How To Clean Windows

House Cleaning Tips

• Top Ten House Cleaning Tips
• Cleaning Tips for Efficiency
• Deep Cleaning
• Cleaning Checklist
• House Cleaning Checklist

web mrscleannw.com

Free Window Cleaning Tips

The old standard for window cleaning still remains as effective as it did fifty years ago—newspapers and straight white vinegar will get windows spotless, but tends to leave them a little streaky. We are going to share with you a variety of tips, hints and homemade recipes we have collected over the years—not only for windows but for window seals, blinds and everything else surrounding windows.

Cleaning Windows with Vinegar

Window Glass Use the following mixture to replace commercial cleaners. Not only will it work better but also it is much less expensive.

• 1/2 cup ammonia
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Add ingredients to 3/4 gallon of water.

Dry windows on the outside in one direction (e.g. side to side) and inside in the other direction (e.g. up and down). You will be able to tell where any streaking is. For extra shine, buy a blackboard eraser and use it to polish after drying to add a just a bit more shine. Remember to get the real, wool kind, not the cheap one that comes with inexpensive children’s toys.

The major complaint with using newspaper to clean windows is they leave ink stains on your hands. Another household item you can use to clean windows is large coffee filters. They are lint free and relatively cheap. They also leave a shine that paper towels don’t leave. Art stores sell rolls of newspaper paper for art projects. If the ink bothers you, this will work the same as printed newspapers.

Window Cleaning Solutions

Frost Protection

To keep the frost down during the winter, once a year in the fall, sponge on rubbing alcohol and polish off with newspaper (the news or classified—not the shiny advertising part). This will cut down on frost as the season gets colder.

Mini Blinds

Mini blinds should be dusted regularly so that cleaning will be easier. To clean the blinds, take them down and put them in a warm tub of soapy water with some white vinegar. Swish them around a little and rinse with warm water. Hang them to dry.

To keep the dust from collecting on the blinds, try collecting the used fabric softener sheets in a little box next to the dryer and using them every now and then to wipe off the dust. They will create an anti static reaction on the blinds and the dust won’t even settle.

Cleaning Window Frames

Many window frames are not only made of a delicate aluminum but are also painted, making cleaning even more of an issue. Window frames seem to pick up some of the most difficult to clean dust. Grease, sticky pollen and bugs are especially attracted to window frames. Always use a mild non-abrasive cleaner with a soft cloth as to not damage the paint or the aluminum.

To prevent dirt and pollen from sticking to the window, when it is perfectly clean, paint it with a clear coat of lacquer. This will make the surface slick and avoid damaging the existing paint as well as keep it from rusting. Don’t clean the window or window frame if it very cold or very hot. Below 50 degrees or above 90 degrees and it would probably be better to wait until a different day. Same goes for cleaning the glass windows. Above 90 degrees will cause windows to streak.

Automatic dishwasher liquid works very well as a degreaser. Dilute it a bit and use a soft cloth and very soft brush to clean. For those bugs and hairballs that get stuck in the corners, devote an old pair of tweezers to the cleaning box and use those to get the little stuff out of the corners. They will work well to tuck back the little screen corners that start to peel out.

Window Grease, Dust and Mildew

Many people will recommend using bleach to clean greasy areas. However, bleach is dangerous when mixed with ammonia and many of us find ammonia is the best window cleaner.

Hydrogen peroxide used straight on car windows works very well on road grime. The peroxide will cut right through a year’s worth of built up road goo.

Window Cleaning Tips, Trick and Hints

• Use a medium size make up brush to paint on Vaseline ™ once a year. This will keep the window from sticking.
• To make the window cleaner mixture look like commercial cleaner, add a few drops of food coloring.
• Using distilled water to mix the window cleaning solution will cut down on the minerals in the mix and prevent water spots from appearing later.
• Use the remaining solution (when mixing buckets at a time for outside spring-cleaning) to clean out the garbage pails. No matter whether you use vinegar, ammonia or other mixture it will work well for the bottom of the garbage can. One note: if you are using ammonia, be sure not to mix in any products with bleach—even outside.
• For water stains on the outside from sprinkler systems, use a toilet bowl cleaner before you clean. Be sure to avoid mixing products with bleach and ammonia and use rubber gloves. Not a good idea if there are delicate plants below the window.