Window Cleaning Tips & Tricks

Hard water occurs naturally and is usually loaded with lots of Magnesium and Calcium deposits which are alkaline. When hard water makes a surface wet, and water dries up, the mineral deposits left makes the surface stain due to their alkaline nature.

The hard water stains cause damages such as leaving ugly spots on surfaces and repeated exposure to hard water, surfaces like glass create a film which is very unsightly.

The hard water stains can be prevented, and if they are already existent, they can be cleared. It is easiest to remove these stains in the earliest stages. Below are some few tips on how to remove your sprinkler’s hard water surface.

1. Applying a vinegar solution

Choose white distilled vinegar with a higher vinegar concentration and mix with water in the ratio 1:1 in a spray bottle.

Spray this solution on the stained glass. On stubborn stains, be sure to saturate them with a lot of vinegar solution.

Allow the vinegar solution to sit and reapply again if the glass surface is stained.

Soak a soft towel in the vinegar solution and use it to scrub the stained glass. This helps to ensure the vinegar solution penetrates all the stubborn stains.

Spray the glass surface with the vinegar solution and thoroughly dry the surface using a dry towel to avoid leaving other spots.

2. Keep your window surfaces dry using repellents

Use water-repellent products to clean up your windows. Products such as oil-based cleaners help to prevent spotting on your glass surfaces that may result to form stubborn stains.

3. Use of vinegar and baking soda paste

Mix vinegar and baking soda in the ratio of 1:2 to create a paste. Mix these products in an open container to avert damages by the gas produced during this process.

Apply this paste on a glass surface and leave it to sit.

Scrub lightly using a soft brush or towel.

Wash this paste off using water.

Dry the glass surface thoroughly using a cloth to ensure that no water spots are left.

4. Application of essential oils

Essential oils have cleaning benefits that may help to remove stubborn stains on glass surfaces. These oils serve as water repellants hence help to prevent further spotting on the glass surfaces.

The most effective essential oils are the citrus based oils such as lemon and orange oil.

• Add some few drops of essential oil in water.
• Soak a towel in the solution and apply the solution to the glass.
• Allow the mixture to sit for some time then scrub gently using a towel.
• Rinse off the solution from the glass using water and dry the glass surface thoroughly using a towel to ensure no water spots are left.

5. Use of commercial cleaning products

Buy products meant to remove hard water stains from the local hardware. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these products.

Follow the above tips to do away with stubborn hard water stains, ensure you use quality products. Alternatively, you can hire commercial window cleaners to give your windows a sparkling finish.

If you have a vacation home, you should always to plan to have it well maintained. Whether you hire a property manager to do the task or you do the work yourself, do not neglect the windows. They are a reflection of the interior to your home. Neglected windows show a neglected home.

Here are a few options you can consider when thinking of how to take care of your vacation home windows:

1. Contract the Services of Property Managers

This option will come with a high level of convenience, but a price you should be prepared to meet. Having property managers look after the condition of your vacation home windows and general home will save you a lot of headache and effort. Property managers can hire staff to ensure that your home is maintained inside out.

The property manager will do regular checkups to ensure that your vacation home windows are in good condition. If you decide to rent out the property, the manager will act as your eyes and ear on the ground. This is crucial if you live away from the property. Issues arising with the windows like breakages can quickly be sorted out as well as other emergencies.

2. Hiring a Local Caretaker

If the costs of hiring a property manager are a little too high for you, consider going for a caretaker, which is a cheaper option. A caretaker comes in handy when you want to handle the rental income personally. The caretaker will maintain the home, ensure that everything right fro the roof to the windows is well managed.

If you do not plan to rent out the home, the caretaker will visit the place once in a while to turn on faucets, inspect for window damage, and check to see that the gutters have not fallen off or blocked the windows.

3. Preparing for Emergencies

Taking care of your vacation home windows should form part your monthly budget. Take preventive home maintenance measures to reduce the likelihood of unexpected eventualities. Windows are especially fragile, and birds pecking, falling trees and gutters, and strong winds can cause damage.

If you do not have a caretaker or property manage, hire professional window cleaning services. They will be in charge of ensuring that your windows remain sparkling clean. They will also inform you of any repairs that need to be one, especially on the window frames. Window cleaners do not have to visit your property every day, but they will play a role in preventing dirt films from piling up on your windows.

Conclusion

Taking care of your vacation home windows can be an uphill task if you live miles away. However, there are options available to help with you managing it and ensuring that the windows are in good condition. One option is to hire professional property managers to be in charge of the home maintenance.

If this is an expensive option, hire professional window cleaners who will be in charge of cleaning the windows and ensuring they are in good condition while you are away.

Window cleaning is one part of home improvement you should not neglect. Everything else may be in order, but with unbecoming windows, your guests will have second thoughts about your commitment to cleanliness. These are the tips to guide you in keeping your windows always sparkling.

Have all the necessary tools

It is essential you have all the pieces of equipment needed for cleaning. Sometimes what lets you down is the lack of suitable materials. Some of the material you will require include a rubber squeegee, scrubber, bottle sprayer, dry towels, and detergents, among others.  Each of these is adapted for specific conditions so have them in your pool of tools.

You may also need a ladder to access high windows. If you have a safety harness with which to hook yourself up — the better. This way you can work comfortably even at high heights knowing you are safe in case you lose your balance.

Wash In And Out

Washing only one side of the window won’t give you that sparkling effect you deserve. Clean both sides of the window. You can start by the inside. When you are cleaning outside, make sure it is not directly facing the sun.

Avoid direct sunlight

Direct sunlight on the exterior windows dries up the dirt on the screen and sills. This can slow your work considerably, for you will have to splash more water repeatedly. Worse, you can end up with a dirtier window if the sun dries the dirty marks faster than you rinse.

Clean Top Downwards

If you are using a squeegee, press from the top downwards with each stroke, so no dirt is left behind and for a uniform look once you are down. It is easy to paint dirty marks if you randomly drag the squeegee on the screen surface. Moreover, you can cause scratches on the screen.

Use Detergent with Hot Water

It has been proven that hot water is more effective than cold water when it comes to cleaning. Added to a heavy-duty detergent, hot water quickly loosens the dirt layer, which then peels off onto the mop, or sponge you are using. Depending on the toughness of the stuck layer of dirt, choose the appropriate material with which to rub the already moisten screen. Only don’t press too hard on the screens lest you break them. If the screens are thin and too fragile, use a soft rag to scrub both sides of the window.

You can make a paste of vinegar and baking powder and use it to loosen tough stains on the screens. Apply the paste to the screen surface and wait for some time for it to penetrate through the stains. Then gently scrub with a sponge or whichever tool is most effective. Finally, rinse the screen.

Dry thoroughly

You may have removed the dirt, but if you don’t dry the windows thoroughly, much of your work could be in vain. First, leaving the windows with water will attract dust back. After rinsing the windows with clean tap water, use towels to dry the washed parts thoroughly.

Conclusion

Window cleaning is not an once-in-a-lifetime event. Make it part of your regular residential chores. Twice or thrice a month is recommended for better results, although the type of environment you live in will determine the frequency. A dusty neighborhood calls for frequent window cleaning.