It’s that time of year again: spring cleaning. Time to break out the broom, the mop, and the deep-cleaning supplies. From donating old clothes to tackling outdoor projects that were put on hold because of the winter, there’s another item on your to-do that you shouldn’t neglect: your windows.
Your windows let light into your house and allow you to see your surroundings. From the dog playing outside to the neighbors going by, your windows are there so you can fully enjoy your home and neighborhood.
Even when you’re not cleaning, windows need a lot of T.L.C., and spring cleaning is the perfect time to clean the exterior, interior, and your window screens. Here are our tips to clean your windows to perfection.
Interiors
Cleaning your window interiors is the easy part. Grab your favorite supplies and get to cleaning for a streak-free shine. Tired of streaks after cleaning? Try a squeegee or old newspapers (better yet, try a coffee filter and check out the rest of our tips) and experience the difference. Clean around the edges, too, especially since debris, dust, and dead bugs can easily build up around cracks and crevices.
For sliding windows, take an old sponge, measure the width of your window tracks and make cuts that match the grooves. Then, slide the sponge along the sides and voila! This way isn’t entirely foolproof and you’ll need to make sure that debris doesn’t cake in the corners. If debris is already caked there, a good old baking soda and vinegar treatment can tackle it.
Exteriors
Cleaning the exterior of your windows isn’t easy. There are options to get it done though. From investing in a magnetic window cleaner to grabbing a mop, tackling the exterior isn’t as hard as you’d think.
Over time, rainwater can stain your window’s exterior. If you’ve cleaned and cleaned the interior and there are still marks, these could be a culprit. To get rid of these stubborn stains, invest in a “super-cleaner” and apply it after a regular clean. You can also invest in a polymer coating to protect your windows’ exteriors for a long time.
Window screens
Your favorite and ours … OK, we’re joking, no one likes to clean window screens. Fortunately, there are tons of tricks and implements you can use to tackle this dreaded household task.
It’s not necessarily as bad as you’d think. With newer screens, sometimes, all you need is a vacuum cleaner to suck loose dirt. Use a soft bristle so you don’t damage them. Unfortunately, if there’s a lot of grime built up on them, it’s time to give your screens a bath. Take them off the windows and let them soak in soapy water or a vinegar-water solution. Let them dry for several hours before reapplying them.
While cleaning, if you notice wear and tear on your windows that needs attention, give us a call today! We offer free in-house consultations, plus replacement windows that will stand the test of time and look clean and sparkly for years.