Clean windows are vital to your home’s beauty and safety. However, tackling these tasks can be difficult for homeowners and often require ladders.
Men in Kilts uses biodegradable cleaning solutions and advanced processes to remove stubborn stains from your windows. They also offer a 48-hour reclean guarantee and have locations across the country.
The Best Time to Clean Your Windows
Ideally, windows should be cleaned regularly to remove smudges, fingerprints, and streaks. This is especially important if you live close to a busy road, as dirt and debris from passing cars could easily fly onto your window glass. To avoid damage to your windows, always use a lint-free cloth to wipe them down. A microfiber cloth or a sponge that is designed to absorb excess water works well for this purpose. For a more detailed cleaning, you can also use a squeegee to help remove any residue left behind by the cleaner. Just remember to test a corner of your window in an inconspicuous spot before you apply any force to it. You should also be sure to clean your squeegee frequently to prevent it from becoming scratched.
The best time to clean your windows is during the spring and autumn, when the weather is warm but not too hot. This will help ensure that the cleaning solution does not dry too quickly and leave streaks behind. If you are planning on hosting an event at your home, it’s a good idea to have your windows cleaned before the event to make sure that they look their best.
If you’re a homeowner, you may want to consider scheduling a window cleaning service twice a year. This will help to ensure that your windows are always looking their best, and it will also make the cleaning process much faster and easier for you and the window cleaners.
It is possible to get your windows cleaned at other times of the year, but this is generally not a good idea. For one, the cleaning solution will dry too quickly on a hot day, and this can leave streaks behind. Additionally, it’s difficult to clean windows in the rain without getting them wet or muddy.
The Best Tools to Use
The most important tool for window cleaning is the squeegee, and it’s not just because it’s a lot of fun to say. Using one correctly will make the process much easier and will result in cleaner windows that aren’t streaked or smudged. Rags aren’t great because they leave streaks and you’ll need to wash them after use, and paper towels can cause scratches because of their rough fibers. Newspaper works, but it can also leave ink stains on the frames that are difficult to remove.
A squeegee is a long, thin rubber strip that can be used to smooth water off glass, and it’s the best way to get clean, streak-free windows. You can find squeegees that are adjustable so you can change the angle and position of the blade. The ideal size is one that can fit comfortably in your hand, and you can even find telescopic handles to help you reach those hard-to-reach spots.
You can purchase squeegees in most hardware stores, and they aren’t expensive. The best ones will have a replaceable blade that you can easily swap out when it becomes worn, and they are made from high-quality materials so they won’t scratch the windows. A squeegee isn’t the only thing you need to clean your gutters, and there are also many different attachments that can help.
If you need to reach hard-to-reach spots, a debris retriever is a handy tool that can be attached to an extendable painters pole and used to scoop out leaves, twigs, and pine needles from your gutters without having to climb up or down the ladder. There are also specialized vacuum attachments that can be used with a shop-vac or leaf blower to suck the debris into a bag or container.
If your windows still have stubborn streaks, try rubbing them with a blackboard eraser. This will work on any kind of streak, including dust or lint, and won’t scratch the windows like paper towels might. It’s a good idea to test it on a small corner of the window first to see how well it works.
The Best Cleaning Solution
When it comes to cleaning windows, using the wrong product or method can leave you with streaks, spots, and a yucky smell. Vinegar is a natural choice that works to remove stubborn dirt and grime without leaving behind any sticky residue. Mix one part distilled white vinegar with 10 parts water in a spray bottle and you’ve got an effective, quick-drying cleaner.
For a cleaner with a bit more muscle, you can try Zep’s glass cleaner, which features ammonia and is great for breaking down grease and other tough contaminants. The spray has a strong, lingering scent though, so make sure you use it in a well-ventilated area. Weiman’s Invisible Glass premium glass cleaner is a popular alternative that uses natural ingredients to cut through layers of dirt and grime. It also contains a pleasant citrus scent, but does have a stronger ammonia smell than Zep’s product.
Before you begin cleaning, experts recommend that you dust off the frames and wipe down the window ledges to avoid any loose dirt mixing with your cleaning solution. They also recommend that you wipe down any screens on the inside of the windows to avoid scratching them. Once you’ve gotten rid of any loose dirt or cobwebs, wet a microfiber cloth with the cleaner and gently wipe down the windows. You should start at the top of the window and work your way down to prevent drips from running down the side of the pane.
To help ensure a streak-free finish, you should only use clean microfiber cloths and not paper towels, which are likely to leave behind lint or debris. You can buy reusable cloths designed specifically for windows at places like Target or Casabella, which have a special honeycomb texture that helps to nab water spots and smudges from glass and mirrors without scratching. Paper towels with a high absorbency can also do the trick, but we recommend you choose a brand that can hold up to repeated use without shredding or leaving lint behind. We tried a few different brands and found Bounty Regular held up the best in our tests.
The Best Way to Dry Your Windows
After wiping your windows down with your cleaner (or vinegar solution) and working quickly to avoid drips, use a dry lint-free cloth to buff away any solution residue. Many people like to use newspaper pages for this, but microfiber cloths work much better and leave the glass streak-free. You can also buy a tool that attaches to your window squeegee and dries the windows for you, but this is not necessary for most homes.
If you’re using a commercial cleaning product, follow the instructions on the bottle for applying and rinsing. For homemade cleaning solutions, simply spray the window surface and wipe it with a microfiber cloth or newspaper, using a long “S”-shaped motion to get every part of the window. Be sure to get the edges and windowsills as well.
Don’t skimp on the cleaner — you need a good amount to dissolve and suspend dirt so it can be wiped away easily. Skimp and you’ll end up with hard-to-remove streaks.
Another mistake is to use too hot water or soap. Too hot creates more suds, which can leave marks and smears on the glass. And too much soap creates a thicker solution that can be difficult to wipe off.
It’s best to clean your windows on a cool, cloudy day. A blazing sun will cause the cleaner to evaporate before you can finish wiping it off, and too much heat can make your windows steam up and stick.
If you have an outside window that’s especially dirty, begin by rinsing it with the hose and then spraying it down with your cleaner (or vinegar solution). You may need to scrub a bit to remove stubborn dirt or grease. Be sure to rinse the squeegee and window frames as well, and wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth afterward to prevent streaks.
Once you’ve finished cleaning your windows, wipe them down again with a dry lint-free towel or black-and-white newspaper pages. And don’t forget to touch up the window frames and sills with a damp microfiber cloth if they are particularly dusty.