Window cleaning
Dirty trick: Lewis suggests wiping windows dry in a vertical direction on one side of the windows, and wiping horizontally on the other side. “This way, if streaks appear, you know what side they’re on,” she says. Keeping Track To clean dirty window tracks, both Lewis and Dorn say that using a vacuum attachment is one way, but they recommend getting out an old toothbrush for most jobs. “That really allows you to get down into those crevices a bit better,” Lewis says.
To get rid of any streaks after squeegeeing and make your windows shine, Lewis suggests using a dry cloth or (yes, Mom), even newspaper. “One thing you should know, however,” she says, “is that not all newspapers are created equal.” Since newspaper ink is not a standard solution, some ink may be darker or contribute to streaking, while others may not. “You’ll need to play around with that and figure it out as you go,” she says.
Easy Solutions Once the area is prepped, Lewis and her team advise ditching prepackaged bottled cleansers and mixing up a solution of warm water with a small squirt of dish soap. “Usually just a drop or two per gallon will do it,” she says. “Then grab a sponge and scrub down the windows, making sure to get into the corners and the creases and crevices of the window.” Next, clear away the solution with a squeegee and wipe dry with a clean towel. Lewis says there are strong opinions about how to achieve streak-free windows. Warm water vs. cold? Vinegar vs. dish soap? Newspaper vs. paper towels? “The answer, of course, is obvious,” Lewis says. “There is no ‘right way’ unless you don’t clean at all. For exceptionally grimy windows, add some vinegar or ammonia to the solution. If you’ve really got buildup, vinegar will cut through grease and grime.” Lewis says to wash the edges of the window glass first, rinse and then give the whole window a go. Next, squeegee away the excess, wiping down the squeegee with a soft cloth or clean rag every couple of strokes. For a large window, wipe down the squeegee after a single large stroke; with smaller window panes (using a much smaller squ...
How Often? To begin, I asked Stephanie Lewis, customer experience manager at The Maids cleaning service, how often windows should be cleaned. “It’s really up to consumers themselves,” she says. “Some people like to clean their windows every week on their own, and others are OK with having a professional come in and clean their windows inside and out, from top to bottom, twice a year. It’s one of those things that can fall into spring and fall cleaning.” Will Dorn, president of Prime Time Window Cleaning Inc. in the Chicago area, says most of his customers opt for cleaning two or three times each year. “Definitely in the spring after the long winter, and then in summer or late fall before the holidays,” Dorn says. Dirty trick: Lewis suggests avoiding cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day. “Everything dries so much faster, and it’s going to streak,” she says. “So we recommend doing it on a cloudy day.”
When to Say ‘Uncle’ The task of window cleaning may call for professional help, depending on the number and style of windows you have, whether there are also storm windows and screens to deal with, how much free time you have and if you need ladders or special equipment to reach up two or three stories. “Honestly, if there are windows you can’t reach, that require tall ladders from the outside, we would recommend not doing them and hiring a professional who is insured,” Dorn says. “That’s one of the reasons people call us. By the time they look at the cost of buying the ladders and squeegees, the towels and cleansers, they decide to just hire professionals.”
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