You love the look of your windows after they’ve been cleaned and are shiny. Your home cleaning solutions won’t replace a professional cleaning service but they can keep you satisfied with the state of your windows in the meantime. Keeping your windows in a shiny state isn’t as difficult as it may seem and can be made easier when you follow these five hacks. Remember that these tips are only to be used for interior cleaning. Always leave any hard to reach windows that would require a ladder to the professionals. As pleasant as it is to have clean windows, it isn’t worth sacrificing your safety for.
1. Make the best use of old newspapers
It’s become a pretty common practice for people to recycle the newspaper lying around their house by using it in place of paper towels. This is a smart and environmentally friendly practice. However, the number one complaint about this practice is all the ink you usually end up with on your hands.
To avoid the ink stains covering your fingers, pick up an unused paper coffee filter and use that instead. Like newspaper, coffee filters help to keep your windows from streaking. But unlike newspaper, it won’t leave dark marks all over your hands and window pane.
2. Learn to make the best use of Squeegee
Professional cleaning companies recommend using squeegees for streak-free window cleaning because a squeegee is the most efficient way to remove excess water from windows. Window squeegees save time and money when compared to using paper towels. You can purchase a small squeegee for inside your home from most home improvement stores. Remember to wipe the blade between each swipe and change it when it gets dull. This will keep your windows brighter and more see through.
3. Make your own homemade cleaner
When you hear “homemade cleaners” do you roll your eyes ? Some home-brewed cleaners can be a tricky balance of water, ammonia, and other random household liquids. To clean your windows though, all you need is water, vinegar, and dish soap. Two parts water to one part soap and one part vinegar will suffice, although there are plenty of different measurements that will all yield positive results.
Spray (but don’t drench) your windows with this cleaner before wiping it away. Water fed window cleaning is one of the efficient ways to clean your windows. Then rinse your window with a small amount of water to avoid any film build up from the dish soap. Be careful to avoid adding too much dish soap to your formula for this reason.
4. Make use of Blackboard eraser
If even after following these strategies those streaks are still driving you insane, head to your local craft store and pick up a new blackboard eraser. It won’t erase all of your problems but rubbing it across your window will get rid of those pesky streaks.
A soft, static-free shirt or cloth diaper can also help to eliminate streaks on your windows. The trick is finding something that will get rid of streaks but not leave behind an additional residue of lint or dust.
5. Keep an eye on the details
When it comes to windows, the perfection is in the details. It isn’t enough to have a window that you can see out of. You want to be able to see perfect out of it from any angle, at any time of day.
To avoid water marks on the edges, wipe your cleaner or water with a soft t-shirt. If you’ve noticed some intense scratches in your windows, buff them out with a non-gel toothpaste. If you have the remains of a sticker or decal on your window, rubbing alcohol will help to get the gunk off. Look through your window at every detail to get it cleaned to perfection.
