The Challenge: Keeping Your Windows Clean
We all know that this is a dreaded chore, but it’s one of the most important tasks for maintaining your home. They not only reflect light and offer an appealing aesthetic to any room, they also protect us from outside elements like bugs and dirt. If you want to keep them sparkling, read on for our top 3 tips!
#1 Using the Best Window Washing Solution
You can use a solution mix made from products that you already have. The first thing you should do is use water with vinegar to remove any soap residue left by cleaning products or detergents. Simply wet the glass surface and then spray with white distilled vinegar mixed in warm water (1/2 cup per gallon). Let sit for 5-10 minutes before wiping off with paper towels or cloths. This removes spots as well as leaves behind a pleasant scent.
There are many different kinds of solutions available on the market. You can go with an ammonia-free version that’s designed specifically for windows like Windex® Ammonia Free Glass & Surface Cleaner or Method® Glass Cleaner.
If you have stubborn streaks that won’t come off with a clean cloth and glass cleaner, make your own lime juice paste to combat them! Simply mix one cup of white distilled vinegar (or lemon) in warm water; add salt until it forms a thick slurry (the ratio should be one tablespoon per cup); and then add white vinegar to the mixture to thin it out. Once you’ve created your paste, apply it with a rag or sponge all over the window surface and remove by wiping off in circular motions.
#2 Squeegees: Windows Favorite Tool
After you’ve washed, it’s important to squeegee the excess water off. This reduces streaks and leaves them sparkling clean! The best way to do this is by using a rubber-tipped blade on an aluminum or plastic handle so that you can remove any leftover hairs or lint from the surface before cleaning with glass cleaner. The squeegee should be clean and dry before you use it to avoid smearing any dirt or grime that was formerly on the window onto your freshly washed glass with a dirty rubber blade!
The best squeegees are made of aluminum or plastic so they’re easy to keep clean without leaving behind dirt, hair, lint, or grime. They should also have a rubber-tipped blade that will wipe across the surface of your window without leaving any streaks behind.
#3 Consistency is Key
Washing your windows is an important task that should be completed regularly. This helps to reduce the dirt and grime buildup on the surface, as well as any soap residue left by cleaning products or detergents. It also protects you from outside elements like bugs and dirt! To help keep them sparkling clean for a longer period of time, always use warm water with vinegar to remove soap residue and then squeegee it dry.
Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you can never get them to stay clean for long. Find out why our windows are constantly getting dirty.