It’s amazing how much clean windows can transform your entire home. Having bright, clean windows allows more natural sunlight in while just giving both the inside and the outside of your home a facelift.
You should really be cleaning your windows at least two times a year, but most people find the task annoying at best and unnecessary at worst.
How Most People Go About Cleaning Their Windows
- Grab a bunch of random newspapers or paper towels.
- Use spray cleaners like Windex.
- Throw some elbow grease into getting the dirt and grime off of your windows.
- Get frustrated when you can’t reach the top.
- Get even more frustrated that you have to clean your windows at all…and give up until next Spring.
Here’s the thing about doing it that way: it’s not effective. Using “specialized formulas for your windows” and a paper towel just moves the dirt and grime from one spot on your windows to another (usually the corner, where they build up over time, leaving gross areas that are even harder to clean without professional help). Plus, those kinds of materials put a static charge on the glass that attracts dirt and dust.
Our Easy, 3-Step Guide To Clean Windows
Cleaning your windows doesn’t have to be such a pain to do. In fact, with these three easy steps, you’ll have beautiful, shining windows in no time!
What You’ll Need:
- Strip applicator or handheld sponge
- Squeegee (it’s almost as fun to use as it is to say…)
- Chamois
- Clean, lint-free rag
- Dishwashing liquid (something gentle like Dawn does the trick)
- 30 minutes
What You Won’t Need:
- Professional cleaners
- “Specialized Window Cleaner’ from the store
- Newspapers
- Paper towels
- Elbow grease of any kind
Step One: Clean Windows With Dishsoap
You don’t need fancy solutions to clean your windows. Just grab a small bucket and fill it with warm water and a small squirt of dishwashing liquid. Use something like a strip applicator or handheld sponge to lift dust, dirt, and other debris without scratching the glass.
Step Two: Squeegee
In a backward S motion, pull the squeegee across the still-soapy pane. If you’re right-handed, this means starting at the top left. If you’re left-handed, this means starting at the top right. After each motion, wipe the squeegee blade clean with a lint-free rag. If the squeegee leaves a lot of streaks even after cleaning it off, you need to add a little more soap to your water and start over.
If you have multipane windows, get a smaller squeegee at the store and do downward motions to clean off the soapy water. Still, clean the squeegee after each motion.
Step Three: Clean Window Edges With A Damp Chamois
The S motion of the squeegee can sometimes miss corners and edges. Use a damp chamois to clean what’s left. Then dry the entire window with a lint-free, clean rag.
Finished Product: Beautiful, Clean Windows For Spring
This method is simple, and it can be used for both inside facing and outdoor facing panes. For the inside, simply put down a beach towel to catch any dripping water. However, if done correctly, there should be a minimal mess for the towel to catch.
While some may find it inconvenient to go buy the necessary materials, everything is reusable, so you won’t have to worry about repurchasing any materials for a long time.
Clean windows may seem like a small aspect of the overall look of your home, but they can give your entire house a facelift, inside and out.
Window World of Little Rock is a locally owned and operated franchise that provides a wide range of window services, including replacement windows, vinyl windows, and replacement doors in Little Rock, AR. We pride ourselves on our exceptional values, expertise, and service. Give us a call for a completely free, no-pressure in-home consultation today!