Window Washing Day
With the interesting Saskatchewan weather we’ve had lately, I was beginning to wonder if I would get my outside fall chores accomplished. I couldn’t bear to think of leaving the windows unwashed or the garden unkempt. Thankfully, the nasty weather has made a turn around the last few days and I’ve been able to accomplish most of my outside tasks, including washing the windows. Window washing has not been a favorite chore, to say the least. The last home we had was the most difficult one in which we had several windows much higher than a ladder would safely reach. The only way those windows got washed was when Hubby was so gracious to do so. I would have to hold my tongue since some spots may have been missed but I knew there would’ve been a lot more spots staring at me if he hadn’t come to my aid. It’s interesting that a few spots could spoil the cleanliness of an entire window but they did have the power to do so if I allowed them to.
My washing technique has changed quite a bit since I was newly married. Many hours were spent those first years trying to perfect the art of cleaning windows. There were several ‘no fail’ methods but somehow those methods were an epic fail for me. I used brand name liquid window spray but it was near impossible to achieve a streak-free shine. Finally, years later, Hubby introduced me to some aerosol window cleaner he’d bought at heavy duty mechanic’s shop. It worked much, much better. Hallelujah. Where has this cleaner been all my life? It had much better results. I still use it for my mirrors and interior windows as well as auto glass. A couple years back, I had been having quite a lot of pain in both of my elbows so I wasn’t going to be able to clean my windows with my go-to aerosol spray but I could hardly bear looking through the dirty glass all winter so I thought I would give the window squeegee gadget a try that my parents had given to me. I was very suspicious of this gadget... it seemed to be another one of those gimmicks you buy at trade shows that only padded the pockets of the marketers. I was desperate so I gave it a go filling a bucket full of hot water and a mild cleaner and dipped the T-shaped wand covered in a soft fabric and gave the first window a scrub. Then I used the second contraption, much like a car window squeegee and wiped the window dry. That day I ate humble pie. The gadget I had no faith in has now become my new go-to window cleaning machine. It takes a lot less time as well as physical effort to accomplish the best quality clean I’ve seen in almost 25 years of marriage. I’m sold. Next time you’re at the yearly agricultural show, keep an eye out for the blue and yellow squeegee. I don’t get a dime for the recommendation but I’ll be more than happy to hear that your window washing routine has improved as much as mine!
Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” I like the Message Translation of this verse: “Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.” God can take our soiled and dirty hearts and make them clean, even cleaner than my sparkling windows. Be blessed!