Come to My Window – Part 1
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Last week, I cleaned the inside and outside of some of our windows. I still have the bedroom windows to do, but the main living area windows are clean.
I thought I would share what I have learned about cleaning windows. This section will have information about the outdoor side of the windows, and I’ll do a second post on the inside of the windows.
Much of this information I got from the book Spring Cleaning by Jeff Campbell.I have been using this method for about eight years, and it always works well. It is a bit different from what most homemakers are used to hearing (vinegar and newpaper, etc.) but this is what professionals do, so it is worth a try.
The equipment:
- A squeegee. (If you already have one, check and make sure the rubber part is still good and soft. If it is brittle or hard, just buy a new one. If you don’t have one, you can get a starter one at the auto parts store. If you like it, you might want to invest in a professional model with a pivoting handle and replaceable blade. These have extension poles available if needed.)
- A scrub sleeve for the squeegee (if needed.) My squeegee from the auto parts store has a built-in scrubber, but the professional type might not.
- Dry cotton cleaning cloths.
- Wide paintbrush.
- Razor-blade scraper.
- Bucket.
- One tablespoon of ammonia. (If you do not have ammonia, you can even wash with just clear water.)
- A ladder, if needed. (I always need a small step ladder.)
Fill the bucket half-full of water and add the ammonia.
The best rule I learned from Spring Cleaning is this: always wash the easy access side of the window first! That way, when you go to the more difficult side, you have a clean side to look through, and you can tell whether you have done a good job or not. If there are any smudges still left, you can go back to the easy side and get them. This article is only about the outside windows, but you probably will have already cleaned your inside surfaces.
First, use the paintbrush to clean the exterior window sills. This may be all they need, but if they are extra-dirty, you might need to hose them off. You can also dust off any loose dirt from the glass now. I have to go up into the corners with the brush to get cobwebs and bugs. If this area is really dirty, you can also use a broom, it is just harder to catch the small areas.
When you are washing the outside, you just dip your sponge scrubber into the bucket and start washing away. The razor-blade scraper is handy in case you come upon a spot of paint or something that has been left on the glass. When you are satisfied, get ready to squeegee. Use a cloth to dry the squeegee. For best results, also dry a little strip at the top of the glass that you are washing. This way, the squeegee starts on a clean, dry surface.
Start on one side and swipe down gently. You do not have to go all the way down, you can leave a bit at the bottom because you will get it at the end. Wipe the squeegee dry and move over a bit and swipe down. You want to overlap, but not a lot. Keep going across the window, and then get that last little area sideways. That’s it. You want to work fast so that the water doesn’t evaporate.
Just keep doing that, and your outside windows will be clean in no time!
I have screens that have to be removed first. I usually stand them up and spray them off with the garden hose, then leave them to dry in the sun while I’m cleaning the glass.
