Experts recommend cleaning your windows from the outside every six months. It’s a task that many of us fail to complete regularly because it can seem like such a chore. There are ways, however, to ensure your windows are really clean without backbreaking work. Here are some tips to help make window cleaning a little easier.
- Pre-clean stubborn stains. Clean the most stubborn areas with a sponge and soapy water to remove excess stains. Just a drop of dish soap in warm water will do.
- Use streak free glass cleaner. Once you’ve removed the worst of the stains, use streak free glass cleaner to clean the windows inside and out. Using a streak free product helps to ensure you don’t have to go back and re-clean to remove streaks. Not all glass cleaners are created equal, so be sure to specifically choose streak free glass cleaner.
- Use a squeegee to clean the windows, rather than paper. Many people use paper towels or newspaper to clean windows, but a squeegee removes the dirt rather than simply moving it around. It’s a good idea to buy a large squeegee for big windows and a smaller one for paned windows. To reach high windows, place the squeegee on a broom handle or other long pole. Use plenty of glass cleaner on each window. Pull the squeegee down the pane from top to bottom, and wipe it off with a rag after each stroke. This prevents you from putting the dirt right back on the window.
These three tips can help make the chore of window cleaning a bit more palatable. Once you’re cleaned your windows thoroughly inside and out, you’ll be amazed at how great your house looks. Window cleaning may be a chore, but the results are definitely worth it.
