The most annoying part of any cleaning is window cleaning. They get dirty fast and it is hard to know exactly what you should use for getting a flawless shine on the glass. Though, over the years, there have been many experts that have come up with secret methods and techniques. These methods can be used to easily clean the windows without any hassle or problem.
You must keep in mind that this hectic cleaning is only required of you once or twice a year. You do not have to do it every month unless there’s a strong storm or something has spilled on the windows.
Here are the 10 tips you should try the following:
Table of Contents
1. Choosing The Right Time
The outside temperature greatly affects the window cleaning process. If the day is too hot and the sun is giving too much heat, then the cleaner you apply to the windows would dry up before you even get a chance to wipe the area off. When this occurs, there are prominent streak marks that get even harder to remove.
So, you should pick out the right day where there is minimum heat. If you can’t do it in the morning, try doing it in the evening when the sun is setting.
2. Get Rid Of The Dust And Dirt Initially
Every day our windows get exposed to a lot of dust. Before you start cleaning them, make sure you remove the dust first. There are a lot of tools you can use for the task such as a brush or a vacuum cleaner. It’s important you remove the dust before you add on the cleaner to the windows because the cleaning would be easier this way.
Remember if there is too much dust affixed on your window and simple brushing doesn’t help get rid of it, use hot water with some soap in it. While you are doing this step, you can get clean the curtains and blinds too!
3. Choose The Right Cleaner For The Task
If the windows are looking excessively dirty, then you should be using a strong cleaning agent. Make sure the product is suited to cleaning glass areas. Some surface cleaners are only made for a material such as metal.
When you are buying a cleaning agent for the windows, it is mandatory that it’s a glass cleaner. Use as much of it as needed to remove the stains and streaks on the windows.
A good option is to use biodegradable liquid detergents on the outside of the windows because that will not harm the plants and greenery nearby.
4. Cloth Must Be Microfiber For Window Cleaning
There is a common misconception that any cloth can be used for this cleaning task. On the contrary, only a cloth should be utilized. You need to get a microfiber cloth to clean the windows.
This is a better option than even old newspapers because the microfiber cloth is incredibly absorbent and even washable. If you want the glass looking shiny and spotless, this is the cloth that you should use. You can use paper towels as an alternative but make sure they don’t break down and leave behind lint on the glass.
5. Don’t Use A Squeegee On All Windows
People love to use a squeegee to clean their glass windows, but this is something you should leave to the professional cleaners. If you do it on every window, then it would be a problem. The water would drip down on the floor and be harder to clean up. Plus, not all windows need it. This is only required for huge windows.
6. Don’t Use The Same Cloth For Both Inside And Outside The Window
If you are using the cloth or scrubbers, then take 2 different ones. The one you use for the outside should not be used to clean the inside of the window because the outside is exposed to more dangerous germs and a different kind of dirt. Stay safe and thus use a different cloth or scrubber for the inside portion.
7. Natural Cleaning Agent For Window Cleaning: Vinegar
It’s normal for people to not trust the harsh cleaning agents that come these days. There are other options you could use instead of that, for instance, a vinegar solution.
Make a solution that is half vinegar and half water. Use this solution to clean up the windows and you would see absolutely no grease or stain mark left behind. You can simply use a white vinegar solution for this task.
Read More: 10 Foods That Are Surprisingly Good Cleaners
8. Secret Hack To Opening Windows Screens
Sometimes the window screens can get stuck and it is hard to open them. Without you properly opening them, the cleaning would not be possible. There’s a simple lifehack to it. Just use a dual-purpose paint can opener. It would easily open the screen without any issues.
9. What To Do For Hard Stains
There are some stains on the outside of windows that can be hard to remove for instance tree sap. Or you might have used tape to stick something on the glass window and the adhesive stains are now left behind. Many of these hard stains may not be removed by simple cleaning methods. You would have to use steel wool.
Firstly, apply some window cleaner onto the glass and then use the steel wool to remove all the hard stains. If this fails to clean the windows properly, you should think about getting a professional window cleaning service.
10. Break Down The Window Cleaning
Do not attempt to clean all the windows in one go. There are so many in your house. You should do it slowly and go room by room. It’s recommended that you get some family members or friends to help you out in this as it will take less time this way.
You should also wipe one side of the glass window vertically and the other portion horizontally. This method would allow you to know where the streaks are forming, on the inside or outside.
Quick and Easy Window Cleaning Tips
When it comes to keeping your home clean, cleaning your windows is probably your least favorite job. However, with the right window cleaning tips, it is easy to keep your windows clean without much hassle or effort.
When you are doing it the right way, you are working to protect your windows and help to keep your home cleaner as a whole. Just make sure that you are using the right equipment and the right techniques so that the process goes smoothly.
Necessary Window Cleaning Equipment
Before you start cleaning your windows, you have to collect the right equipment. Use the following to best clean all of the windows on your home:
 | Squeegee Toss those paper towels and purchase a basic squeegee for a professional window cleaning. Ideally, you want two different sizes so that you can easily clean the various windows on your home. |
 | Bucket You need a bucket for soap water that you can easily carry around as you get the job done. |
 | Scraper There are times when things are stuck on the windows and you need to scrape them off. |
 | Detergent Use a solution (if possible try for homemade) that is meant for your windows to get the best results. |
 | Water hose For the outside side of your windows, you can hose off the detergent to save time. |
 | Mop The mop is used to apply the detergent to the windows. |
Easy Window Cleaning Tips
Now that you have the right supplies gathered, it is time to get the job done. You will do one window at a time for the best results.
Start by using the mop and detergent to scrub your window. Once you scrub well, rinse the window with water and use the squeegee to completely remove the water. This will prevent water spots from accumulating on your windows.
When you use a squeegee, you must start from the very top of the window and pull it downward using moderate pressure.
In between each squeegee pass, shake the water off so that you are not adding more water to the window. Some people find it helpful to wipe the squeegee with an absorbent cloth in between passes.
Use the following information to ensure that your windows are free of streaking after cleaning:
- To eliminate streaks, start by using your squeegee with horizontal strokes. Follow up with vertical strokes so that streaks cannot occur in either direction.
- If there are any scratches left after squeegeeing the windows, you can use a white toothpaste to fill any tiny scratches so that they are no longer visible.
- Just rub in the toothpaste using a soft cloth.
- Avoid cleaning your windows on a day when there is sunlight because this increases the risk of streaking.
- This is because the sun will cause the detergent to dry faster. Wait until it is cloudy outside so that you have time to rinse away the detergent before it dries.
- After you squeegee a window, you can polish it using and old cotton T-shirt. This will remove any residue and ensure that there is nothing left on the window to cause streaking or make the window less transparent.
- You can also use old newspaper crumpled into a ball if you do not have an old T-shirt.
The detergent that you use should be meant for windows. You also want to make sure that it is able to cut through oils and other environmental factors that build up on your windows.
Many people find dish washing liquid to be an effective window cleaner. This is because this type of soap is meant to cut through thick grease and grime, so it will not leave anything on the windows after a good scrubbing.
When you are applying your detergent with the mop, start at the top of the window and scrub in a circular motion to dislodge dirt and impurities.
Make sure that the mop head uses an absorbent sponge material so that you are getting enough detergent to transfer to the windows. When you are ready to rinse, start rinsing from the top to push the detergent and dirt down the window.
As you can see, the right window cleaning tips make a big difference when it comes to keeping your windows clean. The right window cleaning tools also help to ensure that the process goes easier.
Ideally, you want to clean your windows inside and out at least twice a year. It is important that one of these times be after the winter season since things like road salts and dry air can do a number to your windows.
Now that you know how to clean your own windows, you can do it yourself and save the money you would spend hiring a professional cleaning company.
Homemade window cleaning solution:
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This is a contributors’ post from Mark Person