blog

The Best Way to Clean Windows – Interior & Exterior

Author Emma
Emma
13th August, 2021 | 9 minute read

It's normal to want your windows (new or old) to look pristine. Clean windows invite more light into your home and help you feel more connected to nature. However, knowing how to clean windows is important in order to avoid streaks and scratches.

There are multiple ways to do it when cleaning windows, but the best methods will prevent streaks and scratches on your window! So here, you will find the best interior and exterior window cleaning methods.

This article will help you find the best way to clean your interior and exterior windows to keep them from looking spotless!

Read more to find out how to clean your windows correctly!

cleaning exterior windows

The Best Way to Clean Interior Windows

When you compare a clean interior window to a dirty one, the difference is obvious. Windows that are clear of streaks and grime provide a great way to enjoy the outdoors while also providing an uninterrupted path for sunlight to reach your home's interior.

cleaning exterior windows

Many people, however, dread this activity due to a lack of knowledge on how to clean windows. Fortunately, all it takes is a little patience and elbow grease.

Cleaning your interior windows has multiple benefits for your home! By cleaning your inside windows can:

  • Increase the attractiveness of your home because more natural light shows the beauty of your property more clearly.
  • It will lengthen the lifespan of your windows because, like how tenacious lime deposits cling to showers, undesired deposits from aluminium screens can accumulate on your glass. Etched glass is also unsightly and more prone to breaking and chipping.
  • It can also reduce allergies in your home. Pollen, dust, and other allergens can collect on your windowsills, affecting your and your family's health. Headache, weariness, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes are some of the symptoms that can occur. By thoroughly cleaning your windows, a professional cleaning service can help reduce allergens in your house.

However, when you do clean your windows, it also has disadvantages such as:

  • They'll never be completely clean due to the film's lengthy method of breaking down dirt and grime, and they'll never achieve the same results that your window cleaner can do in a flash.

All the ingredients for the best interior cleaner are non-toxic and work to perfection. If you don't want to purchase a window cleaner and want to DIY it, then here is a recipe for the perfect window cleaner:

  • 1 cup rubbing alcohol (sometimes known as "surgical spirits" in the United Kingdom)
  • 1 cup white vinegar, distilled
  • A third of a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid
  • Spray bottle with no contents
  • Microfiber cloth and squeegee

Here are five must steps to clean interior windows:

  • In a spray bottle, combine all of the ingredients and shake lightly to combine.
  • Then, hook up the vacuum and clean the inner side of your windows with a hose attachment. While you're at it, vacuum up any dust or bugs that have accumulated near the window's closure. To avoid dirty stains, wipe away any leftover dirt and cobwebs with a moist cloth.
  • The sort of windows you have will determine how you wash them. Newer models open, allowing you to clean both the outside and the inside from the same location. Older ones may be immovable, requiring you to clean the exteriors from a ladder. Most of them will let you remove the screens and clean them independently. If so, do this next.
  • To dislodge any filth, spray the glass liberally and lightly scrape it with a microfiber cloth.
  • Wipe the wiper blade dry and repeat the process horizontally. Continue squeegeeing until the entire window is squeegeed, wiping your blade between strokes.
  • Few things can cause havoc on newly cleaned windows, like clumps of lint left behind. Use a lint-free alternative to paper towels, such as clean coffee filters, crumpled newsprint, or a microfibre or flour-sack towel, instead of paper towels. Use a small squeegee with a crisp, nick-free rubber blade instead. This foolproof technique will make you appear to be a professional window cleaner.

cleaning exterior windows

Once you have completed cleaning your interior windows, they should last as window washing should be done twice a year at the very least if cleaned properly. You can choose to get your windows cleaned three times a year if you live on a busy street or in an area with a lot of trees and plants.

The Best Way to Clean Exterior Windows

Windows should be washed at least twice a year, but it's a chore that few people enjoy. Homeowners insist on cleaning their windows using wadded-up paper towels or newspaper, spray cleaner, and a lot of elbow grease, which adds to the difficulty. Here you will learn how to clean your exterior windows.

Once again, cleaning your outdoor windows has multiple benefits that can help you and your own home, such as:

  • Boosting the attractiveness because you will have a beautiful home with clean windows that will shine. It might be a simple and quick task. When used in conjunction with regular exterior cleaning, such as pressure washing, your property will always look its best. This will not only increase the value of your property but should also make your home appear aesthetically pleasing for visitors and relatives.
  • Allows for increased heat efficiency Excessive dirt, filth, and ordinary particle build-up can cause parts of a window to become obstructed. All this build-up reflects the sun's UV rays, depriving your home of free heat. This additional cost will mount up over time on your energy bills. You can enhance your home's heat efficiency by cleaning your windows regularly.
  • If your windows are unclean, they are likely blocking out natural light and colour from the outside world, so you can appreciate the view. Clear, translucent glass is always more appealing than a filthy screen, regardless of whether your view is modest or not. In addition, dirty windows are a turnoff to potential buyers.

However, cleaning outdoor windows can have its disadvantages such as:

  • Cleaning windows on the outside differs from cleaning windows on the inside. When it comes to washing outside windows covered in filth, pollen, debris, and dust caked on them, a rag and some window cleaner won't always suffice.
  • If you're not used to working on a ladder, you might easily injure yourself while trying to use a pressure washer at great heights. You'll need heavy-duty construction-grade ladders to clean windows safely from a ladder. The cheap extendable ladder from the home store isn't going to be adequate for the task of window washing.

Firstly, if you haven't got an exterior window cleaner, you will need to create your own with the perfect recipe. To create this, all you need is:

  • Two gallons of hot water
  • 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid
  • A quarter cup of rubbing alcohol
  • A quarter cup of ammonia
  • A quarter cup of dishwasher detergent

Then you will need:

  • A bucket
  • A hose with a spray attachment
  • A long handle brush/mop

While window washing may appear to be an easy task, it is one of the more dangerous crafts. Falls from a ladder or exterior sill falls through unstable roofs, and falls from / accidents connected to inadequate access equipment are all health and safety concerns for window cleaners.

cleaning exterior windows

So, for the safest way to clean your outdoor windows, you must follow these steps to have an easy experience:

  • Dirt and stains are more common on exterior windows. To clean them, you should fill a bucket with clean, cool water and a few drops of liquid dish soap after cleaning the windows with the hose.
  • Go over the window's surface with a delicate microfiber cloth. Use a sponge or microfibre on a pole to clean higher windows.
  • Using the hose, thoroughly rinse.
  • Using regular window cleaner or your homemade window cleaner, spray or mop the windows.
  • Using a clean, rubber-bladed squeegee, dry the window. Working from top to bottom, angle the squeegee towards the bottom of the window. At the end of each pass, wipe the squeegee with a clean, dry towel. You can also dry the windows with a clean, lint-free cloth or newspaper pages.
  • Saturate tough dirt and stains, such as bird droppings, with vinegar and water and leave it for a few minutes before drying. You can also use a soft "scrubby" sponge to scrub the window, but steel wool or hard scouring cloths will harm it.
  • Window screens should not be overlooked. Rinse with plain water, then spritz with a vinegar-water solution before rinsing again. Before replacing the screens on the windows, allow them to dry completely.

Then you will have spotless windows for your home! However, because exterior windows are exposed to more dirt. It's a good idea to clean your outdoor windows at least once a month. This is usually long enough for handprints to smudge the main entrance windows and the outer windows to collect dust and filth from the streets.

Regular window maintenance is critical because it aids in the removal of impurities and pollutants that stick to the glass and block out any natural light. This feature not only enhances the beauty of your home but also adds comfort and makes the area appear larger and more inviting.

Windows are also one of the first things that people notice about a property. Unfortunately, many individuals neglect their windows. Having your windows cleaned regularly, whether it's for a home or a commercial building, may make a great difference. That's why it is important to follow the steps for interior and exterior cleaning so you can ensure your property looks its best.