If you’ve treated your home to a new set of windows from The Window Company, are just in the planning stage, or even simply sticking with the windows you’ve already got, I’m sure you’d love to keep them looking as good as new.
Window cleaning is the obvious solution to keeping your windows looking their best is, of course, to keep them clean (gasp)! So, I’ve done a bit of research on how, and it turns out, there’s actually nothing to it! But if you humour me and read on anyway, you may pick up a couple of tips…
Don’t rely solely on a window cleaner
Your window cleaner is a huge help in maintaining your windows, and for just a few quid a month, you can happily sit back while someone else deals with going up and down ladders with buckets of water and a tool belt of cloths, squeegees and chamois towels!
A good window cleaner will clean both the glass and frames, and thanks to their technique, will leave them streak-free, too.
What your window cleaner will not do, however, is give your frames a fresh coat of paint every few years – this is essential for wooden frames to keep them protected against the elements. They’ll also only clean your windows on the outside…
Try to clean your windows twice a month
Before you begin, make sure you’ve got everything you need to make a good job of it. You will need:
- A bucket of warm, slightly soapy water (a drop of washing up liquid is fine for this)
- Sponge
- Squeegee
- Dry chamois cloth
- Dry towel
- Newspaper or microfibre cloth
- Window cleaning solution
Start by clearing the window and remove any ornaments, vases, or trinkets. Tie back or remove any curtains or blinds, and brush or vacuum away any dust or cobwebs.
Clean your window using the sponge and soapy water, then use the squeegee to remove the suds, moving it over the window in an ‘s’ shape. Dry the blade with a clean towel after each wipe, then remove any residual water from the glass with your chamois cloth and dry the frame and window sill with a towel.
Next, take your window cleaning solution of choice and spray a little onto the window. Using a scrunched-up newspaper* or microfibre cloth, buff the glass to give you a sparkling result!
*please test this first if you’re worried about scratching the glass
Make your own window cleaning solution
I’ve discovered that there are so many people who don’t bother with buying window cleaning sprays any more, and instead they make their own, using a mixture of water, white vinegar and a drop of essential oil for fragrance. And I’m assured that the vinegar smell disappears once dry!
Open your windows!
Finally, to keep your windows in the best condition they can be, is to open them regularly. Airing out rooms is important for combating condensation; especially so in rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom.
So that’s it! Do you have any cleaning tips or home-made cleaning solution recipes you’d like to share?