English Living
Interiors
Expert reveals the secrets to sparkling windows
By Sean Mac Anbhaird, Managing Director, Core Sash Windows
Having pristine windows isn’t just for aesthetic purposes, keeping your windows clean can also contribute to the maintenance and efficiency of your home.
Regular window cleaning helps prevent window damage and extends its lifespan by removing harmful elements such as hard water spots, oxidation, dirt, and grime.
Follow my essential steps to see your windows sparkling in no time…
Pick the right day and time
While it might be tempting to clean your windows while it’s bright and sunny, this is the worst thing you can do.
Cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day will cause your cleaning solution to dry too quickly, leading to unappealing water streaks.
To avoid this, clean on a cloudy day or early morning rather than in direct sunlight.
Dry-wipe first
Before you even consider spraying down your windows, you first want to give them a good wipe down with a clean, dry cloth or soft-bristled brush.
This will remove any additional dirt and debris, such as cobwebs and dust, which will stick to the glass when you try to wipe it with a wet cloth. So, save yourself the extra work and give your windows a dry wipe-down first.
You can even use a hand-held hoover to ensure all dust particles are vacuumed up. Just be sure to use the bristle attachment on your vacuum to avoid scratching your windows.
Choose the correct cleaning agent
Sometimes the best approach is to keep things simple. Unless your windows need a deep clean with soap, filtered water will suffice for giving your windows a quick polish.
Add in a few drops of a mild liquid detergent or baby shampoo as necessary to cut through any dirt and grime.
Do not use solvent-based chemicals, abrasive materials, or hard cleaners like spirits or bleach. These can permanently damage the glass and your window frames.
Leave your cleaning solution to sit
It’s all too easy to want to immediately wipe away your cleaning product as soon as you’ve sprayed it, but this will prevent the product from being as effective.
Instead, allow your cleaning solution to sit on your windows for a minute or two. This will allow the soap to break down grease and grime. Top up the moisture with an extra spray if the solution looks like it’s starting to dry.
Pick the right cloth for the job
While old newspaper might be a handy cloth alternative in a pinch, it’s not great at absorbing moisture, leaving you with streaky windows.
For a truly streak-free clean, you can’t beat a microfibre cloth. These cloths are super absorbent and can even collect dust using static charge, meaning no debris or lint will be left on your windows.
Wipe in a figure of eight
Just like selecting the right cleaning agent and type of cloth can have an impact on your window’s streakiness, so too does your wiping technique.
The circular motions help eliminate streaks and smears that can often appear with long, vertical wipes.
I’d advise following a figure of eight for the best results.
Buff with a second cloth
Buffing is the most important step to ensuring sparkling windows.
Once you’ve finished wicking away moisture with your first cloth, follow the same figure-eight motion with a second bone-dry microfibre cloth.
This buffing step will guarantee no moisture is left on your windows and prevent any smears and streaks from appearing.
Don’t forget your window frames
Nothing will dimmer the sparkle of beautifully clean windows than a filthy window frame. So, when you’re cleaning your windows, take the time to give your window frames a good going over too.
Remember, regularly cleaning your windows and frames is not just for aesthetic purposes but also to ensure their functionality in the long term.
Some window frames may need cleaning more frequently depending on the material they are made of. Traditional timber sash windows, for example, are likely to need more cleaning than UPVC windows. However, with plastic frames easy to discolour over time, timber windows can long outlast their UPVC counterparts.
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