Do you love the look of your windows after they’ve been detailed by a professional company, but hate the way they seem to get dirty between cleanings? It’s like there’s always that one window that, no matter how often you call a professional, just won’t stay clean. Doing your touch-ups using home cleaning solutions won’t replace a professional cleaning service, but they can keep you satisfied with the state of your windows in the meantime.
Keeping your windows in a shiny state isn’t as difficult as it may seem and can be made easier when you follow these five helpful hacks. Remember that these tips are only to be used for interior cleaning. Always leave any hard-to-reach windows that would require a ladder to the professionals. As pleasant as it is to have clean windows, it isn’t worth sacrificing your safety for.
1. Newspaper? Do Those Exist Anymore?
It’s become a pretty common practice for people to recycle the newspaper lying around their house by using it in place of paper towels. This is a smart and environmentally friendly practice. But in the digital age, newspapers are rapidly becoming a thing of the past. A handy alternative is a coffee filter, but even better than that is a microfiber towel. Microfiber towels aren’t expensive and are completely washable, so no waste!
2. The Squeegee Is Your BFF
Most people want the bright shine of a clean window but avoid cleaning it because they are afraid of creating unsightly streaks. Streaks are the bane of window cleaners everywhere! The best weapon against evil streaks is a good squeegee. Handling a squeegee can be tricky so watch a few YouTube videos on proper squeegeeing techniques and practice!
You can purchase a small squeegee for inside your home from most home improvement stores. Window Genie loves the Unger and Ettore brands – you can easily find them online at Amazon. Remember to wipe the blade between each swipe and change it when it gets dull. This will keep your windows brighter and streak-free.
3. Home Is Where the Cleaner Is
When you hear “homemade cleaners” do you roll your eyes before you go back to your Pine Sol and Windex? Some home-brewed cleaners can be a tricky balance of water, ammonia, and other random household liquids. To clean your windows though, all you need is water, vinegar, and dish soap. Two parts water to one part vinegar and a few drops of dish-washing liquid will suffice, although there are plenty of different measurements that will all yield positive results.
Spray (but don’t drench) your windows with this cleaner before wiping it away. Then rinse your window with a small amount of water to avoid any film buildup from the dish soap. Be careful to avoid adding too much dish soap to your formula for this reason.
Bonus Homemade Cleaner Hack: Check out this blog post we wrote on how to clean your windows outside during winter when it’s below freezing!
4. The Teacher’s Pet
If those streaks are still driving you insane, even after trying some of these strategies, head to your local craft store and pick up a new blackboard eraser. I know it sounds crazy, and it won’t erase all of your problems, but rubbing it across your window will get rid of those pesky streaks.
The trick is finding something that will get rid of streaks but not leave behind an additional residue of lint or dust like paper towels can. Chalkboard erasers are designed for just this purpose. The soft texture can help buff out those annoying streaks.
5. The Devil is in the Details
When it comes to windows, the perfection is in the details. It isn’t enough to have a window that you can see out of; you want to be able to see perfectly out of it from any angle, at any time of day. To avoid water marks on the edges, wipe your cleaner or water with a microfiber towel or even a Q-tip. If you have the remains of a sticker or decal on your window, rubbing alcohol will help to get the gunk off. Look through your window at every detail to get it cleaned to perfection.
Did you know Window Genie has our very own ammonia-free glass cleaner? It even SMELLS purple… With 57 uses and counting, you’ll never need another foam cleaner again! Get yours now!
