Window Cleaning Like A Pro

Why have windows if you don't clean them? Everyone has experienced entering a house that has not been vacuumed. Beverage stains on the carpet it seems everywhere. The hardwood floors appear dusty with crumbs through out. You hate to imagine what the rest room must look like! Why have a home if it is not going to be maintained regularly? The windows, screens and window tracks and runners should receive attention just as you would expect the carpets, floors and rest room. Windows are your eyes to the outside world so it is important that they be kept on a reasonable window washing schedule. Many try to either wash their windows themselves or have them professionally cleaned at least once a year. Others who like to entertain or perhaps who live in an environment that causes windows to get dirty quicker have them cleaned more often. The following are do it yourself tips that may prove useful in washing your windows:

Equipment And Supplies For Window Washing:

1. A 5 gallon bucket of water with a dish soap solution like Joy filled about half way or less.

2. Several terry cloths (surgical towels are preferred) and a drop cloth or bath towel.

3. A t-bar cloth scrub applicator and several size squeegees (6", 12", 18" and 22") with handle.

4. If your home is one story a 6' 'A' ladder will suffice. However if your home is 2 story or more you will need a 24' and possibly a 28' ladder for those high reaches. When selecting a ladder it is always best to obtain a type II contractors heavy duty ladder to give you that feeling of security (the expression 'widow maker' was coined after ladders that are flimsy and unsteady).

5. A soft bristle counter brush to wash down the screens.

6. A shop vac or canister type vacuum with a small nozzle to clean out the window tracks and runners.

7. Paper booties to place over your shoes when cleaning your interior windows. And make sure to clean the ladder tips before cleaning the interior windows.

8. All the above window cleaning equipment and supplies can be obtained at your local janitorial and or hardware store.

Getting Started:

1. Select the cooler part of the day so as to avoid a overheated window.

2. Remove the screens to wash remembering what window it belongs to. Rinse the screens of loose dirt. Next scrub down both sides of the screens using the bucket of soapy solution, then rinse and dry.

3. Vacuum the tracks and runners using a window brush and sharp object to get into the crevices.

Washing The Windows:

1. Begin with the interior windows. Make sure to put on your paper booties over your shoes to protect your flooring and carpets. Place a small towel on the window sill and a bath towel on the floor/carpet below you. Soak the T-bar cloth scrub applicator in the bucket making sure that you ring it out by running your hand across the applicator.

2. Wet the window from top to bottom using left to right movements.

3. Quickly reach for the particular size squeegee you will need for the window you are cleaning (the smaller squeegees for the smaller windows and the larger squeegees for the larger windows). With a firm and consistent movement from the top left hand corner of the window push the soapy water from the right hand side using left to right movements as you work your way down the window. Repeat steps 2 and 3 if you encountered any problems.

4. Using a clean surgical towel or terry cloth wipe the edges, window frame and sill.

5. Repeat this process with all interior windows, including windows that will require ladder work.

6. Follow steps 1 through 5 for cleaning the exterior windows. Note that you will not be needing the bath towel when cleaning the exterior windows as you will not need to be concerned with water falling onto the ground.

7. When all the windows have been washed reinstall the clean screens.

8. When washing the high windows make sure to follow the directions on the ladder label of how to position the ladder. It is always a good idea to have a person spotting you down below.

If you decide to have your windows professionally cleaned, I would suggest searching on the Internet typing window cleaning or window washing and the city or county you live in. For example, 'window cleaning Aliso Viejo' or 'window washing Orange County'. Make sure that the company is properly insured with workman's compensation insurance and general liability insurance.