DIY: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cleaning Your Windows Like a Pro

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Your windows should be cleaned at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring or summer: before and after winter. If you don’t want to spend the extra money on having a window cleaning company come out to your property to clean your windows for you, you can clean them yourself. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean your windows like a pro!

 

Tools Needed:

  • Sponge or strip applicator
  • 5-gallon bucket
  • Dishwashing liquid or white vinegar mixed in warm water
  • Counter brush with soft bristles
  • Squeegee
  • Ladder (possibly)
  • Lint-free cloth
  • All-purpose, ammonia-free cleaner

 

Step #1: Pick a Time.

Wait for a cloudy day or for the time of day when the sun is lower in the sky; the sun beating down on you makes for an uncomfortable window cleaning experience. More importantly, the heat will dry out your cleaning solution quickly, leaving streaks and water spots on your windows. Window cleaning is a fairly big job, and you don’t want to have to redo all your windows a couple days after you finish them the first time.

 

Step #2: Wipe Away Dirt.

Take your counter brush and gently wipe or scrub away any cobwebs or dirt from the window. Be sure to attend to the windowsills, tracks, and hinges in addition to the glass.

 

Step #3: Mix Your Solution.

Take either your dishwashing liquid or white vinegar and mix it into a bucket of hot water. If you use the vinegar, add 50% water and 50% vinegar. If you use dishwashing liquid, pour about a teaspoon of it into the hot water. Don’t want too much soap or the solution could become overly sudsy.

 

Step #4: Wet Your Windows.

Wipe down the windows with your sponge or strip applicator. Wet, but don’t drench, the glass. You don't want water dripping all over the place. Don’t go all the way to the edge of the window frame when washing; keep the frame dry.

 

Step #5: Squeegee.

Make your squeegee a little bit wet. If it’s completely dry, the blade can skip as you work your way across the glass surface.

One way you can work is by starting in the upper corner of the window and then pulling the squeegee straight down towards the bottom of the window. Then, go back to the top, place the squeegee over the window next to where you made your first stroke, overlap a bit, and work your way down again. Repeat this process until you finish the entire window. This is typically a good method for regularly-sized and smaller windows. 

Another way to work is by starting in the upper corner and working horizontally until you reach the other end of the window, and then turn the squeegee so you make an S shape. You could do this all the way down the window. This is the method many professional window cleaners use. It’s a great technique for larger windows, such as picture or commercial windows with large surface areas.

Every time you lift the blade from the window, wipe it off with your sponge or a lint-free rag to get rid of the excess water and/or soap.

 

Step #6: Clean the Window Frames.

Dampen a cloth with a solution of all-purpose, ammonia-free cleaner and warm water. Wipe off the window frames with this solution. Afterwards, wipe the frames down again with a cloth dampened with pure water to wipe off the cleaning solution you just applied.

 

Step #7: Dry.

Once you’re done washing your window, it’s time to touch it up! Take a soft, dry cloth and wipe away any remaining soap or water. Make sure you wipe down the sill and frame of the window as well. 

That’s all there is to it! Designate a window washing day, follow through with these simple steps, and you’ll have a house full of windows that look professionally cleaned in no time!

 

Window Installation and Window Replacement in Ankeny

If your home or business near Ames, Ankeny, or Huxley could use updated, energy efficient windows, contact Hedrick Construction! We’ll get you a free quote and schedule a time to come out and install new windows or replace your current ones.

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