Top tips for cleaning windows

With the sun beginning to emerge, our windows suddenly look painfully grubby after months of rain, dust and dirt that accompanies winter weather. With the help of professional domestic cleaners, MOLLY MAID, discover how to clean even the trickiest of windows, with our top tips.

Instead of using chemical sprays, why not try to get those windows crystal clear with a simple solution of white vinegar, newspaper and a little elbow grease! There is of course the added benefit that using these green products, will save you money too. However, if you have been using commercial window cleaning solutions, you will need to add an ingredient to the vinegar to get rid of the residue left behind from the commercial cleaner.

First time cleaning solution:

Mix 250ml of water with 60ml of distilled white vinegar and add ½ teaspoon of washing up liquid and pour into a used spray bottle with an updated label on it!

First time directions:

Spray on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking and are certainly not an environmentally friendly way to clean if cleaning for the first time since using commercial window cleaning solutions. For very hard to clean windows, try heating a straight vinegar solution directly onto the windows followed up with the cleaning solution with the dishwasher solution. Then, follow up with the ‘everyday solution’.

Everyday cleaning solution:

Mix 250ml of water with 250ml of distilled white vinegar and combine into a spray bottle.

Everyday directions:

Wipe windows with the everyday solution using either newspaper or if you prefer not to have ink on your fingers or smudges on your white window frames try using a squeegee with a microfibre cloth as they tend not to leave behind lint. You will also need 2 separate towels: 1 to wipe the squeegee and the other to wipe the window sill and the frame.

Technique

The most important thing to remember when it comes to the technique and cleaning windows is not to allow the liquid to dry as you will then end up with streaks whether you use a newspaper or a squeegee.

If using a squeegee, you should start by learning to squeegee the window from side to side as it is much easier.  Try cleaning the majority of the windows this way if you can – side to side.

• The entire window should be wet with sprayed on solution.
• Determine which side of the window you will be starting on. This may depend on whether you are right or left handed.
• Take one of the window cleaning towels and wrap you index finger. If you are right handed, wipe the entire right hand edge of the window. Make sure it is completely dry. You may have to move the towel around to a dry spot in the process. Now do the same with the top edge of the window. This will help keep water from dripping down on your window after you squeegee it.
• Take your squeegee in hand. Place the rubber blade at the top of the dry right hand edge. As you start to pull it across the window, pull the top of the channel out first so that you can maintain an angle of about 15 to 20 degrees. Pull the squeegee all the way over to the opposite side of the window.
• Using your towel, wipe the squeegee blade completely free from water solution. Check to see if the side and top edge is still dry. If not, give them a quick wipe so that they stay dry. Repeat the same step to finish the lower half of the window.
• It is very important to wipe all the remaining water from the edges to achieve that crisp, flawless finished look once you have squeegeed the windows.

Enjoy admiring what lies beyond your sparkling windows once you have cleaned them.

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