Take a look at your windows. Are they clean and clear? Do they have smudges or spots? Are they looking a little cloudy? Windows should be washed twice a year, but very few people actually do this – as a result, professional window cleaners are often hired to restore windows to crystal-clear like-new condition. Window washing is a chore, and to make matters worse, many people end up doing it with newspaper, paper towels, spray cleaner, and lots of lots of elbow grease. It may feel like you’re getting the job done, but all that scrubbing is really just moving dirt from one place to another, and worse, rubbing applies a static charge to the panes of glass, so it attracts even more dust! Cleaning like this makes windows dirtier – so follow our window cleaning tips from the pros and get it done right.
Use a Strip Applicator
A strip applicator looks like a big, shaggy cloth brush. It soaks up lots of soapy water and the loose cloth head knocks dirt loose from the glass without scratching it. Use a simple squirt of dishwashing liquid in warm water, and not too many suds – they tend to leave spots.
Wipe Up with a Squeegee
If you don’t know what a squeegee is, it’s a little cleaning wand with a rubber blade-like strip. Sometimes there’s a sponge or brush on the other side, but the rubber blade is the thing we’re interested in. Pull the rubber side of the squeegee over the soapy glass in a backwards S-shape, and wipe the blade clean after each stroke. This will completely remove the suds and water from your glass.
Cloth Dry
You can use a dry shammy to get any remaining drips on the edges. A shammy or chamois will soak up liquid without leaving any streaks.
Scrub Down Panes
If you have stubborn spots, you can use a natural sponge or a loose bristle brush to get rid of them. Use the same soapy water as before, and work the sponge over the pane from top to bottom, working it into the corners as you go. This will really loosen stubborn spots of dirt and help you to get crystal-clear windows like a professional window cleaner.
Hire the Pros
Of course, window cleaning or window washing is a chore no matter if you do it the right way or the wrong way, so you could always consider hiring professional window cleaners. They have all the right tools and expertise to get your windows spot-free and sparkling in no time flat, and best of all, you won’t have to use any elbow grease at all. Professional cleaning will always be more thorough and effective than do-it-yourself window washing, so if you’re not sure you have the tools, the skills, or want to spend the effort to clean them yourself, professional window cleaners are where it’s at.