As soon as the first stronger rays of the sun lean into our dwellings, they reveal the merciless truth – smudges, stains and dust on the windows that we have ignored for months. For many, window cleaning is a nightmare ending in the frustration of frosted and streaked glass. However, experts say that a perfect view is not about hard work, but about the right technique and timing.
Timing is half the battle
Many people deliberately choose sunny days to wash their windows, but this is a fundamental mistake. In direct sunlight and heat, water with a cleaning agent on the glass dries too quicklywhich is the main cause of unsightly streaks. On the contrary, avoid too cold weather. If the temperature drops below 10 °C, the water does not evaporate quickly enough and the drops may even freeze on the glass. A cloudy day with pleasant spring temperatures is therefore ideal.
Correct order: The glass goes to the end
The basic rule that many break is sequence. Frames are always cleaned first. If you start with glass, you run the risk that the dirty water from the frames will flow back onto the clean surface. First, remove coarse dirt and dust from the frame with a soft brush. Then wash them with a sponge and mild soap (pay attention to wooden frames – do not use too much water so that the wood does not absorb it). This will also prevent you from rubbing the dust grains from the frame on the glass and scratching it later when washing.
Golden rule: Horizontally and from top to bottom
When cleaning the glass itself, prepare a mixture of warm water, a little detergent and window cleaner. The principle is to wash the window from top to bottom in circular motions. Then comes the key step – wiping off the water. A rubber squeegee is ideal for this (or a modern vacuum cleaner for windows, which will prevent dirty water from dripping onto the floor). Experts advise to draw water with a squeegee horizontally, because streaks are formed much more often when pulling vertically. Finally, quickly polish the edges and corners dry with a microfiber cloth.
Myths you’d better forget
There are many “grandmother’s recipes” circulating when washing windows, but they can do more harm than good, such as too much chemistry. Using an excessive amount of detergent will not create more cleanliness, but will leave “rainbow” spots on the glass. Less is more in this case. Vinegar is often mentioned as a household miracle, but it does not belong on windows. It can leave a bluish coating on the glass, and what’s worse, its acidity aggressively erodes the material of window frames and seals.
Although old advice recommends polishing windows with newspaper, avoid it. Although they are absorbent, the modern printing ink loosens when wet and leaves dirty marks on your white frames and hands. Instead, replace them with high-quality chamois or microfiber.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
