8 Tips for Effective Glass Windows Cleaning

When warm spring breezes or crisp autumn mornings begin to fill the weeks, they prompt most of us to pull out the deep cleaning supplies - it's time to get our home spick and span! That includes sparkling windows. Here are eight window cleaning tips to help you achieve beautifully clear glass panes shared by Andrew Stratton:

1. Vacuum Crevices First

Hopefully, your vacuum has an attachment that can be used to pull the dust and grime out of the crevices surrounding the glass. Vacuuming first prevents all that dust from streaking across the glass as you wipe.

2. Save Washing for Gloomy Days

Sure, on sunny days you can easily see every single streak and patch of grime on your panes. However, you'll also create more streaks since your cleaner will dry more quickly. Instead, choose a day that's gloomy with temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Break out the Squeegee

When it comes to window cleaning, a squeegee is your best friend. For most panes and glass doors, you can use a standard 10-inch or 12-inch squeegee. If you have a grid design, you can custom cut your squeegee to fit the smaller area.

4. Cheap, Yet Effective Cleaner Solutions

You don't have to buy the most expensive glass cleaner in the store to get stellar results. In fact, a drop or two of dish soap in a small bucket of warm water is a great option! You can also mix vinegar and water together (one-to-one ratio).

5. Correct Technique Makes All the Difference

Use a natural sea sponge, a soft sponge, or a cloth to get the sudsy mixture all over your panes. Then take out your squeegee. Begin at the top of the pane and pull straight down in one long stroke. Dry the blade and keep moving across the pane until your reach the end. Then take your squeegee horizontally across the bottom to pick up any remaining suds.

6. When Using a Squeegee on Inside Panes

You'll have to be careful to protect your wooden sills when using your squeegee technique inside the house. Lay out some towels, use as little water as possible, and always have a rag handy so you can dry up drips right away.

7. Dry the Panes with a Soft Cloth

Instead of using paper towels, which can leave lint on your newly-cleaned glass, reach for a soft cloth to dry the window. Cleaning those last drips of water with a microfiber cloth, an old often-washed T-shirt, a cloth diaper, or even a crumpled coffee filter will dry the panes without leaving streaks or scratches.

8. Buff out Scratches with Paste

Any type of toothpaste that contains baking soda can be used to polish tiny scratches. Use a soft cloth and a small amount of toothpaste to buff out scratches using a circular motion. Then, wipe the area with a damp cloth. Finish with a dry cloth. You can also use baking soda mixed with water (3-to-1 ratio) for great results.

All that scrubbing, squeegeeing, and buffing will have your windows sparkling in no time!

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How To Clean Windows Without Using Chemicals? - DIY cleaning tips

When it comes to glass cleaning, things get really difficult. Besides the fact that they increase the light in the room, cleaned windows also make your house look fresher. Another common problem when it comes to window cleaning is the fact that you have to use expensive chemicals for it, which are not good for the environment or for your health. So, why use these products when you have all that you need around the house? You can make a lot of cleaning products, not only window cleaning products, with things that can be found inside your kitchen.

1- Using vinegar is the best option for your windows. It's a cheap solution and it can become the ultimate tool for your windows cleaning. A solution made of dish washing product, which is supposed to be less toxic, water and vinegar will definitely make those windows shiny.

2- A great way to recycle and to use old newspapers is by making them a great tool for your windows. It seems that old newspapers can really make glass shine without any streaking and they are also great water absorbers.

3- If you don't like the smell of vinegar or you have a certain reason for not using it, a good option would be lemon juice, especially for glass that is greasy.

4- Alcohol can be another solution if your window proves to be hard to clean. Just mix one part alcohol with one part water for a good window cleaning solution.

5- If you want to kill the bacteria around your home, you can use chloride and water, but make sure that you store it properly and keep it away from animals.

6- Cleaning windows can sometimes be a dirty job, especially if you are cleaning car windows, they can get really messy and need special attention. A good tip would be to clean them last, because they might get dirty again if you don't. Just use the same substance as you would use for your home windows and make sure that you insist if it is too dirty, it's important to have a cleaned window when you drive.

7- It seems that coffee filters are a good way to make your windows shinier; you just have to wipe the cleaning product or whatever substance you use with those. It will give your window a good sparkle.

Nathan Bowman, who shared these useful tips assures that the above tips will not only make your house shines, but they will also spare a lot of money on cleaning products. If you want to start doing something for the environment, this is your chance. Of course, you don't have to completely remove cleaning products, just minimize their effect on the environment; this also means responsible handling and proper recycling.

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