Let's not overdo things. Usually cleaning your windows once or twice a year does the trick. You would do well to choose to clean the windows just at the end of a particular season; for instance, cleaning windows at the end of fall gives anyone in the house a better view of the many sights of winter. Cleaning your windows before the end of spring can also be a good idea since you will be presented with so many outside activities associated with the next season. Regardless of the time when you plan on cleaning your windows, try to choose a day when the sun isn't out too much. Windows dry too quickly on a hot sunny day, easily leaving streaks.
The actual task of cleaning all of the windows in your house does not necessarily have to be a difficult one. Don't expect to do a thorough job cleaning all of the windows in your house at once, can you? The best strategy here is not to be overwhelmed, and to divide and conquer. This means that you can go ahead and make sure that you concentrate on the first floor before the second. You can take this even a step further by getting the whole family involved, making it a window cleaning party complete with music and snacks!
You'll need some materials to clean the windows. Have a bucket, some cleaning solution, sponges, and lint free cloths and rags ready. You'll want to vacuum the inside sections of your windows before going any further. Sweep away all the dust that you can before getting the windows wet. You want the actual cleaning process to be clean, too.
Once the initial cleaning stage is accomplished, take the sponge (or cleaning cloth, whichever you prefer) and wet it in the cleaning solution. Squeeze off the excess liquid, and start wiping your windows from the outside. It's best to go with a circular motion, starting from the edges of the panes to the center portions of the window.
After making sure that the window has been wiped, you can go ahead and dry the window with a lint-free cloth. Do it as systematically as possible, starting from one corner. Make sure that you wipe the windows in strokes going to the same direction. Keep the stroke constant, because you will be able to tell if you wiped a certain window pane with vertical strokes if you wiped the window pane right beside it with horizontal strokes.
Once this is done, go ahead and wipe off the sections around the actual window to make sure the whole area has no drips and smudges .Repeat until all of the windows in your house are squeaky clean. Make sure that the materials you used are disposed of properly.
While the first window cleaning products were no more complicated than rags and water, the earliest recorded "specialised" window cleaning tool is the horse-sweat squeegee from 5th century Greece. Initially used in the stables to groom and rub down animals, people realised that the long handles and absorbent material would also be very effective at window cleaning.
In the 20th century, the refinement of chemical and manufacturing processes brought about a rapid development of window cleaning tools and window cleaning products. In 1936, Ettore Sceccone invented the single-blade window cleaning squeegee. Other window cleaning product breakthroughs helped eliminate the common problem of water spots and streaks. These were the lint-free rags, micro-fiber window cleaning towels, and later window cleaning clay foams. These window cleaning products all promised to wipe off dirt while leaving a clear, flawless, speck-free window.
Soon even good old soap wasn't good enough for window cleaning. When the automobile industry introduced tinted windows, it was necessary to develop a detergent that wouldn't destroy or scratch this special kind of glass. This led to the ammonia-free window cleaning products, which was non-corrosive but was still effective in removing the stubborn water spots that often cling to the wind shield. This also led to window cleaning detergents for stained glass windows (which was a popular decorative fixture in the 1960's) and frosted windows.
Today's window cleaning detergents even promise to protect the glass from water spots by leaving a very thin wax that seals out moisture. The advantage of this window cleaning product is that it reflects light, creating a beautiful shine and making your house look literally "sparkling new."
Homeowners can even purchase window cleaning kits that include fully automated window cleaning squeegees ("rotate to reach all the corners!"), no-drip window cleaning rags, disposable window cleaning towels, or even "soapless" window cleaning mops (the soap is activated by the water). Some of the window cleaning tools even have lightweight fiberglass handles, making window cleaning so much easier on the forearms. Other window cleaning kits include fully-extendable parts for window cleaning out of the way windows.
With all these window cleaning products and tools, the chore of window cleaning became much, much easier. Just in time, too. Modern trends in architecture seem to favor floor-to-ceiling windows that allow massive amount of light to flood the room. Plus, the development of high rises makes window cleaning much more of a logistical challenge. How exactly do you go about window cleaning when you live on the 25th floor of a condominium?
That is why there are companies that offer professional window cleaning services. They use lifts to carry them from floor to floor, while a safety harness prevents any undue accidents (perhaps from skidding on soapy water?). To keep their hands free, the professional window cleaning crew will often carry their tools in a practical pouch slung around their waists.
These people have banded together in professional window cleaning organisations, whose goal is to ensure that proper safety standards are maintained, and also to allow members to share the unique experiences that comes with their job. As part of this movement, these window cleaning organisations also have a code of conduct, newsletters, even conferences. For some people, window cleaning is just a chore?but for them, window cleaning is a passion.
Both Sinjon Van Hammond & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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