CLEAN GLASS, CLASSY GLASS
Our home’s windows provide sunshine and allow us to see inside and out, bringing clarity and transparency to our daily lives – unless they’re dirty, so it’s smart to polish up those panes.
“Dirt and other corrosive materials can build up on your windows and damage them before long,” cautions Ryan Toffey, marketing and business development assistant for Advantage Maintenance, Inc., In Woodbridge, Connecticut. “The benefits to cleaning your glass regularly include a longer lifespan and improved curb appeal.”
Besides the obvious perk of having a clearer view, consistent window cleaning can prevent a phenomenon called “etching.”
“This occurs when the glass sucks in calcium from hard water, resulting in unattractive permanent staining of your window. Once etching happens, there’s nothing you can do to fix it except replace the entire window,” notes Weston Kolste, owner of White Buffalo Window Cleaning in Logan, Utah.
Most experts advise having your window and door glass cleaned at least twice a year. Toffey prefers a springtime and autumn window cleaning schedule, after and before winter and its harsh elements barrage your home’s exterior.
Kolste follows a tried-and-true method for window cleaning that involves gathering a bucket of hot water with a squirt of grease-cutting dishwashing liquid, a strip washer (mop), a squeegee, and towels for cleaning up the edges.
“If you have hard water build-up on your windows, start by trying to scrub it off with wet 4/0 grade steel wool; then, use a razor tool with a stronger cleaner that’s safe for glass,” Kolste recommends.
For windows on a higher level, use a water-fed pole system, “which is safer than grabbing a bucket and climbing a ladder,” Toffey says. “This system allows you to safely spray your windows from the ground. Plus, most of these pole tools come with a brush attachment that allows you to scrub sills and remove grime.”
Use a microfiber towel/cloth to dry wet windows instead of normal towels/rags. This will give windows a shine. And don’t forget to remove and clean window screens, too, by scrubbing them gently with hot water and dish soap solution and then rinsing them off with a hose.
“Don’t skip this step, because if they are dusty they will get your newly cleaned window dirty as soon as it rains,” says Kolste.