We have posted several blogs about how to clean your windowpanes and screens. However, what about those filthy window tracks? They collect so much more than the film and dirt smeared across your window’s glass. Not only do they collect dirt and grime, but also pet hair, liquids, and much more. Cleaning your window tracks may appear more frustrating than actually washing your windows. If you follow the steps below, however, you will have your window tracks clean in no time!
Tools of the Trade
You likely own all of the tools you will need to clean your window tracks. For this chore, you will need:
- Spoon or Small Spray Bottle (Optional)
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Old toothbrush
- Paper Towels
- Rag
- Butter Knife or Q-Tip
Get Your Clean On!
- This step is optional. If you are taking the time to clean your window tracks, you should consider removing your screen first. Why? Well, to be honest, removing the screen and opening your window will allow you to thoroughly clean the entire track. Cleaning the track with the screen in place or window down will only do half the job. If you clean it without opening the window, dirt and grime will be visible as it also accumulates under the window itself. (In fact, cleaning your screens and windows may be a great first step in general as it gives you a completely clean slate.)
- Regardless of whether or not you decide to clean your windows and screens, a spotless track is still the goal here. To start, sprinkle the dirtiest parts of your window track with a little baking soda. While the dirtiest sections are typically the corners, spots and dirt collections can happen anywhere. A spoon may make this a bit easier as it helps you maintain a bit of control with your sprinkling, which the baking soda box may hinder.
- Using the same spoon or a small spray bottle, cover the baking soda with a bit of the white vinegar. Adding vinegar to baking soda creates a bubbly chemical reaction. Allow this mixture to sit for 5 to 10 minutes while it soaks into the dirt.
- Using an old toothbrush, start to scrub the dirt away from the corners and into the center of the window track. Wipe any gunk that gathers on the toothbrush bristles on a paper towel to keep your tool clean while working.
- Once you have scrubbed up all of the corner gunk, use a damp rag to clean up the rest. you may find that you need to scrub a bit more, but the rag should remove most of the dirt along the straight pieces. Using a butter knife covered with the rag or a Q-tip can help you get into any corners or crevices that are hard to reach.
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