The windows of your home offer visitors a glimpse into the way you maintain your home. It is however, a necessary chore to keep your windows sparkling clean. Here are 5 Do's and Don'ts that can help you to get cleaner windows while saving time, money and effort.
Do's
1. Use your vacuum cleaner first so that you can suck in loose dirt and cobwebs. This will help prevent the dirt mixing along with the water and resulting in smudges or streaks that could be a pain to remove.
If you have a screen or blinds on the inside of your window, then use your vacuum to clean them too. If you have a mesh screen on the outside, then use the vacuum first and then if possible, remove it and clean it with a mild detergent, water and a brush in your sink or bathroom.
2. If there are fine scratches on the glass, use a professional cutting paste with a piece of cloth or try rubbing toothpaste on the scratch. You can remove any decals, stickers or hardened dirt with a razor blade.
But be very careful and move the blade in a single direction only while ensuring that water is always present between the blade and the glass. The blade should be firmly held at a consistent angle if you do not want to end up scratching your glass.
3. You can clean the outside glass with a cloth, a sponge, a bucket of water, a squeegee and a glass-cleaning product. However, with the world moving towards greener solutions, you can easily replace the glass-cleaning product with vinegar, lemon juice, washing soda or even baking soda.
You can mix vinegar with water in equal parts for normal cleaning and neat vinegar to remove stubborn stains. You can also use 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in 1 quart of water.
4. Start on the outside glass by dipping the sponge in the bucket of your cleaning solution and cleaning the glass. Then, clean the glass with your squeegee using a vertical or horizontal motion, starting from the top. Do ensure that the rubber blade of the squeegee is new and even.
5. Use a newspaper or any micro-fiber soft cloth to clean any streaks left behind by your squeegee. For cleaning outside glass on the top floors, use a ladder or open adjoining windows to clean it safely. Start with the top floors and slowly proceed down. Ensure that the ladder is fixed securely to the windowsill.
Don'ts.
1. Do not attempt to clean the outside windows on the top floors, if you do not have a sturdy ladder that can be securely propped against your home. If your ladder falls short of the windows on the top floor, then avoid over-stretching yourself. You might fall down and break your leg, or worse, your neck. Call a professional cleaning agency and get the job done.
2. Do not use an old razor blade to remove decals or stickers. Do not use the razor blade in a bi-directional mode to clean the glass. You might end up scratching the surface permanently.
3. Do not forget to clean the windowsills and gutters. Do not forget to clean and lubricate the window frame hinges or sliding window rails. It is better to complete the entire job in one process.
4. Do not mix any products such as ammonia, vinegar, alcohol and lime juice haphazardly since it might end up damaging your windowpane rather than cleaning it. If you are using a strong commercial cleaner to remove stains, then do not forget to wear protective gloves.
5. Do not leave water or your cleaning solution on your windows. They will leave stains once the water dries up. Do not run your razor or your squeegee over dry glass. Do not use a squeegee that is uneven.
A clean outside window will not only adds class to your home but will also allow more sunlight to enter your home and keep it warm during those winter months. Use the above tips to safely clean your homes outside windows.
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