Cleaning Windows

I love a house with lots of windows; it lets so much light in and gives any house or apartment a warmer and more open feel. However, those windows don't help your home look or decor any, but rather can add a run down aspect to your home, if they're dirty. Cleaning windows may not be the most thrilling chore, but once you do, then you will be able to enjoy a much more put-together home with a clean and polished look.

Cleaning windows is one of the easiest chores and really just takes diligence and perseverance. The only supplies you'll need are a roll of paper towels and a bottle of Windex. You also might want some rubber or latex gloves to keep your hands from getting too grimy. When you clean your windows, don't rush the process. Take the Windex (or other window cleaner you have) and spray one or two sprays on the window. Take a paper towel and wipe it down. Be sure to get to the corners of the window and also be sure that you wipe off all the dust, fingerprints, and other miscellaneous smears.

One thing to really watch out for when cleaning is smearing. We've all seen those smears from cleaning windows that let you know the window has been wiped, but is the window really clean with those new smears? I don't think so. You need to make sure you get every smear off the window. The best way to achieve this is to clean the window with big, circular, sweeping swipes; too small of strokes will not result in a completely clean window.

If you notice that your paper towels are leaving lint on the surface of the glass as you are cleaning, then change what you use to do the cleaning. The best solution is to use something that doesn't leave lint—wadded up newspaper is a good choice, as are paper coffee filters.

Something you might want to do to increase the cleanliness level of your windows is to wipe down the windowsills while you are about cleaning the actual window. Give the windowsill a little spritz of glass cleaner and wipe it down with the paper towel—you'll be surprised at how much dirt you'll pick up!

Something else to keep in mind as you clean your windows is that you need to use your paper towel effectively, but don't over use it either. Once the paper towel gets too dirty, toss it and tear off a new one. Don't waste paper towels by using one per window, but don't keep using a paper towel that's obviously not going to be effective because of the dirt that is already on it.

So, having clean windows doesn't take too much actual effort, and merely requires your time and patience. Follow these simple rules, and you'll be good to go with clean windows in your home!