Window Cleaning Tips

Revamping your windows may seem like a daunting task, but with a bit of elbow grease, you can achieve such a pristine finish that your pals will mistake it for professional work!

Part 1: Revitalizing Inside and Outside Windows

Step 1: Equip Yourself First things first, gather your arsenal. You'll need:

• Sponge, brush, or squeegee
• Rubber squeegee for drying
• Absorbent microfiber or lint-free cloth
• Clean rag
• Bucket filled with your preferred cleaning solution
• Large towel to safeguard indoor flooring

Step 2: Mix Your Magic Solution Crafting your cleaning concoction is crucial. Here are a few tried-and-tested recipes:

• Blend two gallons of water with a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
• Opt for equal parts water and white vinegar.
• Combine ¼ cup each of isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, and a tablespoon of cornstarch (to thwart streaks), along with 2 cups of water.

Expert Tip: Susan Stocker recommends a simple blend of water with a dash of vinegar or dish soap for effective cleaning.

Step 3: Roll Up Your Sleeves and Clean Time to get down to business. Dip your sponge or squeegee into the cleaning solution and give those windows a thorough scrub, ensuring no nook or cranny is overlooked. For those high-up windows sans ladder, attach a squeegee or brush to an extension pole.

Remember, always dry each window promptly to avoid streaks. If your squeegee is squeaking excessively, a tad more soap in the water should do the trick.

Step 4: Wipe Away Excess Moisture Utilize the rubber blade of the squeegee to wipe off excess water vertically for smaller panes, and horizontally for larger ones. Ensure each stroke overlaps slightly and keep the blade dry with a lint-free cloth between wipes.

Investing in a top-notch squeegee with a sharp rubber blade and using a streak-free cleaning solution are key for immaculate windows.

Step 5: Tidy Up the Interiors Any water spills or drips should be promptly dried with an absorbent, lint-free cloth to prevent streaks. Use a separate cloth for the window sill to avoid damage to the frame.

Part 2: Prepping for the Clean

Step 1: Tackle Stubborn Stains For those persistent stains, employ specialized cleaners like CLR or a paste made from water and oxalic acid-based cleaners. A gentle razor scrape may also do the trick for crusty residues.

Step 2: Bid Farewell to Stickers and Decals A simple water spray and a plastic scraper will help bid adieu to stubborn stickers and decals. Apply gentle pressure and wipe away any excess water with a towel.

Step 3: Screen Cleanse Don't forget about the screens! Remove and vacuum them to rid them of dust and dirt. A wipe down with warm water and vinegar or dish soap should suffice, ensuring they air dry completely before reinstallation.

Step 4: Purge Outdoor Grime For outdoor windows, start by rinsing away the top layer of grime with a garden hose or a lint-free cloth and water. A pressure washer on a low setting can also be effective.

Step 5: Indoor Dust Down Prior to indoor cleaning, ensure you vacuum or dust all windows, frames, and corners to prevent spreading dirt around.

Remember to lay down a large towel to catch any spills before commencing indoor cleaning.

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