Windows provide our homes, businesses and community buildings with spectacular views of the world outside. When properly cleaned, they offer a clear view of birds, landscaping and approaching visitors. They also allow natural light to enter our interior spaces. This helps reduce energy costs as the sun naturally heats our homes during the winter. While we love our windows, a great many of us loathe cleaning them. That streak-free shine seems to elude us even after hours of scrubbing. A self-cleaning window would be great, wouldn’t it? Here are a few tips to help you get that beautiful clear view with less effort.
Use the Right Tools
The tools you use greatly affect your outcome. Most people use paper towels, wadded up rags or crumpled newspaper to clean their windows. These are actually part of the reason you cannot get a streak-free shine. Paper towels and newspaper actually create a static charge on the surface of your glass when you use it. Not only does this make it harder to clean your window, but it also attracts dust and dirt almost immediately after you finish. Instead, pick up a squeegee. These handy devices help clean the window without the increased static charge. A microfiber cloth can be used to remove any excess water from the window frames.
For cleaning the exterior of your windows, a power washer can also be useful. This is especially true for windows above the ground level. Balancing on a ladder and furiously scrubbing a window can be dangerous. The grime accumulated on the outside of your window may be harder to remove as well and take hours to scrub off with a rag. Save yourself some time and effort with a power washer.
For removing stuck on gunk or paint from windows, use a professional glass scraper. A razor blade, which is typically used, can scratch your window. A glass scraper is designed to make window cleaning easier and safer.
Using a cleaning solution instead of a store-bought chemical cleaner is recommended. Mix a squirt of dish soap with warm water in a squirt bottle. (Vinegar and warm water works too) Not only are homemade cleaners less abrasive, they save you money and work just as well.
Use the Right Techniques
First, spray your work surface with the cleaner. Using your squeegee, start at the top of your window and work your way down in an “S” pattern. Be sure to wipe the squeegee blade after each pass to ensure you are not tracking dirt over your clean surfaces.
If you are using a glass scraper, be sure to keep the area being cleaned lubricated with your cleaning solution. This will help reduce chances of scratching your glass and help loosen stuck on gunk.
Conclusion
Self-cleaning windows would be wonderful. But using the right tools and techniques can help reduce the time it takes to clean your windows and save you money. By thoroughly cleaning your window the right way, you also reduce how often you need to clean your windows.
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