Window Cleaning Tips

Time for spring cleaning?  Or maybe you've had enough of the kids' hand prints and dog's nose marks.  For everyday cleaning, a store-bought spray will suffice, but when you want to get those windows really spotless, take a few simple steps.

Get out of the house!  The outside of your windows is a bit more difficult to clean, especially if they are not within easy reach, but 50 percent of the reason your windows appear hazy lies here.  Take care of the sills first.  Use a bucket of warms water with a splash of bleach and a squirt of laundry or dish detergent.  Use a sponge or soft scrubber in easy motions.  After five or ten minutes, rinse with clean water to remove any bleach from the paint.  *Remember to not mix bleach and ammonia (or any products containing these).  When combined, these produce an unhealthy chemical reaction.

For outside window glass there are many theories of what works best.  Some will go with a combination of water, white vinegar (the balsamic just isn't the same-trust me), and heavy duty cleanser.  Others prefer water, ammonia, and rubbing alcohol.  Those of you looking for something a little more simple might want to begin with just a gallon of warm water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent.  Whichever solution you use, again apply with a sponge or soft scrubber.  Clear the glass with a squeegee (available at almost any hardware or home improvement store).

For the inside windows, you again want to take care of the sills first.  Use a standard dusting spray and a cloth rag. 

For the glass, first use a sponge dampened with plain water to take care of the heaviest dust and dirt.  For your cleaning mixture, you again may want to experiment to find the solution you feel works best.  Water and ammonia is great, but you will want to leave time enough for that ammonia smell to dissipate before the guests arrive for dinner.  Use broad vertical strokes across the glass, remembering to get into the corners.  Use your squeegee to remove the excess liquid.

This can get a bit messy, so it is a good idea to lay down newspaper or an old towel to protect your floors.

To avoid streaks, clean your windows when the sun is not directly shining on them.  The heat will dry your cleaning solution too quickly and leave visible residue.

If you do have streaks, instead of repeating the process, try buffing them out with either a blackboard eraser or a crumpled piece of newspaper.

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