How to Clean your Windows… Properly!

Every man and his dog has a technique for cleaning windows, but when it comes to who to listen to, who better than a window manufacturer and installation specialist? Today we are going to discuss the best ways to clean your windows, as well as clearing up some common misconceptions about cleaning windows. Let’s dive in!

Step 1 – Choose the right day weather wise

Cloudy days are arguably one of the best days to clean your windows. Whilst it might seem counterproductive with sunny days being nicer to get outside and clean, streaks are more common on sunny days as the sun dries out your windows before you have a chance to finish cleaning them.

Step 2 – Choose the right materials

Typically you will need something to wipe away or vacuum up the dust around the window frames, a window cleaning solution, a microfibre cloth or squeegee to actually clean the windows, and a dry cloth to buff your windows up at the end. However you can also make a homemade window cleaning solution by mixing the following:

• 500ml cups of water
• 120ml of white or cider vinegar
• 60ml of rubbing alcohol

If you live in an area with hard water, you may wish to consider using distilled water as an alternative. Obviously that’s not something we need to worry about here in Yorkshire!

Step 3 – Clean around your window first

This is also a great chance to put your curtains in the wash or to soak your blinds whilst you are cleaning your windows. Firstly once your blinds or curtains are out of the way, you will need to clear around the window edges. Wipe from the top to the bottom of the frames with a microfibre cloth and cleaning solution to get any dirt or grime off the window frames.

Step 4 – The window panes

Depending on how dirty your windows are, you may wish to start by washing them with warm soapy water with a non adhesive sponge. This is because if you spray window cleaning solution on top of dirt or grime it will become mixed in. After this, spray your windows with a generous amount of cleaning solution, and begin wiping from top to bottom. You don’t want to start below to have a cleaning solution drip down from the top and create streaks. You may find it helpful to clean the inside window vertically and the exterior horizontally so you know which side any potential streaks are on.

Step 5 – Buff it up!

Once you have cleaned your windows, you will now need to go over them again with a dry cloth to give you a nice shiny finish. This part may take a bit more elbow grease depending on whether any streaks have formed.

Step 6 – Enjoy!

Congratulations, you can now get back to have a crystal clear view outside of your window. It really was that easy. Did you have any of these misconceptions below?

• Using a newspaper to clean with – this can be abrasive depending on the type of windows and should be avoided in favour of microfibre cloths and squeegees.
• Using vinegar solutions on a matt painted or undercoated window frame. The alkaline in vinegar can stain your window frames if they are more susceptible to it.
• Spot cleaning windows works – you can create more streaks by applying a cleaning solution and not cleaning the whole windows.

Always remember to think safety first when it comes to cleaning upstairs windows. If you do not feel comfortable attempting to climb a ladder and wash the windows, then always leave this to a window cleaning professional.

Get in touch

If you are in Ilkley, Keighley, Silsden, Shipley, Baildon or Bingley, feel free to contact us on 01535 958 183 or fill out our online enquiry form and we will do our best to answer any questions.

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