If you’re selling your home, there are some things you can take care of on your own to make the process easier. For instance, doing some cleaning can save you costs in the long run and expedite the sale. Let’s cover three major ways of preparing to sell your home:    Clean your windows.   Wash the siding and the roof.   Depersonalize and declutter the interior and exterior.  By doing these tasks, you can help your potential buyers imagine their new life in the house. Here’s how to do it right, whether you choose to DIY or enlist the help of a service professional.  

How to Clean Windows in a Home Before Selling It 

If you decide to clean your windows yourself, use a high-quality window cleaner and a couple of types of cloths. Start with a textured cloth to get the grime off. Follow up with a soft cloth to remove streaks. Don’t forget to wash your window screens, as dirty screens lead to dirty windows.    Cleaning windows can be tedious, and it can also be dangerous if you try to reach high windows. It’s safest, fastest, and most convenient to hire a professional window cleaning company like Window Genie® to take care of this task for you. Our three-step window cleaning process ensures a streak-free, efficient clean. 

Is Pressure Washing Worth It for Selling a House? 

Yes, it’s worth it! A clean roof and siding are more important than ever when you’re selling your home. Not only is pressure washing good for curb appeal, but it can also prevent debris, mold, or other grime from causing damage to your home’s structure. Prospective buyers will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to preserve the house by washing it, which will help protect the roof and overall structural integrity until the next wash.   Consider asking Window Genie to do your pressure washing for you. Our experienced technicians can clean any surface, from your roof to your concrete driveway, while using the right tools and techniques to prevent damage.   Related Topic: Pressure Washing a Deck – The Do’s and Don’ts 

Depersonalizing and Decluttering a House Before Selling

It’s important for potential buyers to be able to imagine their own lives in the home you’re selling. Removing personal belongings from the property, a.k.a. “depersonalizing,” leaves room for buyers to visualize their own belongings instead. This is something you can do on the inside as well as the outside of your home.   The process of depersonalizing a house to sell is different for everyone, depending on existing décor. To get started, take down any yard decorations, string lights, family photographs, and particularly unique décor. If you need help taking down your holiday lights, we can help.  After the clutter is cleared, it’s time for a deep clean. For exterior cleaning, Window Genie has you covered with window washing, pressure washing, and more. Request a quote today or give us a call at 877-243-8624. 

Nothing is as tough on your windows as hard water. Hard water is a term that is often associated with large cities or a very industrialized area. The nasty truth about hard water is that it can rear its ugly head at any time. Hard water is simply water that has a high mineral content. It is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone and chalk. The main minerals that make up hard water are calcium and magnesium carbonates.

Almost any water that hasn’t gone through a softening process will have trace amounts of these minerals. A lot of homes in areas where hard water is prevalent are equipped with softeners that use sodium to filter the water. This method is enough to make your water taste fine, but it may not be enough to prevent deposits on your windows. Continue reading "Hard Water Stains on Windows: What to Know"

Updated on 08/18/2023

Whether you’re refreshing your trim with a new coat of paint or removing old marks, taking paint off windows can sound intimidating. You don’t want to scratch your glass, after all. However, here at Window Genie we’ve got you covered with our complete guide for how to remove paint from glass.

What if we were to tell you that removing paint from your glass is much easier than preventing it from getting on your windows in the first place? With a few simple tools and techniques, flawless windows can be achieved.

If you want your windows to be professionally cleaned, check out Window Genie’s elite window cleaning services here. Otherwise, read ahead!

How to Remove Paint from Windows in 4 Steps:

Tools You'll Need

There are a variety of tools you can use. We recommend using a Triumph Scraper - it's meant to remove paint from glass and is easy to use. If you prefer something a bit safer, there are plastic options that cannot accidentally cut you.  

Step 1: Clean the Window

Before you start the paint removal process, you’ll want to clean the window. Wipe it down with warm water and an old cloth to get the top layer of grime off.

Step 2: Use a Razor Blade to Remove Paint

Once the window is clean, take a razor blade or paint scraper. Set it at a 45 degree angle, and begin to push the blade away from you in smooth strokes. Don’t pull the razor back towards you - pick up the blade and bring it back to the start with every scrape.

Step 3: Apply Solvent

Apply a solvent for glass cleaning to the window once the paint has been removed. This will help remove any remaining grime.

Step 4: Wipe Clean

Take a clean, dry cloth and buff away the solvent, leaving your window shiny and new.

How to Get Paint off Windows Without Using a Razor Blade

Tools You'll Need

Our favorite is Scraperite plastic razor blades - they look like your typical razor blade, but are much safer! These won't work as well as steel on really tough glass jobs, but they're worth a try. They are especially effective on getting accidental drips of paint off surfaces such as your wood floor or wall, however. In addition to using straight-edge blades, you can consider using 0000 steel wool. This is a super fine grade and is a personal preference over blades for some. Many claim it increases the threat of scratching, but if done properly with a fresh, clean pad, can remove a lot of paint in little time.

Step 1: Make a Natural Solvent (water and vinegar)

To get started, make a natural solvent out of water and vinegar. You’ll want to use 1 part vinegar to 1 part water, so 1 cup and 1 cup of each should suffice to get started. Ideally, you should boil the water-vinegar solvent to heat it up for the cleaning process.

Step 2: Apply Homemade Solvent to the Window

Take a clean rag or cloth and dip it in the solvent. Then, apply it to the windows and paint you’d like to remove. You may need to scrub a few times to get the paint off. Repeat solvent application as many times as necessary.

Step 3: Wipe Away Paint from the Window

Once the paint is coming off, you’ll want to take the cloth and carefully rub away the remaining paint.

Step 4: Touch Up

Use a glass cleaner, and wipe up the windows with a clean, dry cloth. Enjoy!

What to Avoid When Scraping Paint Off Windows

The number one DON'T to removing paint from your windows is that you NEVER scrape or scrub glass while it's dry. ALWAYS use a lubricating solution to avoid friction that can lead to scratching. Most solutions can be made with a combination of common household products such as water, vinegar, and a few drops of dish liquid. Your favorite glass cleaner can also offer the necessary moisture needed to help your tools glide across the glass. Our WG-57 Glass Cleaner is ammonia free and has a clinging foam quality that helps you to see where you've applied it and where you may need more while removing paint. Ask your local Genie for a can or two! Find your closest Window Genie location today.

Need Help Removing Paint from Your Windows?

Some technique tips we can offer: always hold the blade at a 45 degree angle to the glass push the blade towards the frame, but do not push into the gasket (could break your seals) lift the blade after making a pass, do not drag it back and forth

We hope you’re better prepared to start removing that pesky paint on your windows… but when in doubt, call a professional. Window Genie is prepared to help you with all your window cleaning needs. Contact us today for a quote or explore our site for more services.

Window Genie is excited to be featured in Redfin’s latest article, “House Cleaning Tips: 6 Cleaning Mistakes You’re Making and How to Fix Them.” We were chosen along with a select group of experts from across the country, from those living in Washington, DC all the way to those living in Austin, Texas. Check out our contribution: Forgetting to clean window screens. There is a common misconception that rain causes dirty windows, but that’s not the case! Rain passing through a dirty screen will carry dirt and debris which causes those splotches after it rains. It’s important to brush and rinse window screens each time you clean your windows to ensure they stay cleaner, longer. Read the full article to learn what other cleaning mistakes you’re making and how to fix them.

Windows get dirty year round. For a large part of the country this makes it very difficult to clean them three months out of the year. The most frustrating thing about this is that winter is generally the time of year when windows can get the dirtiest. Melting snow dragging dirt and debris onto windows and the helpful yet annoying salt that seems to cover everything.

What makes cleaning windows in the winter so difficult is obviously sub-freezing temperatures. Water freezing before it can be squeegeed off is infuriating. Warm water is huge no-no because it can cause your glass to crack. So what can you do? We have a simple formula that will make cleaning your windows in freezing temperatures just as easy as cleaning them on a spring day.

Continue reading "Cleaning Windows in Freezing Temps"