Windows always plays a key role in the overall design of a building. Whether it is a house, an office or any other structure, windows always get their say.
They help in various ways, these include; improving the looks of the building, letting in sunlight, ventilation and they can increase the property value as well. This is why proper maintenance of windows is always recommended.
One of the best ways of doing so is through regular cleaning. Over a period of time, dust and grime will definitely start forming on your windows. This isn’t always a pleasant look as they will start blocking both the view and light coming from the outside.
It gets worse when you have to deal with the thick streaks often left behind after an improper cleaning job. Without any further ado, let us have a look at a few tips that can help clean your windows properly. You can also checkout Master Pro window service for more details.
Get your washing equipment
Just like any other job, you will need to do some preparation before any other thing. Main thing involved here is looking for everything you are going to use for the job and putting them together before starting the work. Among the things you will need include;
- A sponge or scrubber
- 10 – 12 inch squeegee
- Dish soap
- A bucket
- Small rags or towels with no lints
- A ladder if you need one
Make sure to keep a sharp rubber blade fitted on the squeegee. It is always advisable that you keep about two to three extra rubber blades with you just in case the other one gets spoiled during work.
You can also get more out of the used blades just by turning the other unused side out and the used side inside. As a storage tip, always make sure that nothing comes into contact with the rubber blade when storing your squeegee.
Cleaning solution
The next thing you are definitely going to need is a cleaning solution. The most basic cleaning solution you can get is simply a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid. Of course you will use the bucket you had fetched to mix your solution.
You can also go for commercial cleaning solutions often used by cleaning professionals. However, water and dishwashing solution will always be readily available and sometimes a little bit of vinegar.
During warm weather, it is always advised to use cool water as it can save you some time when cleaning windows. Additionally, you can add a bit of windshield cleaning solution when you are working under freezing conditions.
1. Scrubbing the glass
When cleaning the exterior windows, the first thing you should be doing is scrubbing the glass. Make sure you work at all sides or angles to enable you to clean all round and the edges as well.
For great results, you will need to ensure that you cover every inch of the glass. You can go ahead and use a ladder if the window is high above your reach.
It doesn’t really matter which way you move your squeegee, either horizontally or vertically. However, for vertical strokes, make sure to angle your squeegee so that it will direct any excess water towards the area that is yet to be cleaned. Learn more here https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a32040/mistakes-cleaning-windows/
2. Starting strip
This is a strategy usually used by those who like cleaning windows using the horizontal strokes. This is when you need to tip your squeegee in a way that only the tip of its corner contacts the corner of the glass you are cleaning. Proceed by cleaning a narrow area or strip on the glass from top to the bottom only on one side. It is an easy way to start cleaning with horizontal strokes.
3. Across the top
This is also another tip for cleaning windows. Just at the upper corner of the glass, press your squeegee against it and then pull it down steadily. For better results, make sure the top of your squeegee is in contact with the very top corner of the glass.
4. Wiping the squeegee
After the scrubbing and the washing, make sure to wipe clean the rubber blade using the small rag or towel you had gathered earlier. Wipe across the scrubber to help you remove excess water and dirt gathered from your window. Click here to read more insights.
5. Continue washing
Even after wiping your squeegee, the work isn’t done yet. You should begin to work down the glass again. However, for the round, make sure to place the top of the squeegee to overlap your previous stroke by about 2 inches. Proceed by pulling the squeegee across the glass at a specific angle that will help in directing excess water to drip down. Wipe the glass and repeat the process again.
6. Wiping off the excess water
Back on the exterior side, you will need the rag or the towel to wipe away any excess water that would have gathered at the bottom of the window, at the edge.
With the rag on your hand, poke a finger into any dry part of the rag and run it all through the window perimeter and wipe off any suds that might have remained. Make sure the rag or towel that you are using is lint – free.
For each streak on the glass, make sure to wipe it off using a clean dry spot on the rag. If you cannot find any clean and dry area on the rag, change to a new one.
With these few tips, you can always keep the windows in your house clean without any help from the professionals. Clean windows are always a representation of a clean house from the outside hence the reason to always clean them up for easy maintenance.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
