and will get the job done safely.
• Stay far away from power lines! Not only can power lines cause a fatal risk, but mixing in water can be extra dangerous. Keep your distance from power lines to ensure your safety.
• Face the ladder as you climb it and don’t attempt to walk backwards. You can easily lose your step and fall by doing this.
• Securely place your ladder on level ground. If there’s a ladder lock on your ladder, use that for extra security.
• Only use a ladder when the rungs of your ladder are dry. Wear dry, nonslip shoes for extra security. Avoid spilling soapy water on the rungs of your later.
• On a step ladder, don’t go any higher than the second highest rung.
• On an extension ladder, don’t go any higher than the fourth highest rung.
• Don’t overreach on the ladder. Move the ladder horizontally as you continue the job. Overreaching can cause falls.
• The foot of your ladder should only be 1/3 of the height of the wall. Make sure the ladder is an appropriate amount of distance from your wall. Too far or short, and you’ll create an unbalance when using your ladder.

Ensuring appropriate ladder safety is required to be safe while completing the job. Without following these tips, clean windows can result in pain or injury.

If you have somebody else in your home, consider having them supervise while you use the ladder. This will ensure that there is somebody to call for help should you fall.

How to Clean Windows

If you’re looking for steps on how to clean windows, follow our tips. These six easy steps will help offer you clean windows with a streak-free final product.

Choose the right solution

The first, and arguably most important step when cleaning windows is choosing the right solution. Depending on the items you have on hand, your window cleaning solution might differ. Our favourite cleaning solutions are a mixture of vinegar and water. For each solution, you’ll want to use a 1 to 10 ratio of product to water.

Vinegar is an excellent product to create a streak free finished product. White vinegar is one of the best natural products to use on glass surfaces, and it results in a disinfecting affect. Other products that can be used on windows include:

• Dish soap and water solution
• Window cleaner or glass cleaners (such as windex)
• Wind shield washing solution
• Vinegar and water

You’ll want to put your DIY solution in a spray bottle or a bucket for effective cleaning.

Remove dust

After you choose the right window washing solution, you’ll want to begin by removing dry dust and dirt. This is an important part of the cleaning process, as it ensure that dust doesn’t get caked on over your clean.

To remove dust, you’ll want to wipe down the windows with a dry microfibre clot or lint free cloth. Also wipe down the window frame, window edges, and window screens. This will make a big difference in the final result.

Spray solution

Using your spray bottle, you’ll want to liberally spray the solution that you’ve chosen for cleaning windows. Use a spray bottle with a good nozzle that sprays evenly over the window. You can often fine a spray bottle at home centers or hardware stores. This will give you the opportunity to squeegee or wipe down the window.

Vinegar does an excellent job at leaving your windows streak free.

Scrub built-on dust

Gently take your microfibre cloth to scrub built-on dust. It’s normal for dirt to get caked on over long winter months, but you’ll want to begin removing it before moving onto your squeegee. This will ensure that your final product is more clean. Generously wet your lint free cloth in your chosen cleaning solution, and give the window a scrub.

Rubber Squeegee

Squeegees will help your experience cleaning windows by using a thin rubber blade to effectively remove the water and cleaning solution you’ve chosen to use. There are many techniques to squeegee your windows; However, we’ve discovered one that works quite well. To begin, create a window washing solution of two salons of water mixed with a single teaspoon of dishwasher liquid. This will begin your journey to cleaning windows!

If you’re cleaning the windows in below zero temperatures, you’ll want to add some windshield washing solution to your bucket to ensure that it doesn’t freeze up. However, we recommend cleaning windows in the warmer months.

To squeegee your windows effectively:

• Dip a sponge in your cleaning solution
• Liberally dampen windows
• Use a dry squeegee to carefully glide over the window horizontally, removing the water and cleaning solution.

Begin with your squeegee at the top of the glass. Place it in the upper corner and pull the squeegee width-wise across the window. Once you’re done with the very top, begin to move downwards in comfortably, soft streaks.

After each fluid movement, clean the rubber blade a clean towel to remove it of any debris, dust, or dirt. This will ensure that you continue to work on a clean surface for better results.

If your squeegee blade becomes worn out or damaged, you’ll want to change it out. To do this, follow these instructions:

• Grab the end of the blade
• Stretch the blade out to show the metal clip
• Slide the clip off of the squeegee
• Slide the blade out of the other end
• Install the new, undamaged blade
• Slide it into the metal holder
• Reinstall metal clip

Wipe off extra water

After using your squeegee, you’ll want to carefully remove excess water using a lint free cloth or microfiber cloth or paper towels. . Any leftover water can cause water spots on your window.

Extra tips

If your windows aren’t cleaning properly, there are ways to remove built-on substances. For example:

• Use a nylon pad to remove tree sap
• Use household abrasives and a gentle power drill to remove mineral deposits
• For other substances, use 1/2 cup of ammonia and a gallon of water
• Use Glue-Be-Gone on sticky residue

Conclusion

Cleaning your windows can seem like a lot of work, but by following these easy steps, you’ll quickly learn how to clean windows. By displaying patience and choosing a good window cleaning solution, you can get extremely clean and shiny windows as a result. Above all, make sure to follow important safety tips to ensure that you aren’t injured during your window cleaning experience.