There is no better feeling than sitting back in your recliner with a glass of iced tea, looking through windows you've just cleaned. I've been cleaning windows for 18 years and know all the secrets, so let me share the do's and don'ts of cleaning your windows.
You'll need a squeegee, paper towels, or a lint-free cloth; some cleaning solution; a pail; a sponge; and a ladder for upper windows. You can buy a 10-inch squeegee at the local hardware store. If a squeegee is too long, you can remove the rubber and cut the channel down with a small hacksaw. Cut the rubber with a scissors and insert it back in. I use surgical towels to wipe up excess water, because they are lint-free and can be washed.
Some people like the old formulas, such as vinegar and water wiped dry with newspapers. You can also use a mild dishwashing soap and wipe the glass with a sponge, then squeegee it. Keep your sponge moist but not dripping wet. Wipe around the window edges with your cloth. You are better off if you don't use blue cleaning products, because they leave a film.
If you have storm windows, they'll have to be removed for cleaning. If you have a ranch-style or a two-story house, you'll need a ladder. (Ladders are dangerous! Don't lean over to reach a window. Please move your ladder.)
After you clean the window, don't forget to wipe the sill area. If you have storm windows, you will want to wipe around the inside frame to remove debris. If you have screens, you can sponge-clean them for best results, or hose them off and let them dry.
It's always a good idea to put a bath towel on the floor below the window you're working on. This helps keep drips and dirty water from staining the carpet or floor. Change the water in your pail often.
A lot of people have found that it's easier and just as effective to spray a cleaner on the glass and wipe it with a towel. I agree, because you will have less chance of streaking the glass. (Warning: Never clean glass in direct sunlight!)
I really do clean my own windows at home, and I experiment with different products. We use a secret family formula in the business that is too strong for an inexperienced person to use, so I like to have products I can recommend to do-it-yourself homeowners. I recommend:
- Generations Go Green Glass Cleaner
- Sparkle glass cleaner
- Noonshine spray foam glass cleaner
All are available in the local grocery stores.
Some customers like the "half and half" plan, which means they clean their lower windows and hire a pro to do the upper ones. So sit back and relax, because you now know all the pros' secrets.
