As busy as our schedules are, we hardly get around to cleaning those neglected areas of the home. Windows, for instance, play a vital role in how bright and airy the home looks, yet they rarely get a good clean.
If you have been doing your part in social distancing and are now stuck at home, it’s just the right time to get window cleaning over and done with. Plus, having freshly cleaned windows will make your stay at home that much more pleasant—and it can be done in just six easy steps.
What you will need
- Newspapers or old towels
- A small vacuum (alternatively a scrub brush or dry microfibre cloth)
- Water
- Dishwashing liquid or white vinegar
- A spray bottle
- A toothbrush or a few q-tips
- Baking soda
- A squeegee and/or a microfibre cloth
- Paper towels
Six steps to clean windows
- Be prepared
First and foremost, you shouldn’t clean your windows on just any day. If it’s very sunny outside, your cleaning solution will dry much faster, leaving unsightly streaks behind. So, before diving into the actual cleaning process, make sure it’s cloudy and grey outside. Once your perfect window-cleaning day has arrived, lay newspapers or old towels underneath all your windows. This will help you catch dust, water and any dirt falling from the windows while you clean. - Dust the windows
To avoid dust mixing with your cleaning solution and making a muddy mess, get rid of dust and dry dirt before using any water. A small vacuum is ideal for this step, but if you don’t have one on hand, a scrubbingbrush or even just a dry microfibre cloth will do the trick. Don’t neglect the grilles and windowsills, and consider dusting your shades and blinds as well.
- Make the solution
A lot of people opt for a mix of water and a little bit of dishwashing liquid for their window-cleaning solution. However, if you want an all-around home cleaner that uses no harsh chemicals, we recommend mixing water and white vinegar instead. Whichever cleaning solution you opt for, pour it into a spray bottle for easy application. Once you are done with the windows, you can reuse the solution to deep-clean other areas of the home while you are stuck inside.
- Clean the nooks and crannies
Before getting started on the glass panes, clean the corners and hinges thoroughly. These nooks and crannies tend to loosen up a lot of dirt, which will inevitably scatter onto the glass panes. Toothbrushes and q-tips work best for these hard-to-reach places. For stubborn dirt and grime, coat the area with baking soda and then spray it with your white vinegar solution. Let this mix sit for half a minute, then wipe the solution clean with a q-tip. Don’t worry about drying these areas for now, as you will be cleaning the entirety of the window after the smaller parts are done.
- Get wiping
Finally, the time has come to clean your window panes. For large windows, you should have a squeegee on hand, while smaller window panes are easier to clean with a microfibre cloth. Spray your windows with the cleaning solution of your choice and get wiping. This step is where covering your floor with newspapers or towels is particularly important as the solution dripping from your windows might cause water damage to your floors if they are exposed.
- Dry the windows
In order to prevent streaking, make sure to dry each window pane before wiping down the next one. If you allow your windows to air-dry, water streaks will be highly visible, throwing all of your good work out the window. While a dry microfibre cloth will do the job, dry paper towels are the most effective at leaving your windows streak-free.
